In October 2025, a team from Penney Design Group proudly entered the 10th Edition of the MICROHOME Architecture Competition, an international challenge celebrating small-scale architecture with a huge impact.

Hosted by Buildner in collaboration with Kingspan, this milestone edition invited architects and designers to rethink compact, sustainable housing. This year’s competition introduced an exciting opportunity: one winning design will be selected for construction by Hapi Homes, alongside a €15,000 prize awarded to its designer.

The challenge?
Design an off-grid modular dwelling under 269 sq.ft. for a young professional couple, redefining what compact, efficient, and sustainable living can look like.

Our team responded with a bold and meaningful proposal: reROOT.

reROOT: Rebuilding, Rerooting, Resilient Living

reROOT envisions a future where language, culture, and environment converge to shape disaster-resilient housing anchored to a tropical hillside.

As global temperatures rise and extreme weather events intensify, reROOT addresses a critical question:

How can we rebuild communities in ways that are stronger, more adaptive, and more joyful than before?

Rather than replicating structures lost to natural disasters, the proposal introduces a modular prototype designed to rebuild, reroot, and sustain. The architecture expresses protection, resilience, and endurance — marrying time-tested traditional wisdom with innovative contemporary strategies.

It is not just shelter.
It is the calm after the storm.

Site Context: Tagaytay City, Cavite

The team selected Tagaytay City along the Tagaytay Ridge in the Philippines, a location defined by panoramic views of Taal Lake and Volcano.

Tagaytay embodies both beauty and vulnerability.

It’s hot, humid climate and elevated terrain make it one of Southern Luzon’s most desirable destinations. Yet it also faces significant risks from typhoons, seismic activity, and volcanic events. Rapid urban and tourism growth further underscores the need for adaptive, sustainable design.

For the PDG team, this setting became an opportunity:
to transform environmental risk into architectural innovation.

Redefining Resilience

reROOT expands the meaning of resilience beyond resistance. It proposes architecture that adapts, evolves, and thrives within dynamic conditions.

Key Strategies

• Passive Design
  Maximized natural ventilation, daylight access, and thermal comfort reduce energy demand in a hot, humid climate.
• Water Systems
  Integrated rainwater harvesting and greywater reuse support off-grid functionality.
• Local Materials
  Regionally sourced, low-carbon materials reduce environmental impact while honoring local craftsmanship.
• Landscape Integration
  Native vegetation, green buffers, and contour-sensitive planning stabilize slopes and enhance biodiversity.
• Structural Resilience
  Flexible systems designed to withstand seismic and wind loads, with elevated modular configurations adaptable to hazard conditions.
• Community Spaces
  Multi-use areas that serve as both social hubs and safe zones during emergencies.

A Vision for Future Communities

The project envisions a community that mirrors Tagaytay’s essence — peaceful yet powerful, rooted in nature yet forward-looking.

Through careful site analysis and thoughtful architectural response, reROOT demonstrates that:

• Safety and beauty can coexist.
• Sustainability and comfort are not mutually exclusive.
• Compact design can deliver expansive impact.

More than a competition entry, reROOT is a prototype for future communities facing increasingly frequent and intense climate events. It positions architecture as both protection and partnership with nature.

Celebrating Our Team

We are incredibly proud of our PDG team for their innovation, research, and dedication in developing this concept. Participating in MICROHOME 10 reflects our commitment to advancing sustainable, resilient design on a global stage.

Small footprint.
Big vision.
Lasting impact.

CLICK HERE to see the full presentation boards.