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Vertical Greenspaces Supporting Sustainable Living in Urban Communities

Author:
Kerry Ngan
Vertical Greenspaces Supporting Sustainable Living in Urban Communities

Project in-detail

A super 8 runway and growing façades redefine urban living in a community-focused development that promotes sustainability and healthy lifestyles through accessible greenspaces and self-build options.
5 key facts about this project
01
A super 8 runway integrates exercise facilities within the residential environment.
02
The growing façades allow residents to cultivate their own vegetables and plants.
03
Self-build options provide flexible layouts tailored to family needs.
04
Accessible communal greenspaces encourage social interaction among residents.
05
Healthy living principles reduce dependency on lifts, promoting stair usage instead.

SUPER PARK ROYAL is located in Park Royal, an industrial area in London facing significant challenges regarding affordable housing. The design responds directly to these needs, focusing on creating a space that combines health, sustainability, and community. The goal is to promote well-being through the built environment, making living in this area more attractive and healthier for its residents.

Super 8 Runway

One key feature of the design is the super 8 runway, which serves as a dedicated exercise track for residents. This structure combines two standard running paths into a significant element within the community. It encourages physical activity and social engagement, acting as a central point that connects various parts of the development. Being functional and visually distinct, the runway enhances the overall experience of living and exercising in the area.

Green Integration

The project emphasizes the importance of greenspaces. These areas allow residents to interact with nature without leaving their homes. The growing façades support the cultivation of vegetables and plants, contributing to a healthier lifestyle. By enabling residents to grow their own produce, the design reduces dependency on less healthy food options. This incorporation of nature not only improves the view but also promotes public health in a neighborhood with a strong industrial background.

Community-Centric Model

A community-led housing model shapes the design, allowing shared ownership between the borough of Brent and residents. This arrangement facilitates a self-build option, which provides adaptability in living spaces. Apartment designs cater to different family sizes and lifestyles, with careful attention to maximizing the use of space. Minimizing corridors allows for more usable areas, resulting in efficient and welcoming homes.

Healthy Living Principles

Healthy living principles are integrated into the project's framework. For instance, residents are encouraged to use stairs rather than lifts in buildings up to five stories. This simple change promotes regular physical activity. Outdoor and communal areas are designed to encourage interaction among neighbors, thereby fostering a sense of community. Each element is focused on ensuring that the built environment supports an active and social lifestyle.



The overall design of SUPER PARK ROYAL shows a commitment to integrating living spaces with nature and community needs. It invites residents to enjoy green surfaces that provide opportunities for gardening and relaxation just outside their doors. This thoughtful approach fosters a sense of connection to both the environment and to one another.

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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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