Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Vertical Farming Hub Featuring Floating Greenhouses and Algae Farms

Authors:
Nuoyan Xu, Qingfeng Liang, Yongruo Xue
Vertical Farming Hub Featuring Floating Greenhouses and Algae Farms

Project in-detail

Employing floating greenhouses and algae farms, the design serves as a vertical agricultural hub that promotes sustainable practices within an urban context.
5 key facts about this project
01
Vertical integration of multiple agricultural systems, enhancing space efficiency.
02
Adaptation of existing cooling towers to support resource recycling.
03
Incorporation of interactive educational spaces for community engagement.
04
Utilization of floating greenhouses to optimize urban food production.
05
Design structured to allow for upward replication as demand increases.

The Agricultural Rehabilitation Tower is located in Shenyang, Liaoning Province, an area known for its heavy industry. The design addresses the important issue of urban agriculture while also focusing on the need to protect farmland in a context where land prices are climbing. The concept involves creating a vertical agricultural facility that combines various sustainable farming practices within a multifunctional space that includes offices, an agro-ecological research institute, and a market.

Structural Design

The tower occupies a footprint of 6,400 square meters. It is designed to enhance agricultural output by making effective use of vertical space. Key elements include floating greenhouses, algae farms, and vertical seed banks, which allow various farming techniques to flourish in an urban environment. The vertical design not only maximizes land use but also supports multiple agricultural methods suited for city living.

Functional Layout

Inside, the Agricultural Rehabilitation Tower is organized into distinct unit blocks that serve specific functions, such as planting, office spaces, and research areas. Each section is carefully planned to ensure that agricultural research and community activities function well together. This layout improves interaction among users, creating a lively environment where researchers and the public engage and collaborate.

Sustainability Features

The project emphasizes sustainability with mechanical systems integrated for resource recycling, showcasing a commitment to environmental care. Existing cooling towers are adapted within the structure to provide necessary power and enhance environmental management. A winding passage allows visitors to experience the agricultural processes firsthand, promoting a deeper understanding of sustainable practices.

Interactive Spaces

The tower includes interactive elements like a greenhouse and a museum, which play a vital role in education. These areas encourage community involvement in urban agriculture and help to foster dialogue about food production in cities. This design makes agricultural practices visible to the public, enhancing awareness and appreciation for the processes involved in growing food within an urban setting.

The overall design features cultivation systems that can be seen from public areas, creating a direct connection between visitors and the urban agriculture occurring within the tower.

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