Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

Learn from past Buildner architecture competition participants through our extensive project library, curated over more than 15 years!

Modular Steel Towers with Shipping Containers Embracing Coastal Biodiversity

Authors:
Yu heng Lim, Shichan Shen, Yun chou Han
Modular Steel Towers with Shipping Containers Embracing Coastal Biodiversity

Project in-detail

Constructed from refurbished shipping containers, the design merges vertical towers with a strong modular steel framework to create a vibrant mixed-use community that supports both human activity and local marine habitats.
5 key facts about this project
01
Refurbished shipping containers are integrated into the vertical towers for sustainable construction.
02
The design includes habitats for local marine life beneath the elevated structures.
03
A modular steel framework supports the towers, enabling flexibility in usage and resilience.
04
Community spaces are woven throughout, promoting interaction among residents and visitors.
05
Flood resilience strategies are embedded within the design to address coastal vulnerabilities.

The City of The Sea project responds to Singapore's urgent need for land while enhancing its role as a significant global shipping hub. It aims to consolidate existing port facilities into one large site at Tuas, optimizing land use and revisiting the way urban areas connect with the sea. The concept focuses on vertical structures, featuring towers that rise along the island's coastline, creating spaces for both living and working.

Integration of Shipping Containers

Retired shipping containers play a central role in the design. These containers are set to be cleaned and repainted before their use, making them functional building components that bring sustainability into the project. This approach not only utilizes available resources but also introduces a model for adaptive reuse in urban settings, showing how past materials can find new life.

Mixed-Use Development

The towers are designed to accommodate a varied mix of uses—residential, recreational, and commercial. This blend aims to cultivate a lively community atmosphere, reflecting Singapore’s identity as an active port city. Arranging these functions together encourages interaction among people and enriches daily life, allowing for a blend of activities in a single location.

Ecological Considerations

Environmental sustainability is a key aspect of the design. By incorporating sunken containers, the project creates spaces that support local marine life, addressing concerns related to urbanization and its effects on nature. These areas serve as habitats for aquatic organisms while also acting as a natural barrier against flooding, illustrating a commitment to preserving biodiversity alongside development.

Structural Design and Resilience

The structure's elevated design rests on a strong steel framework. This framework not only aids in effective drainage but also provides resilience against flooding, which is vital for coastal areas like Singapore. Together, these structural elements create an environment that bridges human activities and the marine landscape, reflecting a thoughtful response to both urban needs and environmental realities.

At the lower levels of the towers, gentle slopes and accessible terraces invite nature to thrive close to urban life. This design detail encourages a connection between the built environment and the natural world, offering spaces where both can coexist.

Noticed a mistake?
Highlight the text and click on
Noticed a mistake

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

`
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

Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
100,000€ Prize / 2025
Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
Affordable Housing Series 19th Edition
The Architect's 
Chair
The Architect's Chair
Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #4
MICROHOME
MICROHOME
100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10
Kinderspace
Kinderspace
Architecture for Children’s Development #3
To view this project in detail,
please log in with your
Architects’ Network Plus account.
Subscription instantly unlocks all the architecture projects plus other member-only benefits:
  • Access the 17,725 Concept Library
  • Professional tools including file transfer, email, portfolio management, and more
Register now
Already a member? Log in

This website uses cookies to improve user experience and gather usage statistics.

More information is available in our Privacy & Cookie policy