Luxembourg’s housing shortage is both quantitative and qualitative. Between 2015 and 2022, property prices surged by 60%, averaging €7,000–11,000 per square metre, while rents claim nearly a third of household incomes. Yet the city’s stock is poorly suited to current needs: more than a third of homes exceed 150 square metres, while only 1.3% are smaller than 30. Affordable, appropriately sized housing for singles or young couples is almost nonexistent, and while government subsidies have widened eligibility to include the lower-middle class, waiting lists indicate that it could take another decade to meet the current demand. As Claude Meisch, Minister for Housing, told the Luxembourg Times, when it comes to affordable housing, the country “has some catching up to do.”

While not a one-size-fits all solution, Sideshore’s microhome—a proposal submitted to the Kingspan 2024/25 Microhome Architecture Competition—has the potential to address these gaps through strategic scale and efficiency. Measuring 25 square meters in footprint but providing 40 square meters of habitable space over three levels, the microhome is entirely self-sufficient, operating independently of the city’s power, water and sewage infrastructure. 

The uniquely angular design of the microhome was informed by solar analysis. Optimised for energy capture, the rooftop features integrated photovoltaic panels its shape optimised for energy capture. The rooftop features integrated photovoltaic panels for generating electricity, with additional batteries storing electricity on site. Rainwater is collected and filtered; shower water is recycled through a semi-enclosed purification system; and a dry toilet reduces both water consumption and waste. 

Material choices reinforce the project’s ecological ethos. Locally sourced cross-laminated timber (CLT) and wood-fibre insulation provide passive thermal comfort, while recycled plastic cladding and an aluminium chassis offer durability and lightness. Prefabrication allows rapid assembly and potential relocation, and over 90% of materials are recoverable at end-of-life, ensuring the home leaves a minimal environmental footprint.

Internally, the home is compact but versatile. The front door opens into an entry space with a staircase that leads to an elevated studio that accommodates a kitchen, dining and lounge area, which doubles as a workspace. A wood-burning stove anchors the room, while triple-glazed sliding doors open to a sheltered balcony, extending the interior into the surrounding landscape. Above, a mezzanine loft provides a private sleeping area beneath a pitched roof. Outside, the shape of the building creates a sheltered entryway, and to the rear residents have direct access to storage and the building’s water and energy systems. 

Sideshore’s design also considers community and context. Positioned at the edge of the city where farmland begins, the microhomes are arranged in staggered pairs. Porches are subtly oriented toward neighbours, creating a sense of social cohesion without compromising privacy. The staggered layout reduces the visual footprint of the settlement, allowing it to blend harmoniously into the landscape.