Honourable Mentions

CAVO_The Plug-in Facade Habitat

Authors: Roxana-Andreea Irimia and Mihai Bogdan Ionită

Country: Romania

The project proposes a new architectural logic in which the facade is not merely a boundary, but the primary generator of spatial, functional and experiential qualities. All key living functions - sleeping, cooking, bathing, storage, work and social areas - are embedded into prefabricated modules that compose the perimeter of the building, liberating the interior volume for flexible circulation and adaptable uses and making activities readable from the outside, being visually expressed through subtle shifts in the facade. Each module acts as a functional cavity, a luminous funnel that channels natural light deep into the interior while performing its spatial and technical role. By externalising functions to the perimeter, the interior becomes free, fluid and adaptable to changing uses. The facade thus becomes a living organism - an active, service-providing envelope that replaces the traditional static wall. CAVO extends the modernist legacy of integrated furniture and mobile systems into a new generation of prefabricated, reversible and reconfigurable habitats, where architecture is not built, but assembled through function.

Flexome

Authors: John J McCarthy and Heejin Park

Country: USA

Kingspan Products: QuadCore LEC insulated wall panel, Slimline Rainwater Harvesting Tank, PowerPanel insulated solar roof system, GreenGuard MAX Building Wrap and Membrane Lined Insulated Gutter

The project envisions a flexible typology that adapts to the diverse lifestyles of young couples. On affordable urban infill sites, Flexome offers quick access to workplaces, allowing residents to return home and unwind with ease. In well-connected suburbs, with higher living standards, the microhome becomes a haven for remote-working couples pursuing a work-life balance. For retired couples, it transforms into a seasonal retreat nestled in nature. Ultimately, Flexome stands as an off-grid, sustainable micro living companion that supports a mindful and responsible way of living. The concept is composed of four units that can be assembled in various configurations depending on surrounding buildings and environmental conditions. The living units are arranged based on privacy, circulation and infrastructure whilst two roof units are oriented according to solar access and clerestory placement. Together, four prefabricated units embody Flexhome’s strategy for flexible adaptation. 

Japanese Pixel

Authors: Adrian Gustavo Eiguchi, Martina Meilan, Maria Lujan Iha and Daniela Paula Oshiro

Country: Argentina

Kingspan Products: STEICOflex 036 wood fibre insulation, GreenGuard GG25-LG insulation board

Japanese Pixel is based on a hypothesis that by fragmenting the microhome into smaller units, or “Pixels” based on fundamental modules for hygiene, eating, resting and socialising, it becomes more affordable. Each Pixel allows for multiple assembly possibilities, varying both in internal layout and integration with each other, enabling the generation of an almost infinite range of possible configurations. The result is a dynamic and open system, that addresses the variability and complexity of contemporary ways of living. The project is both scalable and adaptable. Its materiality, technology and construction method can vary depending on the natural or socio-economic environment. 

Re.Rural

Authors: Jorge Morena Carrera and Sofiia Kravchenko

Country: Spain

Kingspan Products: QuadCore LEC insulated roof panel, Dri-Design cassette with Karrier Panel rainscreen substructure, Troldtekt V-Line acoustic ceiling tile, Slimline Rainwater Harvesting Tank, STEICOflex 036 wood fibre insulation, Membrane Lined Insulated Gutter, PoweRail RW solar PV mounting system and Thermafloor TF70 insulation board

Re.rural addresses both the increasing trend in remote working and a desire to reconnect with nature. The project envisions more than just a 25m² home - it introduces a modular, adaptable housing system that provides affordable and sustainable homes for young professionals and couples looking to relocate to rural Spain. By offering high-quality, flexible living spaces, this initiative makes rural life more attractive while helping repopulate towns in need. These cabins serve as permanent residences or versatile spaces for eco-tourism, coworking hubs and creative retreats, fostering economic growth and community regeneration. Considering its compact footprint, the durability of its materials and its comprehensive living programme, Re.Rural demonstrates that sustainable and comfortable housing can be both economically accessible and environmentally responsible. It stands as a realistic model for a self-sufficient rural lifestyle, offering young working couples an attainable path toward independent, off-grid living.

Road to Morocco 2030

Authors: Zakaria Hamoutan and Khaoula Rhoulam

Country: Morocco

Kingspan Products: Dri-Design cassette with Karrier Panel rainscreen substructure, Slimline Rainwater Harvesting Tank, PowerPanel insulated solar roof system and STEICOflex 036 wood fibre insulation

In major cities across Morocco, new infrastructure is under development to connect city centres to the outskirts where football stadiums are under construction in preparation for the 2030 World Cup. While these transportation projects are primarily designed to facilitate the flow of fans during the event, they also present a unique long-term opportunity. The proposal seeks to take advantage of this new infrastructure by introducing sustainable modular microhomes near World Cup stadiums. During the event, these units can serve as temporary accommodation. Afterwards, they would be repurposed into affordable housing for young professional couples, offering them accessible homes within commuting distance of their workplaces in the city centre. Road to Morocco 2030 envisions urban clusters inspired by the Moroccan old medina - an architectural and urban fabric deeply rooted in centuries of Berber and Andalusian traditions and centred around the notion of community living. The old medina offers a timeless model for sustainable and climate-responsive design: a compact, dense, and human-scaled environment that naturally encourages social interaction while adapting harmoniously to its surroundings. 

TOKOBA

Authors: Carlyle Lazarus D’sa, Harshita Harish Amin, Sanden Antonio Vaz and Avni Gupta

Country: UK

Kingspan Products: STEICOflex 036 wood fibre insulation

The design merges traditional Japanese craft with modern technology to create an adaptive and sustainable micro-housing solution for Tokyo’s dense context. A primary volume, inspired by the narrow, elongated proportions of machiya, maximises the site while allowing light and ventilation. The building’s compact, elevated form and sloped roof are shaped in response to Japan’s humid summers, heavy rainfall and cold winters, enhancing airflow, efficient water drainage and passive heat retention. Stacked volumes establish vertical hierarchy, separating private and communal spaces while sloped roofs reference minka gables, improving daylight, ventilation and rainwater management giving the buildings contemporary yet grounded expression.