Volume Zero’s MicroHouse Competition

We are proud to congratulate BRW Team members Justin Zumel and Shuang Ding for winning 2nd Place in Volume Zero’s International MicroHouse Competition. This is a great accomplishment, and we are excited to celebrate them! You can read more about their winning entry below:

The challenge was to design a multi-family prototype unit that optimizes space for everyday needs.  This project aims to deal with population density – specifically, it’s tie to plastic waste and poverty.  The location is in Manila, Philippines, which has a population density of 119,600 per square mile; where millions of tons of plastic are being discarded in the oceans every year; and poverty levels on the rise.  Sachets are one of the major sources of plastic waste – they cannot be recycled due to their complex makeup of aluminum and plastic.  These bags, sometimes one-time-use bags, are then discarded and are considered invaluable to recycling plants and trash collectors.  This was an opportunity to create a building cladded with what was once considered invaluable, valuable.  With the use of prefabricated micro-homes, sachets, and the local building material of the Philippines – Bamboo, the Micro-housing prototype was created.

Volume Zero is an international platform for showcasing works of upcoming designers. They offer a unique perspective to young architects and design enthusiasts. Their innovative magazine presents exclusive insights and information about various projects spanning the fields of architecture, interior décor, product design and landscape spaces from around the world, motivating design enthusiasts and dreamers.

You can visit Volume Zero’s website here.