LIVING CORE

Living Core is a proposed co-housing project in China and the winner of the 'My Home in 20 Years' Award. This concept offers a solution that integrates sustainable materials and technologies with the evolving housing demands of contemporary society. We focused on the most essential elements for furnishing the homes, with the goal of providing more space, natural elements, and a respite from purely functional design.

Living Core's shell is inspired by traditional Chinese houses. A photovoltaic roof features a glass cone – a plant 'aquarium' for light and recycled water – above a prefabricated core containing all essential fixtures. Rooms are arranged around this central unit. The design allows units to form neighborhoods with public social and work spaces. Like the light-bringing glass voids, ground-level patios create public gardens and gathering points. The underground level becomes a new ground plane for workshops, offices, and services.