From modular mini homes to converted army base housing, there is a growing shift towards homes that are smaller and more affordable. These characteristics are largely fueled by growing urban populations that are forcing architects to rethink the way people live in cities.
When it comes to urban housing projects, there is an enormous effort to maximize the functionality of small spaces. For instance, there are apartments with flexible folding modules that allow consumers to reconfigure a space depending on their needs. Similarly, smart home technology is being used in some houses to transform rooms based on the time of day or the occasion.
In addition to making smaller homes more functional, architects are also trying to make these spaces more affordable for city dwellers. This is particularly important for groups such as low-income families, refugees and seniors, who may struggle to keep pace with rising living costs. Some examples of affordable housing projects include converted army base houses, eco-friendly refugee dwellings and blocky residential towers.
Top 90 Architecture Ideas in May
From Modular Mini Homes to Converted Army Base Housing:
Katherine Pendrill — May 21, 2016 — Art & Design
90
Repurposed Container Homes
The RDP House is Built Using Recycled Shipping Containers and Glass
89
Compact Smart Homes
This New Smart Home Apartment's Design Transforms Over Time
88
Chic Shipping Container Homes
The Honomobo Shipping Container Living Spaces Satisfy Needs
87
Stilted Solar Homes
The Sustainable ZED Pods Can Be Installed in Parking Lots
86
Cedar Teardrop Trailers
This Teardrop Trailer Features Liberal Use Of Gorgeous Red Cedar
85
Tiny Bedroom Pods
Illustrator Peter Berkowitz is Living in a Pod to Fight High Housing Costs
84
Eco-Friendly Refugee Housing
The 'Hex House' is Designed to be Sustainable and Low-Cost
83
Towable Tiny Homes
The Start Small Tiny House Blends Useful and Appealing Design
82
Curvaceous Tiny Homes
The Curved 260 Micro Home Brings Elegance to Tiny Living
81
Urban Zen Residences
2305 Studio's Up2green House is Designed for a Family with Kids
80
Industrial Zen Residences
David Thulstrup's Latest Project is a Residential Garage Transformation
79
Small Sustainable Homes
Casa Nirau by Paul Cremoux Studio is Stylish and Airy
78
Modular Mini Homes
The Mini Living Concept Features Modular Folding Units For Greater Versatility
77
Low-Cost Housing Designs
Alejandro Aravena of Elemental Creates Free Public Housing
76
Floating Transportation Facilities
The UFO is a Livable Water Station With the Design of a UFO
75
Liveable Cardboard Abodes
The Wikkelhouse is a Sustainable House Made From Recycled Paper
74
Outdoorsy Micro Cabins
These Micro Cabins Allow Ample Storage Room For Personal Outdoor Vehicles
73
Insulated Tiny Homes
This Bespoke Tiny House Uses Structural Insulated Panels
72
Adaptable Social Apartments
The KC DEsign Studio Taipei Home Focuses on Public Living Space
71
Self-Supporting Living Pods
The Harwyn Pod Cube is a Pre-Fab Living Space Offering Multiple Uses
70
Modernized Shepherd Huts
These Shepherd Huts Combine Rustic Charm With Modern Facilities
69
Art Deco Italian Hotels
Milan's Hotel Senato Boasts Opulent and Gilded Design Accents
68
Sinking Split-Level Homes
This House in Belgium is Designed by OYO's Architecture Team
67
Stark Seaside Residences
Okinawa House is a Modern Vacation House That Embraces Minimalism
66
Charming Eatery Renovations
This Heraklion City Restaurant Recently Completed Renovations
65
Experimental Kitchen Restaurants
Artful Surfaces at 'The Restaurant' Explore Innovative Cooking
64
Light-Bathed Tiny Homes
The Hikari Box is Designed to Maximize Space and Natural Light
63
Fairytale Working Huts
The Writer's Shed Designed by Surman Weston is Located in Hackney, London
62
Triangular Transparent Abodes
Juan Carlos Ramos' Pyramid House Features an Egyptian Aesthetic
61
Posthumous Maritime Terminal
The Salerno Terminal Uses the Late Zaha Hadid's Design Language
60
Transformed Scottish Homes
WT Architects Blends Old with the New in a Preservative Way
59
Whiteout Seaside Homes
This House in Spain Brings a Minimalist Design Style to Life
58
Visionary Fluid Skyscrapers
Gran Meditteraneo Boasts Automated Parking and Farming Spaces
57
Outdoor-Enjoying Sanctuaries
Cristal Box for GANDIABLASCO Lets People Enjoy the Day in Comfort
56
Chic Cork Residences
This Cork Apartment in Prague Marries Elegant and Eco-Friendly Elements
55
Geometric Balconies
Casa Doble by Langarita-Navarro Boasts a Unique Extension Around It
54
VR Architectural Design Tools
The 'ICE 3D' Software Helps Clients Explore Construction Projects
53
Interactive Forest Retail Experiences
The COS Display Uses Light and Art to Immerse Shoppers
52
Pixelated Home Extensions
DKO Architects Builds Floating Boxes on Top of Old Architecture
51
Mirrored Cafe Facades
Platform_monsant by Platform_a Reflects Its Natural Surroundings
50
Converted Army Base Housing
These Old Army Barracks are Being Transformed into Affordable Housing
49
Artful Luxury Boutiques
This La Perla Tokyo Store Boasts Luxe Architectural Details
48
Retro-Modern Finnish Residences
This House in Finland Embraces Minimalist Design Details
47
Glass House Couture Flagships
The New Chanel Amsterdam Store Boasts a Stunning Glass Facade
46
Architectural LEGO Creations
These LEGO Versions of Architectural Wonders Are Truly Awe-Inspiring
45
Ventilation Shaft Housing Concepts
'Tubular Living' by PAO Sees a Home Crafted from Air Ducts
44
Tropical Concrete Resorts
The Hix Island House's Minimalistic Design Contrasts the Lush Setting
43
360-Degree Theaters
This New Theater Involves Audiences Being Seated On a Rotating Platform
42
Mesh Church Reconstructions
This Artist Used Wire Mesh to Recreate an Early Christian Church
41
Modernist Student Residences
This Danish Campus Embraces an Industrial Architecture Aesthetic
40
Copper-Clad Towers
The American Copper Buildings Will Feature 5,000 Copper Panels
39
Towering Log Cabins
Phillip Weidner's Wooden Abode is an Eclectic Stacking of Different Rooms
38
Inflatable Spaceship Rooms
The Bigelow Expandable Activity Module Offers an Additional Ship Space
37
Fashionable Chocolate Boutiques
The Saudi Arabian Patchi Shop Presents Sweets Like a Jewelry Store
36
Detached Games Rooms
Officina29 Architetti Designed an Airy Space for Fun in Italy
35
Ski Jump Cabin Designs
The 'Cabin Vindheim' Features a Slanted Roof for Ski Jumps and Sledding
34
Crystalline Sport Stadiums
The Stade de Soccer de Montreal Opts for a Geometric Glass Aesthetic
33
Suspended Gap Bridges
The NEY & Partners Cornish Coastline Footbridge Includes a Central Void
32
Floating Sauna Structures
goCstudio's Mobile Sauna Has an Electric Motor for Touring Lakes
31
Rustic Artist Residences
Musician Vedran Ruzic Transforms a Brick-Clad Home into His Atelier
30
Vertical Recreation Towers
The Vertical Times Offers Living and Workspace in Crowded Cities
29
Industrial Retail Spaces
Côte & Ciel’s Newest Concept Shop Features Luxe Design Details
28
Integrated Tower Developments
The Toronamon Hills Will Include a New Subway Station and Park
27
Bike-Friendly Office Buildings
The Oslo Solar Building is Designed for Bike Storage and Repairs
26
Plush Penguin Facilities
The Polk Penguin Conservation Center Features Wave Machines and Rocks
25
Floating Office Walls
Stéphane Malka's Workspace Barriers Offer Mobile Design for Agoratic
24
Multifunctional Floating Classrooms
These Danish Harbor Baths Double as School Classrooms
23
Parking Lot-Adjacent Dwellings
The 'ZEDpod' is a Low-Carbon Building Design that's Affordable
22
Crescent Viking Museums
The AART Architects Conceptual Building Design Opts for a Curved Aesthetic
21
Levitating House Concepts
The Lira Luis Prototype for Flood-Avoiding Homes Don't Touch the Ground
20
Collaborative Co-Op Offices
The CoLab Space Features an Open-Concept Layout for Community Working
19
Starry Beach Shelters
The Stargazer's Cabin Lets Beachgoers Admire a Star-Filled Ceiling
18
Solar-Powered Bus Shelters
London's New Solar Bus Shelters Use Photovoltaic Technology
17
Sustainable Supertall Skyscrapers
The Wuhan Greenland Center EmbracesWater Conservation Measures
16
Landscape-Blending Abodes
The Life House Cleverly Blends Into the Scenery With its Dark Exterior
15
Rejuvenated Office Buildings
The New Ford World Headquarters Will Focus On Employee Well-Being
14
Revitalised Waterfront Condos
The Apeiron Towers Offer a Luxe Redesign to Suit Views of the Marina
13
Contemporary Elderly Residences
This Parisian Apartment Offers Stylish Housing with Medical
12
Inclusive Car Showrooms
This New Vauxhall Showroom Features a Cafe and Kids' Gaming Section
11
Hedge-Topped Crystal Complexes
The Ko-Bogen 2 Crystal Complex Features 2 Kilometers Of Hedges
10
Spectacularly Staggered Skyscrapers
The Vista Tower Will Be Chicago's Third Tallest Building
9
Futuristic Mobile Hospitals
The Transpital Concept Offers Flexible Units For any Departmental Use
8
Motion-Activated Ceilings
This Ceiling Installation Responds to Movements Of People
7
Natural Co-Working Hubs
The Treehouse Project is a Stylish Co-Working Hub in Shoreditch
6
Whimsical Art Institutions
This Drawing Studio Boasts a Sculptural Facade and Spacious Interior
5
Delivery Drone Skyscrapers
The Hive is Envisioned as a Futuristic Drone Docking Station
4
Thermal Energy-Trapping Buildings
The Rocky Mountain Institute's Building is Aptly Eco-Friendly
3
Blocky Residential Towers
This Brooklyn Tower Features a High Proportion of Corner Units
2
Mirrored City Park Concepts
Two Designers Imagine a Way to Extend New York's Central Park
1
Sky-High Wooden Buildings
This New Tower Has Been Designed for London's Barbican Estate
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The Uncharted Tiny Homes 'The Office' Can Be Taken on the Road
Eco-Minded Modular Cabins
The DUB Modular Cabin Has a Cost-Effective Construction
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This Behm Designs Two-Story Tiny House is Efficient
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The Elevate Tiny Home Transforms the Interiors with a Button
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Minimal Mid-Century Hollywood Homes
Studio Qasabian Designs the Mulholland Home in LA
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Serendix's Fujitsubo is Remarkable in the Realm of Affordable Housing
Next-Generation Egg-Shaped Tiny Homes
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The Cosmic ONE is Offered in Three Compact Home Layouts
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Futuristic Auto Micro Factories
Most Architecture Unveils a Modern Factory for Charge Cars
Building Block Tiny Houses
The LEGO Tiny House Was Designed by MOCbuilder on LEGO IDEAS
Low-Cost Modular Prototype Housing
The Industrialized Building System Prototype Can Be Configured
Tranquil Elevated Tiny Homes
Jan Tyrpekl Designs the Cozy Zen House in Austria
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The 'SON.DER' Home Offers Environmentally Responsible Living
War Plane-Inspired Off-Grid Homes
Peter Markos Designs the Tiny Monocoque Cabin
Flax Fiber Floating Homes
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Minimalist Adventurer Tiny Homes
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Arts and Crafts-Inspired Homes
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Customizable Backyard Tiny Homes
My Little House 'Reatreat' is 13-Feet in Length
Sustainable Smart Cottages
The LG Smart Cottage is a Compact Prefab with Cutting-Edge Tech
Wildlife-Embracing Jungle Homes
This House is Fully Exposed to the Costa Rican Jungle
Backyard-Transformed Dwelling Units
Catch Architecture and Obreval Design the ADU Carpintaria
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Minimaliste Designs the Nomad 30 Small Home with Improved Interior
Modern Amenity Micro Dwellings
The Little Tahoma Peak Tiny Home Has House-Inspired Finishings
Geometric Structural Forest Homes
The C House by GetAway Projects has a Half-Hexagonal Shape
Modern Multi-Purpose Japanese Buildings
Akio Isshiki Architect Overhauls an Old Wooden Building
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Box-Like Innovative Apartment Designs
Photon Studio's Designs the Box in the Box Apartment
Bauhaus-Inspired Mobile Doghouses
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Peaceful Wooden-Designed Homes
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Inaugural 3D-Printed Social Housing
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IAAC Designs the MO.CA (MOBILE CATALYST) Mobile Home
Illuminated Narrow Vietnamese Homes
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Vertical Co-Living Neighborhoods
West of West Wins an AIA Competition in San Francisco
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Remote Work-Catering Modern Homes
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Metre Architects' Vessel Project Renovates a Small Space
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