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Balconies of Greenery Overlooking The Urban Forest

Author:
Awab Mohamed
Balconies of Greenery Overlooking The Urban Forest

Project in-detail

Multiple green balconies create a vertical landscape that enhances air quality and provides shade, while the accessible podium integrates a public park atmosphere, serving as a modern workspace.
5 key facts about this project
01
Multiple balconies with locally adapted vegetation enhance air quality and provide natural shade.
02
The podium serves as a public park, integrating green space for community use.
03
Greywater from restrooms irrigates the building's vegetation, promoting sustainable water use.
04
The design creates a microenvironment that supports local wildlife.
05
The tower's location near The Sunut Forest emphasizes the connection between urban living and nature.

The Silva Skyscraper is an architectural advancement located at the intersection of the White Nile and the Blue Nile, close to The Sunut Forest in Sudan. It functions mainly as a workspace, bringing together office environments and natural elements. The design concept centers on improving the well-being of workers through a stronger connection with nature, reflected in the name "SILVA," which means "forest" in Latin.

Vertical Landscape

The tower rises 29 stories, combining executive offices and general office spaces. A defining feature is its façade, which has balconies filled with vegetation that can thrive in the local environment. This greenery not only provides shade but also helps to clean the air and lessen the impact of dust storms, thereby creating a more enjoyable working space.

Public Realm

Beneath the tower, the podium serves as a large park that employees and the wider community can visit. Covering 70% of the area, this open plaza features retail shops and food outlets. It encourages people to gather and interact, fostering a lively public space that helps bridge the gap between work and leisure.

Sustainable Systems

The building also incorporates a sustainable irrigation system that uses greywater from the restrooms to water the vegetation on the balconies. This innovative strategy eliminates waste and demonstrates a commitment to using resources thoughtfully, aligning with the overall aim of connecting built spaces with nature.

User Experience

Through its design, the Silva Skyscraper offers an experience that blends work and nature. The thoughtful inclusion of greenery creates a small ecosystem that enhances the office environment. This setup promotes productivity, making it easier for workers to feel at ease and engaged throughout the day.

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MICROHOME 10: Celebrating Small-Scale Living with €100,000 Prize Fund and Kingspan’s Innovation

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Competition organisers

The MICROHOME 10 competition invites participants to submit visionary designs for off-grid, modular microhomes that push the limits of sustainable, small-scale living. Organised by Buildner in partnership with Kingspan and Hapi Homes, this tenth edition sets the challenge of designing a dwelling for two people within a maximum floor area of 25 m², encouraging bold solutions adaptable to any urban or rural location. The competition continues Buildner’s mission to foster innovative approaches to compact, energy-efficient housing that can address pressing global challenges.

This year’s edition offers a generous total prize fund of €100,000, including the Kingspan Award for designs that integrate high-performance Kingspan products and the Hapi Homes Award for a project selected for real-world construction. In addition to cash prizes, the winners gain international exposure through Buildner’s media partnerships, publications, and a dedicated MICROHOME magazine, further amplifying their ideas to the wider architectural community.

Key dates for MICROHOME 10 include the closing date for registration on 25 September 2025, the submission deadline on 29 October 2025 (11:59 p.m. London time), and the announcement of winners on 9 December 2025. These milestones ensure participants have clear timelines to develop and present their concepts, with early registration discounts available to support students and emerging designers worldwide.

MICROHOME

Design a new small-scale home concept in the 10th edition of MICROHOME — 100,000 € prize + construction

100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 100,000 € + Potential realisation
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 25 September 2025

Enter an open architecture
competition now

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