Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

Learn from past Buildner architecture competition participants through our extensive project library, curated over more than 15 years!

War Rubble and Structural Timber Unite to Create Flexible Housing Solutions in Urban Regeneration

Author:
Cornelia Bosman
War Rubble and Structural Timber Unite to Create Flexible Housing Solutions in Urban Regeneration

Project in-detail

Incorporating repurposed war rubble and structural timber, the design reimagines urban living through flexible housing units that foster community resilience and enhance post-conflict regeneration.
5 key facts about this project
01
Integrates repurposed war rubble into structural elements for trauma-sensitive design.
02
Utilizes cross-laminated timber panels for enhanced structural efficiency and sustainability.
03
Features flexible housing units that can be easily adapted for various family sizes and needs.
04
Incorporates community gardens to promote social interaction and ecological balance.
05
Employs a bent A-frame design to optimize natural light and create dynamic interior spaces.

## Overview
Located in Kharkiv, Ukraine, the Viva City project is designed to address the urgent demands of urban living in the context of post-conflict reconstruction. It emphasizes regenerative design principles and modularity, creating a responsive urban environment that prioritizes community interaction and resilience. The project aims to incorporate living spaces that adapt to changing needs, facilitating healing and fostering a sense of community among residents.

### Therapeutic Spatial Design
The emphasis on therapeutic living is evident throughout the development. By creating an amalgamation of public and private areas, the design encourages social interaction and promotes holistic well-being. Strategic arrangements enhance community engagement, while rhythmic elements in the architecture reconnect residents to their surroundings, reinforcing the notion of shared space as vital for individual and collective recovery.

### Modular Framework for Adaptability
The project's modular approach is critical for addressing the needs of displaced populations and enabling swift, flexible urban responses. Designed for easy assembly and disassembly, the architectural components can be tailored to various functions—ranging from living units to communal workspaces—facilitating an adaptable urban environment. This framework ensures that the structure can evolve alongside the community it serves, addressing immediate requirements while accommodating future growth.

### Innovative Material Selection
A thoughtful selection of materials underpins the project’s sustainability goals. The use of hemp, wood from recycled sources, and innovative insulation techniques such as polyurethane foam highlights a commitment to ecological practices. Additionally, structural timber and metal components ensure durability, while recycled materials promote waste reduction. Notably, the artistic incorporation of "war rubble" not only serves structural purposes but also honors the historical context of the site, intertwining the past with future development in a meaningful way.

Noticed a mistake?
Highlight the text and click on
Noticed a mistake

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

`
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

Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
100,000€ Prize / 2025
Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
Affordable Housing Series 19th Edition
The Architect's 
Chair
The Architect's Chair
Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #4
MICROHOME
MICROHOME
100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10
Kinderspace
Kinderspace
Architecture for Children’s Development #3
To view this project in detail,
please log in with your
Architects’ Network Plus account.
Subscription instantly unlocks all the architecture projects plus other member-only benefits:
  • Access the 17,725 Concept Library
  • Professional tools including file transfer, email, portfolio management, and more
Register now
Already a member? Log in

This website uses cookies to improve user experience and gather usage statistics.

More information is available in our Privacy & Cookie policy