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Algae-Powered Living with Aluminum Panels for Sustainable Micro Homes

Authors:
Darien Too, Qin Hong Tang, Bruce Yee, Dennis Ng
Algae-Powered Living with Aluminum Panels for Sustainable Micro Homes
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Utilizing a Micro Algae Bioreactor System and aluminum panels, these sustainable micro homes address energy efficiency and climate resilience while fostering self-sufficiency in urban living.
5 key facts about this project
01
Micro Algae Bioreactor System supports energy production and oxygen generation.
02
Homes are designed to utilize captured carbon dioxide from external emissions.
03
Biomass from algae is converted into biofuel for sustainable energy use.
04
Indoor farming units promote self-sufficiency and urban food production.
05
Aluminum panels provide structural integrity while enhancing energy efficiency.

The design responds to the urgent issues of climate change, particularly for coastal cities like Singapore that are experiencing rising sea levels. The focus is on creating sustainable micro homes that incorporate advanced technologies to tackle energy challenges related to flooding. The approach emphasizes harmony between urban living and ecological principles, aiming for self-sufficiency while enhancing quality of life.

Micro Algae Bioreactor System

At the center of the design is the Micro Algae Bioreactor System. This system employs a complex circulatory mechanism to sustain the algae, allowing it to thrive. By facilitating the movement of water, phosphorus, and nitrogen, the system creates an environment conducive to growth. Carbon dioxide from external sources is captured and transferred into the water mixed with various strains of algae. This process enables effective photosynthesis, producing oxygen and increasing biomass, which benefits the surrounding atmosphere.

Sustainability and Energy Efficiency

A key feature is the Bio Intelligent Quotient (BIQ). It can fulfill about one-third of its water-heating needs using biomass fuel and heat generated within the bioreactor panels. The biomass is regularly filtered out as a soft pulp, which is then processed into biofuel. This design establishes a closed-loop system that improves energy efficiency and emphasizes waste reduction, reflecting a commitment to sustainable living.

Integrated Living Solutions

The design includes an indoor farming unit, allowing residents to grow food within their homes. This aspect fosters self-sufficiency, connecting people directly with their food sources. Additional functional elements, such as portable water filters, grey water treatment tanks, and battery generators, help maintain comfortable living conditions while ensuring environmentally responsible practices.

Aluminum roof panels are used for their structural strength and energy efficiency. This careful choice of material supports the overall system while ensuring the micro homes are resilient against the challenges posed by climate change. The design emphasizes practicality and sustainability, promoting innovative solutions to the pressing environmental issues faced today.

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The Next House: USA — A Global Call to Reimagine the American Suburb

`
Competition organisers

Buildner is launching The Next House: USA, a global architecture competition that challenges architects, designers, and thinkers to reimagine the American suburban home for the 21st century. For decades, the suburban house has symbolized comfort and stability, but today it often reflects excess, isolation, and environmental strain. This competition asks: how can the American home evolve to address climate urgency, economic pressures, and shifting social values?

Participants are tasked with designing a prototype home of no more than 1,500 sq ft (≈140 m²) for a household of two adults and one child. The design should be compact yet generous, adaptable, sustainable, affordable, and replicable across diverse U.S. contexts. More than a design exercise, the competition aims to spark a conversation about how homes can support healthier, smarter, and more connected communities.

The total prize fund is $20,000 USD. The final registration deadline is May 20, 2026, and winners will be announced on September 22, 2026. The Next House: USA invites architects, students, and visionaries worldwide to redefine what the American home means today—and what it should mean tomorrow.

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