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Interactive Greenhouse with Vertical Planters Enhancing Urban Food Production

Author:
Thea Fries
Interactive Greenhouse with Vertical Planters Enhancing Urban Food Production

Project in-detail

An interactive greenhouse utilizing a double skin facade and vertical planters addresses urban food production while providing panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.
5 key facts about this project
01
Interactive vertical planters enhance user engagement with food growth.
02
Double skin facade improves thermal efficiency and energy management.
03
Panoramic views connect occupants to the surrounding landscape.
04
Designed specifically for cultivating tropical foods indoors.
05
Central pathway merges indoor and outdoor experiences for users.

The GREENSKIN project combines greenhouse elements with a functional architectural design, located in an environment focused on sustainability and user interaction. The main feature is a double skin facade that serves a dual purpose: it offers necessary warmth for growing tropical foods indoors and allows for vast 360-degree views of the outside landscape. By merging agricultural practices with living spaces, the design reimagines how people engage with food sources while addressing energy efficiency.

Design Concept

At the heart of the design is a solution that reduces the temperature difference needed to heat a fully glazed building in colder climates. This dual facade improves thermal comfort and encourages occupants to think about the relationship between city life and farming. GREENSKIN creates a space that invites users to connect with the food they consume, providing insights into agriculture.

Functionality

The interior layout includes areas for dining and social gatherings, where people can look out onto the greenhouse. This arrangement enriches the experience, creating chances for meaningful interaction with agricultural practices. Encouraging users to take part in the growing process helps merge cooking with sustainable living.

Spatial Dynamics

The design incorporates a central interactive greenhouse, serving as a pathway that encourages movement and interaction. This approach promotes connections between inside and outside spaces. A landscape viewing platform enhances the experience further, allowing users to stay connected with both the greenhouse and the surrounding environment.

Material Implications

While the presentation does not specify materials used, the focus on thermal management hints at using effective building solutions that support the greenhouse structure. The design emphasizes energy efficiency and sustainability, reflecting a trend toward combining functional needs with environmental awareness.

Vertical planters line the walls of the greenhouse, introducing layers of greenery that not only enhance aesthetics but also support biodiversity. This design choice helps create a better microclimate, contributing positively to the overall environment while allowing the space to thrive with life.

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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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Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
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MICROHOME
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