Roberto Zanini

advisor

Universita IUAV di Venezia

Italy

quality architecture that is born from the place, from the study of the site, the flows, the… more

Project idea
The idea of this project is both to change the process of creating a city at a rapid pace and to change the attitude of the environment to respect the green areas around us more.

Project description
The project I made was designed in 4 stages. The first involves creating a two-level residential building and planting a tree at the beginning of the estate. The assumption of this phase is to create a community that learns to take care of green space. The second phase involves adding a third level of residential buildings and creating a CENTER that brings the community together. We have started building a park on 1/3 of the site where people can create their own paths, and we have planted more trees throughout the site. The third phase is when the community begins to feel the impact of climate change. That's when they build the structure together and surround it with greenery like a shield. The CENTER in question has changed from a place to connect the community, to a space for teaching and learning about the past of construction and the future of humanity. It has created a small museum. A place where people learn how to create and how to use what they are able to make themselves.

Technical information
The building is primarily constructed from CLT (cross-laminated timber) and cement, with a pine framework at its core—emphasizing natural, renewable materials. Surrounding the site, a thoughtfully designed park features a high density of trees, helping to offset construction-related emissions over a 10-year period and supporting long-term environmental balance.
The main architectural element—the “shield”—is composed of a lightweight timber frame, connected with minimal metal joints. This frame supports prefabricated panels made from mycelium, a next-generation, bio-based material known for its insulation and regenerative properties. The final layer of the structure is a living green surface, integrating plants as a natural extension of the building and reflecting the organic systems found throughout the site. Together, these materials form a sustainable, future-facing architecture that blends innovation with nature.
This structure isn’t just a shield—it’s a starting point for connection. The shape lets us build bridges between a CENTER and the surrounding apartments, creating stronger differences between levels and areas. The pillars below it look like the roots of an old tree—grounded, alive, and ready to grow into something more organic over them. The large shield above does more than provide cover. In the summer, it helps block harsh sunlight and keeps the space cooler. In winter, it captures and reflects warmth, making it more comfortable all year round. The ventilation system works with the natural flow of wind, letting air move easily through the shield and the building to keep it fresh and breathable. In the future, the estate will disappear in a greenery better environment to create a new way to build a residential area

To improve the project, include more detailed drawings and diagrams that clearly show the different phases and how the buildings and green spaces evolve over time. Providing technical data on the structural and thermal performance of the mycelium panels would strengthen the material innovation aspect. Clarify how the natural ventilation system works in relation to the shield structure to better demonstrate its effectiveness. Finally, expand on the long-term plan for transitioning the built environment back into green space to highlight sustainability and resilience.