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Vertical Living with Urban Agriculture and Durable Structures

Authors:
Alireza Rezvani, Reza Paseban
Vertical Living with Urban Agriculture and Durable Structures

Project in-detail

Urban agriculture integrates with vertical housing solutions to create affordable residential units in Berlin, utilizing durable structures and flexible layouts to address housing shortages.
5 key facts about this project
01
Utilizes underground parking to maximize above-ground residential space.
02
Incorporates urban agriculture on ground floors to enhance community engagement.
03
Features flexible unit layouts to accommodate diverse family sizes.
04
Integrates solar panels to reduce energy costs for residents.
05
Employs a vertical design to minimize land use while increasing housing density.

Affordable Housing Without Ground (Dwelling in the Sky) is located in the Heidersdorf and Lichtenberg districts of Berlin. The design aims to solve urban housing challenges by using vertical space to limit reliance on high land prices. The concept focuses on creating affordable living environments while ensuring functionality and incorporating sustainable practices in the urban setting.

Vertical Housing Strategy

The project employs a vertical housing strategy to reduce the need for traditional land use. By stacking residential units in a multi-layered arrangement, it makes effective use of limited land and existing infrastructure. Key access elements, such as entrances, stairs, and elevators, are thoughtfully integrated into the design to ensure ease of movement for all residents.

Parking and Space Optimization

A distinctive aspect is the inclusion of multi-level underground parking. This solution addresses vehicle accommodation while leaving space above ground for homes and communal areas. The layered construction enhances the building's density without the need for more land, an important consideration in a competitive real estate market.

Flexible Unit Configurations

Flexibility is a central theme in the design's unit configurations. The layout allows for adjustments based on various household sizes and needs. This thoughtful flexibility balances the efficient use of space with affordability, allowing for a greater number of housing options accessible to different residents.

Sustainable Energy Features

Sustainable energy solutions are also part of the design. Solar panels are placed on rooftops to help lower energy costs for residents. Ground-level urban agriculture is included as well, promoting food production and encouraging community engagement. These features contribute to a living environment that is environmentally friendly and supportive of its residents.

Overall, careful attention is given to details that ensure structural strength and economic feasibility, supporting the goal of providing affordable housing without sacrificing quality or sustainability.

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MICROHOME 10: Celebrating Small-Scale Living with €100,000 Prize Fund and Kingspan’s Innovation

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Competition organisers

The MICROHOME 10 competition invites participants to submit visionary designs for off-grid, modular microhomes that push the limits of sustainable, small-scale living. Organised by Buildner in partnership with Kingspan and Hapi Homes, this tenth edition sets the challenge of designing a dwelling for two people within a maximum floor area of 25 m², encouraging bold solutions adaptable to any urban or rural location. The competition continues Buildner’s mission to foster innovative approaches to compact, energy-efficient housing that can address pressing global challenges.

This year’s edition offers a generous total prize fund of €100,000, including the Kingspan Award for designs that integrate high-performance Kingspan products and the Hapi Homes Award for a project selected for real-world construction. In addition to cash prizes, the winners gain international exposure through Buildner’s media partnerships, publications, and a dedicated MICROHOME magazine, further amplifying their ideas to the wider architectural community.

Key dates for MICROHOME 10 include the closing date for registration on 25 September 2025, the submission deadline on 29 October 2025 (11:59 p.m. London time), and the announcement of winners on 9 December 2025. These milestones ensure participants have clear timelines to develop and present their concepts, with early registration discounts available to support students and emerging designers worldwide.

MICROHOME

Design a new small-scale home concept in the 10th edition of MICROHOME — 100,000 € prize + construction

100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 100,000 € + Potential realisation
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 25 September 2025

Enter an open architecture
competition now

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