The 2023 International Student Tall Building Design Competition ran on the theme of "Humanizing High Density - People, Nature & the Urban Realm", the theme of the CTBUH 2023 International Conference, to explore how high-density urbanization can support healthy living, working, and civic and social engagement and discuss solutions for livable shapes of density; equity in housing; creating better social spaces; finding balance with nature; reducing carbon emissions; mitigating the effects of climate change; and striking a balance in development that is appropriate for local environmental and cultural conditions. See more information on the five winners and projects below.
2023 International Student Tall Building Design Competition Winners
Overview
1st Place
RevitaliZen
Khurtsbileg Erdenetsogt, Rachel Truong, and Amir Zarei, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
The project presents a comprehensive approach to addressing the housing crisis in New York City, focusing on affordability, and enhancing living qualities. By designing a modular system with a level of flexibility, our goal is to propose a design capable of accommodating sudden economic changes and population fluctuations. This adaptability ensures that the housing landscape remains connected to the dynamic realities of New York City. The design proposal centers around providing affordable and compact living spaces that cater specifically to single-occupancy and double-occupancy units, thereby tackling the scarcity of suitable accommodations.
2nd Place
Farm Cloud
Jingfeng Deng, Ang Li, Zhixuan Li, Shanling Xu, and Kaiwei Ye, Southeast University
We got the idea from the movie "Food from Heaven". The main character invents a "cloud" that can be manipulated through computer technology. It becomes a climate phenomenon, but one that can be manipulated. Let the "cloud" wander in the city, food will follow, from the sky. From this, we think of the traditional Chinese landscape painting in the poetic scene. To the city for the mountain, to the cloud for the township, urban and rural fold, cloud mountain. At the same time, this "cloud" will not only serve as a farm, but will also be integrated into the city, becoming part of its landscape and public space.
3rd Place
The Eco Steps
Phuong Quan Trinh, Stanford University, Stanford
The Eco Steps project represents an innovative approach to urban living, combining a thoughtful response to the site, a creative design approach, sustainability, and functionality. By integrating ecological sustainability, community connectivity, and cultural adaptation, the project paves the way for future developments that prioritize healthy living, resource efficiency, and a harmonious relationship with the environment. The Eco Steps project showcases the potential of high-density urbanization to create livable and sustainable communities for the future.
4th Place
The Growing Hub
Scarlet Koon Si Qi, UCSI University
Inspired by the metabolism movement and the local vernacular kampung, The Growing Hub reimagines high-rise living as architecture that grows and changes with the humans within. A time-space planning approach is needed, where the buildings are “never finished”, constantly changing and adapting to the different residents and users. This impermanence gives the users autonomy and control over his environment and the lifestyle he wishes to create, collaborating with different users within to form a community. To increase the flexibility of units and towers, a triangular grid is adopted as a base for planning.
5th Place
Utopia Garden
Guodong Sun and Wencai Yu, South China University of Technology
Chinese classical gardens has a long history and carries the profound traditional cultural spirit of China. The ingenious combination of gardens with nature and oriental philosophy, the design method emphasizing the physical and sensory experience, and the place design based on life scenes reflect the superb state of Chinese classical architecture and gardening ideas. Utopia Garden is a fictional garden and a utopian residence. It is hoped that through the design of Utopia Garden, an ideal world of contemporary high-density urban residents can be reproduced.
Funding Sponsor: Council on Vertical Urbanism
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Funding Sponsor: Council on Vertical Urbanism
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Funding Sponsor: Tetra Tech
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Funding Sponsor: New World Development Company Limited
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Funding Sponsor: Plaza Construction
2015 International Student Tall Building Design Competition
AECOM
At AECOM, we believe infrastructure creates opportunity for everyone – uplifting communities, improving access and sustaining our planet. We’re committed to managing our business with the upmost responsibility and to always strive for better — be that reducing emissions, creating social value or diversifying our senior leadership and workforce. We understand both the urgency of the challenges facing our society and our responsibility to act in an impactful and enduring way. We’re leading the change towards a more sustainable and equitable future, partnering with those who want to make a positive difference in the world. We’re listening to clients and the communities we serve in order to improve lives and livelihoods, and to create sustainable legacies for generations to come. Thinking without limits is what keeps us at the vanguard. Ideas have no borders, and this ethos is embedded in our culture. The full scope of our global expertise is available to anyone who needs it, wherever they are based. We’re trusted advisors — planners, designers, engineers, consultants and program and construction managers — delivering professional services spanning cities, transportation, buildings, water, new energy, and the environment. Working throughout the project lifecycle, we’re one team driven by a common purpose to deliver a better world.
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