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Vertical Green Spaces Enhanced by Tensegrity Structures

Author:
Lu Wenhua
Vertical Green Spaces Enhanced by Tensegrity Structures

Project in-detail

Employing a tensegrity structure, this urban complex integrates vertical farms and communal parks to create multifunctional spaces that enhance community engagement and promote sustainability.
5 key facts about this project
01
Centralized holographic projection technology replaces traditional retail display areas.
02
Vertical farms are integrated throughout the structure to promote urban agriculture.
03
A tensegrity framework allows for lightweight, flexible structural elements.
04
Gentle gradients create recreational swimming areas within the building.
05
Public spaces are designed to foster community interactions and engagement.

Holographic Urban Complex 2051: Tensegrity Park introduces a new way to think about urban spaces by using advanced holographic projection technology. Located in a bustling urban area, the design repurposes shopping facilities into multifunctional public spaces. The central idea focuses on freeing up space to meet a variety of community needs while integrating elements of nature into the city.

Design Concept

The design raises questions about the role of technology in urban life. Does progress mean more use of space, or does it offer true freedom? Holography plays a key role in this project, allowing retail activities to be centralized on the upper levels of a vertical structure. By minimizing the physical space needed for traditional shopping, goods can be easily transported via ramps, creating a more efficient flow for users.

Public Integration

Lower levels of the structure serve the public, transforming what would be typical commercial areas into parks, libraries, vertical farms, swimming pools, and art galleries. This variety promotes community interaction and engagement, replacing isolated shopping experiences with vibrant, shared environments. The integration of vertical farms underscores a commitment to sustainability, providing local food sources while increasing the overall greenery in the area.

Structural Approach

The building uses a tensegrity system, which is a mix of tension and compression elements that create lightweight and flexible structures. This approach allows for tall, slender forms that fit well within the park-like urban setting. The design relies on mathematical principles of tensegrity to generate cohesive spatial modules. This structure creates an open experience for those who navigate through the complex.

Design Features

Gentle slopes in the design of the second and first layers accommodate swimming pools that blend into their surroundings. This arrangement creates spaces for recreation that encourage social interaction. Vertical elements not only support the building but also foster a connection between nature and technology, enhancing the overall urban experience. Embedded within the architecture, these details invite exploration and engagement.

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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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