The Kingspan MICROHOME 2026 continues Buildner’s long-standing exploration of compact living and sustainable design. Now in its 11th edition, and marking the fourth collaboration with Kingspan, the competition challenges architects and designers to reimagine what home means when it is stripped to its essentials. Participants are invited to propose an off-grid modular dwelling with a total floor area of no more than 25 m², demonstrating how small-scale architecture can achieve both efficiency and emotional depth.
The competition seeks innovative, environmentally responsible designs that respond to contemporary challenges of affordability, adaptability, and climate change. By embracing constraint, participants are encouraged to discover new design freedoms — exploring how a microhome can serve as a model for sustainable living in both rural and urban contexts.
The Kingspan MICROHOME 2026 offers a total prize fund of €100,000, celebrating projects that combine creative ingenuity with technical excellence. Open to professionals and students worldwide, it continues to inspire forward-thinking design for a more responsible future.
Prizes
Three winning proposals, two Buildner special award recipients, four Kingspan award recipients, and six honourable mentions will be selected.
Buildner will award a total of €100,000 in prize money to competition winners as follows:
1st Prize – €30,000
2nd Prize – €10,000
3rd Prize – €5,000
6 Honourable Mentions
Buildner Student Award – €10,000
Buildner Sustainability Award – €10,000
The Kingspan Award – €30,000
3 × The Kingspan Compliments – €5,000 each
Key Dates
Early Bird Registration: November 10, 2025 – February 11, 2026
Advance Registration: February 12 – May 27, 2026
Last Minute Registration: May 28 – September 30, 2026
Closing Date for Questions: October 5, 2026
Competition Closing Date: November 2, 2026 (11:59 p.m. London time)
Winners Announced: December 15, 2026
Registration fees
EARLY BIRD 10 Nov – 11 Feb | 65-79 €
ADVANCED 12 Feb – 27 May | 75-95 €
LAST MINUTE 28 May – 30 Sep |95-125 €
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