09/10/2026
JUNIPER | Birmingham, Alabama
What can 271 square feet become when every inch is designed with purpose?
Juniper is a small-scale housing concept designed for Birmingham that explores how architecture can provide greater independence, dignity, and connection for adults with disabilities, seniors, and others too often overlooked in conversations about housing.
Each 271 SF home is compact but highly functional, incorporating fold-down furniture, built-in storage, and fully accessible kitchens and baths. Rather than thinking of the homes as isolated objects, Juniper is conceived as a series of small neighborhoods—using vacant or underutilized lots to create places where residents can live independently while still being part of a community.
Patios, accessible pathways, and shared outdoor spaces extend each home beyond its walls, while solar power, rainwater collection, durable materials, and a compact footprint help reduce both environmental impact and long-term operating costs.
Originally developed for the 10th Edition Microhome International Design Competition, sponsored by Kingspan, Juniper asks a larger question: How can small architecture make a meaningful difference in the life of a person, a neighborhood, and a city?
For Birmingham, we believe that is a question worth exploring.
