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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 Buildner’s Unbuilt Award 2025: Celebrating Architectural Creativity and Visionary Unbuilt Designs with a Total Prize Fund of €100,000

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Competition organisers

The Buildner’s Unbuilt Award 2025 is an international architecture competition dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the value of unrealized architectural designs. It invites architects, designers, and students worldwide to submit visionary projects that have not yet been constructed, highlighting the power of ideas and the creativity behind the design process. By focusing on unbuilt work, the competition aims to bring forward concepts that shape the future of architecture and push the boundaries of the profession. 

Participants can compete in three categories based on project scale: Small Wonders (up to 100 m²), Medium Marvels (101–999 m²), and Large Visions (over 1,000 m²). Each category winner will receive €20,000, and additional prizes include honorable mentions, student awards, and a special Best Presentation Award. Winning projects will gain significant international exposure through Buildner’s publicity campaign and a feature article on ArchDaily, providing a unique opportunity to showcase creative ideas to a global audience. 

The Buildner’s Unbuilt Award 2025 encourages entrants to submit any type of unbuilt project, from conceptual visions to detailed designs, celebrating bold innovation without the constraints of realization. Important deadlines: registration closes on October 30, 2025; submissions are due by November 20, 2025; winners will be announced on December 17, 2025.

Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025

Celebrating your unbuilt architecture visions with a €100,000 prize

100,000€ Prize / 2025 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 100,000 €
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 30 October 2025

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