Kingspan Award Winner: Laneway House

Authors: Josephine Clare Harris and Luke Cotsford John Austin

Country: Australia

Prize: €30,000

Kingspan Products: QuadCore LEC insulated wall panel, QuadCore LEC insulated roof panel, Solatube Tubular Skylight, Slimline Rainwater Harvesting Tank, PowerPanel, GreenGuard GG25-LG and STEICOflex 036

This proposal reimagines Sydney’s laneway garages as compact, socially responsive microhomes that maximise a constrained footprint through flexible interiors, material simplicity and a clear urban narrative. The plan separates the 22m² unit into two functional zones: a front living and cooking area opening directly to the laneway, and a rear zone dedicated to sleeping, bathing and work, moderated by a curtain partition for adjustable privacy. Integrated joinery concentrates multiple domestic functions - bed, table, lounge, storage - into a single adaptable element that minimises material use while expanding spatial capability. High-level windows support ventilation and daylight, while operable façade screens modulate privacy and strengthen the home’s connection to the laneway as a shared urban space. The project positions micro-infill housing as a tool for affordability, social connection and low-impact construction in dense neighbourhoods.