Architectural Cases

"Future Farm," an inventive concept, envisions architecture as a dynamic ecological participant, addressing critical urban challenges such as food scarcity and water shortages. This modular vertical farming system, conceived by designer Qing Duan, integrates agriculture and environmental processes directly into the urban fabric, creating a self-sustaining cycle within city buildings. Through careful prototyping and physical experimentation, the design ensures both ecological efficiency and seamless urban integration, as evidenced by its recognition at the Royal College of Art and the Seoul Design Award, and its win of the RTF Sustainability Award.

Revolutionizing Urban Living: The "Future Farm" Hydro-Ecological System

In a visionary move, designer Qing Duan has unveiled the "Future Farm," a modular vertical farming system poised to transform urban landscapes into vibrant, self-sustaining ecosystems. This innovative project, inspired by tree-like structures, is meticulously crafted to integrate within existing urban architecture, establishing buildings not merely as shelters, but as active hydro-ecological infrastructures. At its core, the system harnesses rainwater, collecting, filtering, and redistributing it to nourish thriving plant life and fulfill domestic water requirements, thereby forging a closed-loop water cycle.

Central to this revolutionary approach are dedicated public greenhouse areas, communal culinary spaces, rooftop gardens, and educational zones. These thoughtfully designed elements foster a spirit of collective engagement, offering residents opportunities to participate in urban farming, acquire new skills, and connect with their environment. Each module, with its distinctive tree-like form, is engineered to optimize water flow and sunlight exposure, supporting a diverse range of seasonal crops. Furthermore, these intelligent modules manage the capture of rainwater and the purification of greywater, ensuring efficient resource allocation throughout the entire system.

Duan's pioneering work has not gone unnoticed. The "Future Farm" has been proudly displayed at the prestigious Royal College of Art, earned a coveted spot as a Finalist in the internationally recognized Seoul Design Award, and was honorably bestowed with the RTF Sustainability Award. These accolades underscore the project's profound impact and its potential to set a new standard for sustainable urban development.

A Blueprint for a Greener Tomorrow

The "Future Farm" project offers a compelling glimpse into a future where urban development and ecological well-being are not mutually exclusive but deeply intertwined. By transforming buildings into active participants in natural processes, we can cultivate more resilient, resource-efficient cities. This model inspires us to reconsider our relationship with the built environment, encouraging us to embrace innovative solutions that nourish both our communities and the planet. It challenges urban planners and architects to integrate sustainable practices from the ground up, fostering a harmonious coexistence between human habitation and nature. The success and recognition of "Future Farm" serve as a powerful testament to the potential of design to address pressing global challenges, paving the way for a greener, more sustainable urban future.

NextOffice has embarked on a remarkable project, revitalizing a 1970s residential structure in downtown Tehran, once the dwelling of renowned Iranian poet and activist Ahmad Shamlou. This initiative, dubbed 'The Poet's House,' meticulously converts the historical residence into a vibrant cultural center. The design approach prioritizes the retention of the building's distinctive architectural attributes, including its characteristic brick facade, curved edges, and the era-specific prominent lintels, ensuring a harmonious blend of past and present.

A pivotal aspect of this architectural intervention revolves around an interior wall on the second floor, which bears an etched poem penned by Shamlou for his wife and muse, Aida. Instead of merely preserving this inscription as a static relic, the design intelligently extends this wall, transforming it into a dynamic, semi-structural element that dictates the flow of movement throughout the edifice. This innovative steel structure, now known as the 'Aida Wall,' ascends gracefully from the ground-level courtyard to the rooftop, crafting an engaging three-dimensional pathway. This pathway not only links the various internal functions but also dramatically opens the building to the bustling city surroundings, fostering a sense of connectivity and transparency.

The adaptive reuse project thoughtfully addresses the structural enhancements required to convert a private dwelling into a public cultural institution, which now houses exhibition spaces, a library, a bookstore, a cafe, and a restaurant. The reinforcement, intentionally unconcealed, employs steel as both a structural necessity and an integral part of the architectural narrative, thereby establishing a clear dialogue between the historical masonry and the contemporary additions. This strategy, coupled with the repurposing of the formerly private courtyard into a public gathering space, underscores NextOffice's commitment to balancing preservation with innovative transformation. The steel elements are designed for reversibility, ensuring that the original structure remains uncompromised should future changes be desired, showcasing a thoughtful material selection that embraces both contrast and adaptability through its capacity to age and be reshaped.

Ultimately, The Poet's House stands as a testament to thoughtful adaptive reuse, where structural needs, spatial organization, and cultural heritage are interwoven into a singular architectural expression. This project successfully reimagines a private residence as a significant public institution, celebrating its history while inviting community engagement and interaction. It embodies a forward-thinking vision that enriches the urban fabric and preserves cultural legacies for future generations.