MICROHOME Kingspan edition 2024/25 Honorable mention winners - Agata Bandini and Benedetta Ballabio

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the Honorable mention winners of our "MICROHOME Kingspan edition 2024/25" competition – Agata Bandini and Benedetta Ballabio from Italy!

Agata Bandini and Benedetta Ballabio

Please tell us about your company (when it was founded, where it is based, how many employees, etc) Alternatively, if you do not have a company, please give us some insights on your own professional/academia background.

Ladomus is a young company founded in 2024 in Milan by a multidisciplinary team combining backgrounds in architecture and industrial design. We are currently a small collective, united by a shared ambition to rethink the way we design, build, and inhabit domestic spaces. Our vision is rooted in the Italian tradition of craftsmanship and modernist design, with a strong focus on modularity, sustainability, and the democratization of high-quality living. We believe that beautiful and efficient housing should be accessible to all, and we develop innovative wooden systems to bring that belief to life.

Brief information about the projects that you/your company have been involved with. For instance, what scale have you focused on/preferred, any significant projects where the company/ individuals have been Involved?

Our work primarily focuses on the domestic scale, with a particular interest in prefabricated architecture, modular construction, and self-building systems. We have been developing modular furniture systems and small-scale architectures made from CNC-cut plywood, designed to be intuitive, accessible, and easy to assemble. Our approach bridges product design and architecture, and the Ladomus microhome—developed for the Buildner competition—is a synthesis of this vision. It is a modular, off-grid, and expandable pod-home tailored to meet the evolving needs of contemporary life, especially for young couples seeking flexibility, affordability, and autonomy.

What does architecture mean to you and what is the role of an architect in your society?

To us, architecture is a vehicle for positive change—an opportunity to design environments that are not only functional, but also inclusive, adaptable, and emotionally resonant. We believe the architect’s role is no longer confined to aesthetics or technical problem-solving; today, it is about reading the complex needs of our time and translating them into meaningful spatial responses. Architects must act as facilitators—of dialogue, sustainability, and innovation. We see architecture as a fundamentally human and participatory act, where simplicity and accessibility are not compromises, but essential design values.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

Architecture competitions offer us a vital space for experimentation and growth. They allow us to test radical ideas, challenge conventional approaches, and engage with international discourse in a constructive and inspiring way. For a young practice like ours, these competitions provide a powerful platform to express our vision and receive feedback from renowned experts in the field. We value the intellectual rigor of these environments and the opportunity they provide to contribute meaningfully to the future of design. It’s not just about visibility—it’s also a chance to sharpen our thinking and expand our creative boundaries.

What advice would you give to individuals who struggle to decide whether it would be beneficial for them to participate in architecture competitions?

 We would encourage anyone who is uncertain to approach competitions not solely as a contest to win, but as an open creative laboratory. They are an extraordinary opportunity to refine one’s design language, explore unfiltered ideas, and define personal or collective values as professionals. The process itself is deeply enriching—regardless of outcome—and can be a powerful way to clarify your position within the discipline. Embrace them with curiosity rather than fear, and see them as moments of reflection, growth, and bold experimentation.