Photo courtesy Kingspan
The 11th Kingspan MICROHOME competition is now open, challenging architects and designers to advance sustainable solutions for compact housing. The global competition offers a total prize fund of $115,000.
Buildner and Kingspan, the companies collaboratively hosting the competition, share a commitment to innovation in residential architecture, and this partnership aims to foster visionary designs and real-world solutions for micro-living.
The challenge
Participants are tasked with designing a modular, self-sufficient and energy-efficient microhome with a maximum footprint of 25 m² (269 sf). Designs should push boundaries in innovation, functionality, and sustainability while addressing real-world challenges such as urban density, affordability, and environmental responsibility. The competition is open to all, including professionals and students.
The key objectives of this contest include:
- Innovation and functionality: create an efficient, livable space that combines usability, aesthetics, and technological advancements.
- Sustainability: integrate environmentally responsible materials, energy-efficient systems, and strategies for minimal environmental impact.
- Affordability: propose designs that make microhomes accessible to diverse populations.
- Adaptability: explore designs that can adapt to various urban, rural, or off-grid settings.
Prize fund and recognition
The $115,000 prize structure is as follows:
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1st prize: $35,000
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2nd prize: $10,500
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3rd prize: $6,000
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Buildner Student Award: $10,500
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Kingspan Award: $35,000
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3 x Kingspan Complement Awards: $6,000 each
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Plus, six Honorable Mentions
Competition Schedule
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Final registration deadline: September 30, 2026 (6:59 PM EST / 3:59 PM Pacific)
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Submission deadline: November 2, 2026 (6:59 PM EST / 3:59 PM Pacific)
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Winners announced: December 15, 2026
For participants, the competition offers an opportunity to have their work reviewed by individuals at the forefront of contemporary architecture and innovation.
Last year’s MICROHOME competition showcased the program’s global reach, with winning projects spanning multiple continents and cultural contexts. First prize was awarded to “Living on Groundwater” by a U.S.-based team, a proposal addressing water scarcity through a hydro-positive microhome concept situated in India. The Kingspan Award went to “Laneway House” by an Australian team, reimagining underused urban laneways as compact, socially responsive housing. The Buildner Student Award was awarded to “Amphibious Living Unit – Mekong Prototype,” developed by a student from the University of Arkansas, proposing a circular, modular dwelling designed to adapt to seasonal flooding in Southeast Asia.
“As communities around the world face increasingly diverse and complex challenges, the need for thoughtful, innovative housing solutions has never been more important. This competition exists to support that ambition and help bring new ideas for sustainable living to the forefront,” says Sandra Del Bove, group head of innovation at Kingspan and jury participant for this year’s competition.
