Denver Micro-Housing Competition Demonstrates Global Interest in Compact Housing Solutions

A recent international competition, launched by a local Denver firm and sponsored by the city's architectural league, sought micro-housing proposals for a site in Denver's River North neighborhood. To the surprise of organizers, it received entries from over 70 different countries.

“'Clearly, there’s a global interest in microhousing,' says longtime Denver architect George Hoover, who chaired the six-person jury. Certainly there is a national push for housing with units of 300 square feet or smaller," explains Hill. "Projects are being explored and built in such cities as Boston, New York, and San Francisco, where the cost of living is high."

First place went to Mexico-based Studio de Arquitectura a Ciudad for its modular facade, which adapts to climate changes through removable planted pods fixed to a grid framework, and interior units that adapt to family size and needs.

All of the entries in the competition will be on view at the AIA National Convention through June 21.