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Repurposed Oil Rigs Supporting Aquatic Communities with Urban Farming

Authors:
Mark Van wasbeek, Jules Stefelmanns
Repurposed Oil Rigs Supporting Aquatic Communities with Urban Farming

Project in-detail

Repurposed oil rigs form the foundation for a resilient water-based community, integrating fish farms and urban agriculture to create a sustainable habitat for future residents.
5 key facts about this project
01
Repurposed oil rigs serve as structural foundations for the community.
02
Central tower integrates multifunctional spaces for living and working.
03
Fish farms and plastic harvesting stations enhance sustainability.
04
Designed to adapt to rising sea levels and environmental changes.
05
Urban farming towers support local food production and energy generation.

The design project presents a vision for a post-sustainable urban environment set in the Netherlands in the year 2050. It addresses significant issues caused by climate change, such as rising sea levels and reduced land for agriculture. The concept revolves around a new society called Homo Maritimus, which lives on water. This community integrates residential, ecological, and technological features to create a functional and sustainable habitat.

Urban Structure

A central tower lies at the heart of the design, placed at the junction of two primary waterways. This tower serves various purposes for the water-based community. Its architectural form indicates a move toward sustainable living while acknowledging past environmental impacts. The tower acts as a center for community life, facilitating commercial activities alongside leisure spaces and promoting a lifestyle rooted in cooperation.

Community Integration

The layout encourages a close relationship between the tower and the surrounding environment. The arrangement of spaces within the tower enhances connections among residents, encouraging collaboration and resource sharing. Different zones for commercial, recreational, and residential use form a cohesive urban landscape. This organization makes the most of the available space, contributing to the overall functionality of the community while ensuring comfort for its inhabitants.

Ecological Considerations

Sustainability drives the design approach, with various ecological components included throughout the project. Surrounding the tower, there are fish farms, stations for plastic harvesting, and urban farm towers. These features highlight a commitment to environmental care. The community relies on modern agricultural techniques and renewable energy sourced from sunlight and wind, aiming for self-sufficiency in its daily operations.

The design emphasizes adaptability, balancing practical needs with environmental responsibility. The tower stands as a symbol of the community's ability to thrive in a changing landscape, showcasing a forward-thinking approach to living sustainably on water.

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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

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
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