Volume Zero invites each one of you to participate in the 22nd edition of our architectural competitions and the 4th edition of the Tiny House Architecture Competition. This year’s Tiny House aims to celebrate individuality, reimagine sustainability, and to exalt simple, innovative yet resourceful living. The Tiny House Movement is also a platform that not only explores the avenues of ‘mobile’ or ‘Off the Grid’ Living spaces but also the freedom and independence they would offer. Come be a part of this movement; join a new wave of habitat designers!   

A Home is a space that is intimate to all of us. It goes beyond the everyday function of being a physical shelter for people and their activities; a home connects with its users at a personal and emotional level. Our humble abodes are being redefined with every passing day. 

The world is changing constantly, and along with it, our homes are seeing us spend more time within them. The built form of a home is evolving rapidly, its design adapting to various other needs that were not limited to this space before. Homes today are versatile entities – doubling up as offices, play areas, work-out zones, spaces for interaction, and recreation, and also being an abode for our furry friends and providing for their needs.  

 A space that is transformative, multi-functional, and ever-evolving to adapt to us and our loved ones.  A Home is no longer just a place you live in but is a place that lives with you. 

Less House, More Home! 

OPPORTUNITY:  Our world is changing at a pace unheard of ever before with events unfolding across the globe and the Human race witnessing advancements across all arenas of life.  As our needs are evolving, so are the house designs. Designing outside of the box has become increasingly important as the focus is shifting to climatic responsibility, decreasing land availability and economic feasibility. It is inevitable today to utilize space efficiently and effectively that not only fulfills our needs and anticipates our desires but also moves the world towards sustainability. 

 With the environmental and financial setbacks that we face today coupled with the effects of the pandemic and other factors in recent years, the desire to have more freedom has led people to follow simpler and efficient ways of living. In addition to shelter, a home must serve as an office, a full-time kitchen, an entertainment area, and a place for peace. Having one home act in all these roles is a challenge that designers have to cater to for a variety of spatial experiences. It is time to put our creative and innovative devices to use and to craft a very intimate, providing, and nurturing experience- A Home! 

 The Tiny House Movement, once again, celebrates the concept of simple yet resourceful living. The homes can be designed to re-imagine sustainability through the concept of maximum usable space in a minimum footprint. 

 Living Small, Yet Living It All! 

CHALLENGE:  Participants are to design a Tiny House for 2 people that would provide a comfortable living space. The design of the Tiny House should be innovative and creative with a sustainable edge.  

 The area of the proposed Tiny House should not exceed 300 sq. ft., where mobility is a vital factor. The house need not have the ability to transfer itself from place to place; it could be treated as a unit or an assembly of units that can be towed/moved easily by a car or a pickup truck. However, the participants can avoid the issue of mobility altogether by choosing a permanent site and providing a strong justification for the same. 

 The relation between the exterior surroundings and the interior spaces must be taken into consideration in cases of both fixed and changeable sites. The proposed design should be well-conceptualized and is required to be off the grid as much as possible. 

 The Interior Spaces should include the following:

  • Living Area
  • Toilet space
  • Sleeping Area for 2
  • Workspace •
  • Cooking and Dining Area
  • Recreational spaces
  • Any other function that the participant wishes to add to the habitat 

Client Interaction is one of the most critical components of the design proposal. For the purpose of this competition, participants may assume their client to be an individual, a couple, two separate individuals, or multiple genres of individuals based on the design concept. Keep in mind that a good designer would anticipate not just the needs of the users but also the needs of the future of the users. 

SITE: The participants can choose a site according to their design proposals. The location can be either an urban or a rural area anywhere across the world. The design should be integrated well with the selected site and the selected site must strongly justify the design proposal.