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Vertical Farming Integrated With Glass Facade And Natural Stone In A Mixed-Use Urban Tower

Author:
Alessandro Vaghi
Vertical Farming Integrated With Glass Facade And Natural Stone In A Mixed-Use Urban Tower

Project in-detail

Combining vertical farming with a dynamic glass facade and natural stone, this mixed-use urban tower enhances community interaction while providing essential residential and commercial spaces.
5 key facts about this project
01
Incorporates vertical farming systems to promote urban agriculture.
02
Features a dynamic glass facade that adapts to environmental conditions.
03
Integrates natural stone to enhance aesthetic and contextual relevance.
04
Utilizes sustainable materials such as cross-laminated timber and charred wood.
05
Includes community spaces designed to foster social interaction and engagement.

### Overview
The mixed-use tower "Contemporary Renaissance" is located along the historic Silk Route, an area known for its rich cultural exchange between Eastern and Western civilizations. The structure encompasses approximately 10,000 square meters of land, with a total gross floor area of 53,000 square meters, and reaches a height of 190 meters. The design aims to create a dialogue between historical references and contemporary architectural practices, reflecting the cultural interconnections of its setting.

### Spatial Strategy
The building's design accommodates a variety of functions, including commercial and residential spaces, facilitating a hybrid synergy approach. The layout promotes distinct yet interconnected zones, fostering communal interactions while ensuring privacy. The geometry of the structure draws inspiration from organic forms, particularly referencing Borromini’s Dome. This results in fluid curves and dynamic shapes that stand in contrast to the structured layouts typically seen in urban environments. The design encourages vertical integration of green spaces, promoting sustainability and biodiversity within the urban context.

### Materiality
Careful selection of materials enhances the project’s conceptual framework. The façade features glass, allowing natural light to permeate and facilitating a connection between indoor and outdoor spaces. Steel provides structural integrity, while concrete forms the foundational elements, ensuring durability. Natural stone is used to visually link the building with its geographic and cultural heritage. Wood is incorporated in select interior areas to introduce warmth and a human scale, reinforcing the project’s commitment to sustainable practices. The dynamic facade is responsive to environmental conditions, creating a living canvas that evolves throughout the day.

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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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