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Vertical Habitat Featuring Green Facades and Community Integration Through Escape Boards

Authors:
Qixin Liang, Xin Ying, Tongtong Xiao
Vertical Habitat Featuring Green Facades and Community Integration Through Escape Boards
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Incorporating vertical gardens and automated evacuation systems, the design revolutionizes urban living in Hong Kong by integrating nature and community-focused spaces within a multifaceted residential habitat.
5 key facts about this project
01
Vertical gardens are integrated at multiple levels to promote biodiversity and enhance air quality.
02
The project includes an automated escape board system for improved safety during emergencies.
03
Flexibility in unit designs accommodates various household sizes and lifestyles.
04
Underground ecological plazas provide communal green space and educational facilities.
05
Natural ventilation is optimized through strategically placed openings in the bent A-frame design.

## Overview

"Citizen in Wonderland" addresses the unique challenges of Hong Kong's dense urban environment, where high land use and soaring housing costs create a pressing need for innovative and sustainable design solutions. The initiative seeks to enhance urban livability by integrating green spaces and promoting community engagement within a vertical habitat framework. By leveraging the city's vertical expansion potential, the project reexamines the urban experience, providing an alternative to conventional living in high-density areas.

## Spatial Strategy and User Experience

The design incorporates a vertical forest concept, featuring green terraces at various levels to foster biodiversity and air purification. These terraces are strategically positioned to allow residents easy access to greenery, promoting physical and mental well-being. Public activity layers are interspersed throughout the structure, with communal spaces added every five floors to encourage social interaction and reduce feelings of isolation. This arrangement cultivates a sense of community among residents, providing spaces for diverse activities such as gardening and social gatherings.

## Materiality and Structural Features

The project's material palette emphasizes sustainability and resilience, utilizing reinforced concrete for structural integrity, along with innovative insulating materials to minimize energy waste and external noise. Green plants are integrated into the design through ecological walls, enhancing both aesthetics and functionality. Key structural innovations include a conveyor belt transport system facilitating efficient movement between units and a unique escape board mechanism for emergency situations, allowing safe exits without reliance on elevators. Together, these elements contribute to a functional living environment that aligns with contemporary urban needs while promoting environmental stewardship.

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The Next House: USA — A Global Call to Reimagine the American Suburb

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Competition organisers

Buildner is launching The Next House: USA, a global architecture competition that challenges architects, designers, and thinkers to reimagine the American suburban home for the 21st century. For decades, the suburban house has symbolized comfort and stability, but today it often reflects excess, isolation, and environmental strain. This competition asks: how can the American home evolve to address climate urgency, economic pressures, and shifting social values?

Participants are tasked with designing a prototype home of no more than 1,500 sq ft (≈140 m²) for a household of two adults and one child. The design should be compact yet generous, adaptable, sustainable, affordable, and replicable across diverse U.S. contexts. More than a design exercise, the competition aims to spark a conversation about how homes can support healthier, smarter, and more connected communities.

The total prize fund is $20,000 USD. The final registration deadline is May 20, 2026, and winners will be announced on September 22, 2026. The Next House: USA invites architects, students, and visionaries worldwide to redefine what the American home means today—and what it should mean tomorrow.

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Design the next suburban home for the USA

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