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Vertical Habitat with Steel Frame and Rainwater Trays

Authors:
Andrew Brookes, Nicolo Guida
Vertical Habitat with Steel Frame and Rainwater Trays
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The thin steel frame of the tower integrates rainwater trays that create habitats for local wildlife, while also serving as a community gathering space within the Latvian Ardennes landscape.
5 key facts about this project
01
The tower's steel frame allows for a lightweight structure that minimizes its environmental impact.
02
Rainwater trays enhance biodiversity by providing habitats for local plant and animal life.
03
The design incorporates a vertical journey, offering panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.
04
Inspired by personal memories, the project connects history and ecology in its conceptualization.
05
Vines and plants naturally envelop the tower, illustrating its integration with the environment.

The site is located in the Latvian Ardennes, featuring a slender tower designed to serve as both a landmark and a gathering space. The design concept draws on a deep relationship with nature and memory, creating an attachment to the landscape. The tower invites exploration and promotes engagement with the surrounding environment, making it a focal point for visitors.

Integration with Landscape
- The tower uses a thin steel frame, providing a light appearance that fits well within the natural setting. This choice allows the structure to blend in with the surroundings, showing how the building interacts with its environment. Changes in light and weather create different moods, affecting how people perceive the site throughout the day and across the seasons.

Functional Ecosystem
- Rainwater trays are incorporated into the design, serving both a practical and ecological purpose. These trays create habitats for plants and animals, supporting local biodiversity. Visitors can actively engage with the space, fostering a sense of care for the environment and encouraging a connection to nature.

Narrative Through Design
- The tower embodies memory through features like the seed trays, which represent themes of growth and continuity. As the landscape evolves, so does the tower, telling a story of both human and natural history. This narrative connection enriches the experience, allowing visitors to reflect on their relationship with the place.

Dynamic Architectural Experience
- Climbing the tower offers expansive views of the surrounding landscape, enhancing the sense of connection between the built structure and nature. Each step upwards creates a changing perspective, emphasizing the tower’s role as a lively structure that adapts to its surroundings and the people who visit.

Visitors will find that moving from the base of the tower to its top reveals not just the beauty of the landscape, but also a well-considered journey that encourages interaction and reflection. The tower engages with nature while promoting a thoughtful experience of the environment around it.

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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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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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