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
Charming Eatery Renovations
This Heraklion City Restaurant Recently Completed Renovations
66
Stark Seaside Residences
Okinawa House is a Modern Vacation House That Embraces Minimalism
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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Adaptable Prefab Tiny Homes
Tree Tents Birdhouse Modular is Highly Customizable
Single-Level Tiny Homes
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Compact Mobile Home
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Recycled Tiny Houses
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Floating Canopy Homes
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Modest Row House Projects
ALEXANDRE BERNIER ARCHITECTE Completes the ShoeBox CHB in Montreal
Modular Tiny Home Designs
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Two-Trailer Compact Homes
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Ethereal Feminine Tiny Homes
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Senior-Friendly Tiny Homes
This Home from Dragon Tiny Homes is Great for Downsizing
Sleek Modular German Homes
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Multifunctional Tiny Homes
Julia is a 290-Square-Foot Tiny House by with Convertible Living Zones
Ultra-Efficient Tiny Homes
The Hirondelle Tiny House Offers Remote Workers a Affordable Retreat
Contemporary Rural Dwellings
StudioAC's South Bay House Reinterprets Rural Canadian Architecture
Climate-Responsive Prefab Homes
The Drop Pod House Adapts to Floods and Unexpected Guests
3D-Printed Home Prototypes
The Tiny House LUX 3D-printed Residence in Luxembourg
Historically Inspired Modern Homes
MU Architecture Balances Historic Charm & Modern Sensibilities
Single-Level Tiny Homes
The Audrey by Cozyco Tiny Homes Delivers a Compact One-Level Layout
Award-Winning Multi-Unit Housing Projects
Xuefeng Li of Everest Group Achieves Recognition
Cozy Smart Tiny Homes
The Sonoma Home Offers Modern Comfort and Smart Living in a Tiny Package
Two-Bedroom Compact Homes
Tiny Rubik Fits Two Sleeping Areas into a 20-Foot Tiny House Layout
Low Footprint Compact Houses
The Nano Micro House is an Affordable Living Solution
Spacious Compact Mobile Homes
The Tiny XXL Makes Downsizing More Realistic for Families
Shape‑shifting Retreats
This Modular Off‑Grid House Adapts to Natural Sites with Expandable Walls
Modern Prefabricated Residential Projects
Palette Architecture Designs the Sleek Shift House
Ultra-Minimalist Compact Dwellings
ADRO Reimagines Compact Living in Hong Kong
Reimagined Minimal Parisian Apartments
The Minimalist Cocoon Apartment Maximizes Function in Paris
Thoughtful Residential Architecture Projects
Hacienda Wabi by RA! is Situated in Tulum's Jungles
Pointy Modular Hospitality Architecture
Roman & Dmytro Seliuk Designs the Futuristic Namety Cabins
Expanded Tiny Homes
The Ochoco Tiny House Shows How Extra Width Transforms Compact Design
Compact Modular Forest Cabins
The Digital House Showcases Plug‑in Construction in the Forest
Accessible Designer Tiny Homes
The Ambra by TinyKiwi.house is Compact, Affordable and Feature-Rich
Hydro-Positive Microhomes
Living on Groundwater Rewires a 25 M² Residence to Recharge Aquifers
Refreshing Sustainable Modular Homes
Wittman Estes Designs the Whidbey Puzzle Prefab
Revitalized European Houses
Didea Participates in the '1 Euro House' Initiative
Architectural Community Spaces
The Street Clubhouse Forms Social Connection Through Open Design
Courtyard Brick Houses
The Threshold House by Madras Spaces Uses Simple Rural Materials
Reimagined Micro Homes
The Mark VI Vic Tiny House Champions Comfort in Compact Form
Compact Japanese Moden Homes
Nozawa is a 20-Foot Tiny Home Based on Traditional Japanese Design
Disease-Alleviating Home Designs
The Star Homes Project is a Significant Venture
Minimalist Contemporary Home Designs
Hock Hoon Proudly Delivers the Hitotema Home Project
Mahogany Intergenerational Homes
The Mahogany House by R ARCHITECTURE is Chic and Contemporary
Converted Industrial Homes
A 1960s Warehouse Transforms into a Residence Honoring Its Raw Design
Compact Living Solutions
Ambra is a Compact Modular Housing System Designed for Flexible Use
Modular Bamboo Housing
Housing NOW is a Modular Bamboo Housing System by Blue Temple in Myanmar
Artist Apartment Conversions
Alan Prekop Studio Alters a Disused Office into a Space for Artists
Modular Living Structures
Modular BV System Redefines Prefabricated Homes Sustainability in Brazil
Japan-Inspired Tiny Houses
The Mizuho House by Ikigai Collective is a Small Residential Project
Adaptive Family Residences
A 1920s London Home is Transformed into No Ordinary House
Living Landscape Homes
Hedge and Arbour House by Studio Bright Merges Garden and Architecture
Modernist Home Renovations
The Bauhaus Budapest Apartment Receives a Contemporary Refresh
Eco‑tiny Sanctuarys
The TIGÍN Tiny Homes Reimagine Starter Living with a Hemp-Clad Design
Designer-Led Modular Furniture Systems
USM and Alexander May Produce 'The Architecture of Work'
Parking Lot-Transformed Homes
Maritau Arqui Completed the Octa House on a Japanese Island
Inward-Focused House Architecture
Inverted House Redefines the Boundary Between House and Fence
Climate-Smart Rural Designs
Vernacular Home Cools Interiors with Passive Clay-Pot Ventilation
Eco-Focused Family Housing
Rewild Homes Moves Environmental Design into Realistic Living
All-Glass Mesmerizing Compact Homes
Elsewhere Pods Designs the Tiny Beaufort Bushland Retreat
Compact 3d-Printed Housing
The Tiny House Lux is Helping Address Luxembourg’s Housing Shortage
Modernism-Themed Residence Collections
Lindal Homes Presents its Evolve Collection of Homes
Minimalist Beach House Designs
ARP - Architecture Research Practice Tackles a 1980s Beach House
Modular Retail Product-Designed Homes
The Muji Muji 5.5 House is Filled with Muji Products
Wood-Framed Housing Blocks
Common Woods Housing by Space&matter Places Timber at the Core
Compact Sustainable Homes
Quadrapol Introduces the Cabana as a Tiny Dwelling That Rethinks Space
Stationary Compact Dwellings
Craft House's Lukas Tiny Home Removes Wheels for a Fixed Setup
Elevated Flood Refuge Homes
The Lift House Reimagines a Red Cottage That Rises with Flood Waters
Housing Collective Projects
La Comunidad Habitacional by Cierto Estudio Forms Shared Urban Spaces
Ceramic Modern Houses
The Hillsborough Residence Blends Modern Design with Sculptural Ceramics
Renovated Parisian Flats
Hauvette & Madani Architecture Uses Nature as a Frame in Paris Apartment
Compact Urban Dwellings
Miami Tiny House Applies Modern Design to a Small Residential Footprint
Modular Workplace Architecture Trends
DualSpace Studio Debuted the Adapatable 'ELIT Office'
Parisian Social Housing Projects
PietriArchitectes Built 34 Units for Social Housing
Inversion Living Concepts
The Tiny Getaway Explores Upside-Down Living in Compact Spaces
Moon-Bound Architectural Installations
The Moonhouse Project Fuses Conceptual Art and Space Tech
Staggered Modern Apartments
OSPA Arquitetura E Urbanismo Reimagines Urban Residential Living
Solar Powered Compact Homes
The E55000 Modular Off Grid Home Brings Expandable Living Upfront
Innovative Steel Laneway Houses
Weiss Architecture & Urbanism Limited Presents a Striking Project
Compact Shelter Designs
Zodiac Building Accommodation Uses Modular Pods for Flexible Living Space
Modern Scandinavian Compact Homes
Dragon Tiny Homes Unveils the Kemi 2025 Model
Modern Mobile Cabin Concepts
HYTTE Mobile Home Concept by RE:BURO Reimagines Rv Living
Terraced Urban Residences
House in Minami-Azabu Organizes Spaces Across Staggered Levels in Tokyo
Sustainable Semi-Detached Homes
V8 Architects Presents the Villa Residu Design in the Netherlands
3d-Printed Vaulted Dwelling
Underground House of the Future Reinvents Cave Home with Brick Vaults
Apartment-Inspired Drawer Concepts
Focus Studio Presents the Smart APT Drawers Concept
Compact Urban Residences
The Stealth House by Specht Novak Redefines Private Living in Austin
Contemporary Italian Villas
MoDusArchitects Completed Hometown House in Italy
Nationwide Home-Building Programs
Canada Launched the 'Build Canada Homes' Program
Refined Residential Architecture Projects
Min Design Tackles Constrained Urban Spaces
Minimal Housing Terraces
Houses on Rue De Clermont is a Compact Residential Project in Paris
Resilient Modular Bamboo Housing
Housing NOW by Blue Temple is Resilient in the Face of Disaster
Reading-Focused Compact Houses
Backcountry Tiny Homes Designs the Library Tiny House
Compact Civic Workspaces
The Stroud Green Housing Centre Creates a Modest Community Hub
Modern Vietnamese Dwellings
Tien Giang House by Tropical Space Honors Traditional Architecture
Homelessness-Focused Architecture Studies
Architecture Without Borders Quebec Identifies Issues
Affordable Smart Community Projects
Arrow Electronics and Habitat for Humanity Collaborate
Sophisticated Government Office Designs
Agata Kurzela Tackles a Heritage Building in Abu Dhabi
Contemporary Weatherized Homes
OOF! Architecture Designs the Acute House for a Family
Adaptive Corner Houses
Ian Moore Architects’ Corner House converts a former shop into a residence
Blue Multifunctional Apartments
Blue Box Apartment by Bruzkus Greenberg Reorganises a Berlin Attic
Compact Corner Residences
MoDus Architect's Hometown House Reconfigures a Urban Corner Site
Bright Stacked Box Houses
Light House by Studioninedots Forms a Vertical Family Home
Compact Family Homes
Vagabond Haven’s Zenith Tiny House Fits Four People Within 473 Square Feet
Reimagined Slim Living Designs
The Slim Fit House Shows How Narrow Lot Homes Can Feel Spacious
Triangular Social Housing
The Lady Raval Social Housing Rethinks Density and Daylight in Barcelona
Bright Urban Apartments
Ooiio Architecture’s House 64 Renovation Transforms a 1960 Flat
Eco-Friendly Modular Refugee Shelters
AllSpace has Designed a Special Shelter Prototype
Adaptive Backyard Studios
Love Shack Adapts Reclaimed Materials into a Multifunctional Pavilion
Adaptive Bunker Housing
The SAR Residence by OAD Converts Military Bunkers into a Coastal Home
Revived Stone Sheds
A Compact Stone Cabin Gains Quiet Charm in a Modern Micro-Home Renovation
Sculptural Inverted Homes
Fala Atelier’s Porto House Flips a Roof for an Expressive Architecture
Contemporart Multi-Purpose Facilities
Alva Roy Architects Complete the Nexus House
Pavilion-Style Art Homes
Casa Galeria by BLOCO Architects Merges Living and Gallery Space
Tree-Lined Striking Modern Residences
Palette Architecture Designs the Shift House in New York
Compact Urban Residences
House in Nakano by HoaaHOAABalances Privacy and Openness
Narrow Urban Houses
Casa MA by RUA 141 arquitectura Spans a 13 Foot Wide Site in São Paulo
Hillside Wooden Houses
The House in Takahatayama Shapes Living Spaces Around Terrain
Domed Shelter-Like Holiday Homes
Anastasiya Dudik Designs the HATA Building in California
Refined Modern Dwellings
The Silver House Reinterprets a Traditional Home with Minimalist Design
Dual-Purpose Residential Designs
2in1 Houses by Mxarchitecture Unites Two Back-To-Back Homes
Modern Mountainous Luxury Homes
Robert Chisholm Architects Designs a New Home in the Wilderness
Sleek Fire-Resistant ADUs
The Polyhaus Tetra-One Could Reshape California Housing with Resilience
Renewed Kyoto Townhouses
Studio Aluc Transforms a Historic Kyoto Townhouse into Modern Lodging
Upside-Down Tiny House Layouts
Lou Tiny House Unveiled the Véronique Tiny Home Model
Redesigned Curved Apartments
Curved Apartment Interior Has a New Layout Shaped by Soft Geometry
Minimal Cork Residences
Atelier Local House in Valongo Rethinks Heritage and Simplicity
Slender Alley Dwelling Revivals
The Brown House Uses Ecological Materials to Redefine Urban Infill
Peaceful Compact Vibrant Residences
Dragon Tiny Homes Designs a New Home on a Triple Axle Trailer
Minimal Retail Spatial Strategies
UP2DATE Architects Debuted Messa House In Almaty
Compact Cottage Revivals
This Rustic Renovation Breathes New Life into a Tiny Village Structure
Low-Impact Garden Dwellings
The Senior Shelter Offers a Connected Space for Aging Family Members
Compact Stone Conversions
Figuier House by Bétyle Studio Alters a Former Agricultural Outbuilding
Compact Madrid Residences
The Former Shop by Burr Studio Becomes an Efficient Two-Level Home
Vertical Rooftop Tiny Homes
Craft House Introduced The Erica Scandinavian-Finished Tiny Home
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The FM Apartment in São Paulo Showcases Vibrant Industrial Interiors