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Herb Garden Integrated with Water Filtration in a Community Café

Authors:
Jessica Tseng, Cesar Juarez
Herb Garden Integrated with Water Filtration in a Community Café
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The Living Wall, comprised of herb planters served by a roof-mounted water filtration system, transforms a compact café into an interactive community space focused on sustainability and user engagement.
5 key facts about this project
01
The Living Wall allows patrons to harvest fresh herbs for their drinks.
02
A roof-mounted water filtration system supports the sustainability of the Living Wall.
03
The café's compact design maximizes functionality within a limited footprint.
04
Flexible configurations encourage various social interactions among visitors.
05
The Moving Grounds concept promotes mobility and adaptability of the café space.

The café design emphasizes a strong connection with nature while providing a functional space for community activities. It is set within an urban environment and features the Living Wall, which acts as both a visual element and a practical divider. This innovative setup encourages visitors to interact with the café, contributing to an inviting and engaging atmosphere.

Living Wall

The Living Wall consists of individual planters filled with herbs, supported by a water collection and filtration system located on the roof. This feature promotes sustainability by allowing customers to pick fresh herbs for their beverages. Such interaction fosters a sense of belonging and attachment to the space, highlighting a growing trend in urban design that encourages community involvement.

Compact Layout

The café’s layout is designed to be compact yet fully functional. Essential equipment such as espresso machines, coffee brewers, and grinders are carefully arranged for easy access. The design minimizes excess built elements, creating a flexible environment that allows for various social interactions. Every area serves a specific purpose, enhancing the overall experience for users and making the space feel more open.

Flexible Design Philosophy

Minimizing built elements while maximizing impact is central to this design. The Living Wall integrates naturally with the surrounding environment, promoting interaction among patrons. This flexible approach encourages diverse uses of the space, allowing the café to adapt to different social needs. Users can experience it in various configurations, reinforcing the role of the café as a community hub.

Moving Grounds Concept

The Moving Grounds idea introduces mobility to the café, promoting activity and engagement. It draws on the social aspects of coffee culture by creating a dynamic atmosphere. This concept encourages the café to be more than just a place to grab a drink; it emphasizes interaction and relationship-building among visitors.

The combination of the Living Wall and flexible spaces fosters connections within the community. It serves as a functional aspect of the café, reinforcing its commitment to sustainability and social involvement.

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The Buildner’s Unbuilt Award 2025: Celebrating Architectural Creativity and Visionary Unbuilt Designs with a Total Prize Fund of €100,000

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The Buildner’s Unbuilt Award 2025 is an international architecture competition dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the value of unrealized architectural designs. It invites architects, designers, and students worldwide to submit visionary projects that have not yet been constructed, highlighting the power of ideas and the creativity behind the design process. By focusing on unbuilt work, the competition aims to bring forward concepts that shape the future of architecture and push the boundaries of the profession. 

Participants can compete in three categories based on project scale: Small Wonders (up to 100 m²), Medium Marvels (101–999 m²), and Large Visions (over 1,000 m²). Each category winner will receive €20,000, and additional prizes include honorable mentions, student awards, and a special Best Presentation Award. Winning projects will gain significant international exposure through Buildner’s publicity campaign and a feature article on ArchDaily, providing a unique opportunity to showcase creative ideas to a global audience. 

The Buildner’s Unbuilt Award 2025 encourages entrants to submit any type of unbuilt project, from conceptual visions to detailed designs, celebrating bold innovation without the constraints of realization. Important deadlines: registration closes on October 30, 2025; submissions are due by November 20, 2025; winners will be announced on December 17, 2025.

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Celebrating your unbuilt architecture visions with a €100,000 prize

100,000€ Prize / 2025 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 100,000 €
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Final registration deadline 30 October 2025

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