The design team from the Faculty of Architecture at the Warsaw University of Technology: Lukasz Danilczuk, Ewa Maniak and Karolina Rorat won the Student Award in the prestigious Microhome Kingspan edition 2024/2025 competition, organized by the Bee Breeders Architecture Competitions platform. This is one of the most important honors in the field of microarchitecture design, awarded for innovative approaches to housing problems of the 21st century.
filling the urban fabric
© Lukasz Danilczuk, Ewa Maniak, Karolina Rorat
Microhome Kingspan - a competition with a mission
Microhome is an annual international architectural competition organized by Bee Breeders, which promotes the concept of microdomes - compact, sustainable, economical and feasible on a large scale. The 2024/2025 edition was created in partnership with Kingspan, a global leader in energy-efficient building solutions, and aimed to discover designs ready to meet the growing challenges of migration, urbanization and climate change.
The goal of the competition was to create a concept for a micro-home of no more than 25 sq. m. that would be self-sufficient, environmentally friendly, easy to install and applicable to a variety of geographic and social conditions. Out of hundreds of submissions from all over the world, only a few were awarded - including a design by a team from Warsaw.
axonometry
© Łukasz Danilczuk, Ewa Maniak, Karolina Rorat
First Aid Kit - a microdome as a response to the global migration crisis
The award-winning project, titled "First Aid Kit," is a proposal for a temporary housing system that aims to improve the quality of life for people forced to migrate - both due to armed conflicts and climate change. With the number of refugees on the rise (more than 122.6 million people according to UNHCR, 2024), the need for fast, efficient and scalable housing solutions is becoming acute.
interior visualization - day
© Lukasz Danilczuk, Ewa Maniak, Karolina Rorat
"First Aid Kit" is based on the concept of mobile, modular microdomes that can be easily transported, quickly assembled and adapted to local climatic conditions. Each house consists of four prefabricated segments and a separate floor and roof. The structure is designed for container transport (HC 40), and assembly requires no specialized equipment - it can be done by the future residents themselves.
These houses not only provide safe shelter, but also promote social integration and financial self-reliance of residents. The possibility of creating larger structures, service floors or common spaces promotes community building.
interior visualization - night
© Łukasz Danilczuk, Ewa Maniak, Karolina Rorat
Sustainable design and Kingspan technology
The project utilizes Kingspan's cutting-edge technologies - including Multibeam LEC steel profiles, QuadCore AWP/KS1000RW wall and roof panels, and Thermafloor TF70 insulation systems. The microdome's design follows the 3R(Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) principle, using steel with more than 90% recovery. Built-in solar panels, a rainwater harvesting system (2,000 l) and energy-efficient insulation ensure energy independence.
The interior of the bungalow is 25 sqm of maximum functionality: open space with built-in and mobile furniture, adaptable layout for different needs (work, rest, sleep), cross ventilation and good thermal conditions.
common space
© Łukasz Danilczuk, Ewa Maniak, Karolina Rorat
social architecture and urban flexibility
At the heart of the project is the idea of social temporary architecture, which not only protects, but also connects people and enables a sense of belonging. Outdoor common spaces, modular terraces, service outlets and coworking spaces are all designed to foster local integration and micro-community development.
The "First Aid Kit" system has also been prepared for implementation on unused urban land, without the need for permanent foundations. This makes it possible to temporarily develop plots of land with an unregulated legal status, which is particularly important in large cities such as Warsaw and Berlin.
exterior of the microdome
© Łukasz Danilczuk, Ewa Maniak, Karolina Rorat
The award for the team from the Warsaw University of Technology is proof that young Polish architects can respond to the most difficult challenges of the modern world - creatively, responsibly and with a full understanding of human needs. The competition jury emphasized the modularity, technical realism and social commitment of the project.
This is also further evidence of the strength of Polish technical universities on the international stage and the growing role of young designers in the debate about the future of residential architecture.
