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Introduction
Prizes
Challenge
Key Dates
Introduction

Cities are home to more than 50% of the world population, which is made up of about seven billion inhabitants. This figure is projected to increase significantly to about 75% by 2050. This means that the majority of inhabitants will be, predicted to live in urban areas by 2050.

The benefits of urbanisation are quite clear, with cities not only being historical and cultural hubs but also the world’s economic hotspots. However, there are also many problems associated with modern cities. With the current growth rate of cities, competition for natural resources has risen to unexplainable levels, resulting in a global resource shortage. Rapid urbanisation has led to increased stress on the existing infrastructures and supply chain, resulting in social changes such as lack of cohesive community.

This brings us to the most important aspect of this project – we aim to redesign the consumption and living patterns of communities to make them self-sustainable and eco-friendly. The implication is to restore the horizontal division of labour and rekindle the sharing spirit that leads to a culture of community living. By increasing the efficiency of resource allocation, we aim to raise the bar for self-sustenance and resilience of cities.

It’s time to redesign our future!

Let’s get Parametric!

The Parametric Design competition aims to challenge the pre-existing perceptions of designers by calling them to explore on innovative concepts and sustainable technologies.

The focus of the competition is to adopt a kaleidoscopic, parameter-based approach to conceptualise and design a sharing community for a better future.

Be the change maker and perceive the environment in an alternative way.

Competition Organisers

Prizes

Student Category upto

$3000 SGD

Open Category upto

$2000 SGD

Verification and Certification

The winning design will be published on the Mistletoe-Ecolabs website and our local and
international platform

Eligibility

  • English is to be used as the language of communication for all submissions.
  • All participants must accept the rules and regulations of the challenge.
  • If found to not be following the rules, participants may be disqualified.
  • Ecolabs reserves the right to modify the schedule of the challenge.
  • The challenge is open to all. No professional qualification is required.

Assesment

  • Modularity
  • Spatial Design – multi-functional use of the space
  • Sustainability targets – simulation and optimisation of parameters
  • Cityscape – unit growth to community level
  • Concept Innovation
  • Feasibility – buildability

Join the competition!

Register Now
Challenge

Project Shea – The next Generation Civilisation Kit is a joint initiative by EcoLabs and Mistletoe Inc. to bring about a change in the design of future cities with the concept of sharing to sustain. Participants are invited to design using sustainable materials, a robust prototype of self-sufficient dwelling with the potential to expand into a modular community with sustainable materials where individuals can live, work, play and exchange ideas. 

The lowest comprehensive compact spatial unit is 25sqm.

We encourage the use of an integrated systems approach, where the boundaries of existing technologies, innovative concepts, materials and ideas are challenged through the implementation of energy efficient technology, water systems, spatial planning and material resource usage.

Site

Participants are to choose a site area of 3,000 sqm in Southeast Asia and demonstrate the lowest or smallest dwelling unit, which is the starting point for a community to rise and flourish in the future. The core vision of the demonstration is to maximise the functional area within a minimum footprint by using out of box concepts to create resourceful spaces. 

Dwelling Requirements

The requirements for the smallest dwelling unit are as follows:

  • Maximum of 25 sqm of floor area per person with private and additional shared space.
  • Design should cater to the individual’s personal needs (resting, bathing, cooking and working) and community requirements (interacting).
  • Portable and easy to assemble/construct on site, easily scalable (modular) to a community (vertically or horizontally).
  • Made of eco-friendly and affordable materials.
  • Able to maintain indoor temperature within the range of 24 – 28 degree Celsius.
  • Design to be structurally feasible and must satisfy local codes for wind, lightning and rainfall protection

The dwelling to community level growth shall be designed thinking beyond the current standards for sustainability, embracing a comprehensive solution, explored through the following sustainability parameters.

Daylight

Tangible Parameter

To maximise natural lighting and minimise artificial lighting.

  • Window to wall ratio
  • Orientation
  • Facades and Fenestration Type
  • Glare Analysis

Reference Plugins

Ladybug, Honey bee, DIVA

Solar Potential

Tangible Parameter

To harness solar energy as a renewable alternative.

  • Radiation analysis
  • Sunlight hours

Reference Plugins

Ladybug, Honey bee, DIVA

Wind Analysis

Tangible Parameter

To maximise natural ventilation and minimise air conditioning.

Reference Plugins

Butterfly

Energy

Tangible Parameter

Evaluate energy performance for an optimized solution.

  • Energy Simulation
  • Thermal Comfort
  • Renewables

Reference Plugins

Ladybug, Honey bee

Green Space

Tangible Parameter

Creating green pockets for an inclusive community.

  • Specify the allocated area for green space
  • Urban Heat Island

Reference Plugins

Dragonfly

Reference Plugins

Ladybug, Honey bee, DIVA

Reference Plugins

Ladybug, Honey bee, DIVA

Reference Plugins

Butterfly

Reference Plugins

Ladybug, Honey bee

Reference Plugins

Dragonfly

Blue Space

Tangible Parameter

Calculate Rainwater harvesting potential and Urban Heat Island effect.

Reference Plugins

Rainwater+, Dragonfly

Road Network / Footprint

Tangible Parameter

To consider the shortest route in a network (walkability)

To capture the ratio of building footprint to the total plot area assumed

Reference Plugins

ShortestWalk.
Ground Coverage Ratio

Food

Tangible Parameter

Based on the site population, specify the type of farming considered, demarcate the area required on-site and also mention the energy and water consumption for the identified system. (Yield requirement- 1kg/day/person)

Reference Plugins

Harvest

Resilience

Tangible Parameter

Demarcate a resilience zone in the site area.

Intangible Parameter

Justify multi usability of the structure or supporting systems.

Reference Plugins

Rainwater+, Dragonfly

Reference Plugins

ShortestWalk.
Ground Coverage Ratio

Reference Plugins

Harvest

Unit Scale

Community Scale

The Flat-pack modular design should cater to the individual’s personal needs (rest, batch, cook, and work) and grow to enable community interaction requirements.

From renewable source (waste to energy is acceptable)

Maximum of 3 kWh per person per day for domestic use.

2 days energy storage (as back up)

70 litres per person per day or 50% reduction from current local consumption

Water recycling system for grey water

Rainfall water catchment and treatment

Grey and Black Water treatment

Daylight

Tangible Parameter

To Maximize natural lighting and minimise artificial lighting.

Window to wall ratio

Orientation

Facades and Fenestration Type

Glare Analysis

Energy

Tangible Parameter

Evaluate energy performance for an optimized solution.

Energy Simulation

Thermal Comfort

Renewables

Road Network / Footprint

Tangible Parameter

To consider the shortest route in a network (walkability)

To capture the ratio of building footprint to the total plot area assumed

Reference Plugins

Ladybug, Honey bee, DIVA

Reference Plugins

Ladybug, Honey bee

Reference Plugins

ShortestWalk.
Ground Coverage Ratio

Solar Potential

Tangible Parameter

To harness solar energy as a renewable alternative.

Radiation analysis

Sunlight hours

Green Space

Tangible Parameter

Evaluate energy performance for an optimized solution.

Specify the allocated area for green space

Urban Heat Island

Food

Tangible Parameter

Specify the type of farming considered, demarcate the area required for it on-site and also mention the energy and water consumption required.

Reference Plugins

Ladybug, Honey bee, DIVA

Reference Plugins

Dragonfly

Wind Analysis

Tangible Parameter

To maximise natural ventilation and minimise air conditioning.

Blue Space

Tangible Parameter

Calculate Rainwater harvesting potential and Urban Heat Island effect.

Resilience

Tangible Parameter

Demarcate a resilience zone in the site area.

Reference Plugins

Butterfly

Reference Plugins

Rainwater, Dragonfly

Reference Plugins

Justify multi usability of the structure of supporting systems

The above-mentioned parameters and system requirements are to be considered for design development from individual units to development at the community scale. Simulate all the parameters and demonstrate the optimised design solution for footprint, energy and two parameters of your choice.

Key Dates

Team Composition

A participating team can have a maximum of four participants and be able to defend technical and design queries.

Deadline

31 December 2020.

Shortlisted top 5 teams would be required to prepare a 15 min presentation.

Submission Requirements

All submissions are to be submitted online through given email, Project-Shea <project-shea@ntu.edu.sg>. Must include (but not limited to) floor plans, working files, 3d perspectives and montages showing innovative details and integrated aspects of design (A1 – 4 sheets in reference format) Written report should be a compilation of all the research material, process and references related to the process of the design proposal including the vision, objectives and the technical details of the proposal. Each report is of A-4 size (210×297 mm), portrait orientation and must include the following:

Title of the design proposal

Name of school, team members and faculty supervisor

A detailed description of the project with a maximum of 3,000 words. Addressing the following aspects:
Sustainability (including an explanation of how a sustainability parameter mentioned above is incorporated in the design proposal)
Technical aspect (e.g., energy and water system), construction and materiality.
Community Growth Demonstrate the growth from the lowest dwelling unit to a sharing community level.
Affordability Costing to demonstrate affordability.

Images, illustrations, tables, schemes and key drawings and other graphic information may be included in the report

Download

Technology Provider

To build the Civilisation Kit with us

Investment Partner

To support grass root projects and empower youth and startups

Corporate Partner

To bring in resources and knowledge that can boost the project

Education Partner

To share the knowledge and best practices with all

Community Partners

To volunteer and Brainstorm with us on the Future Sustainable City

Outreach Partner

To spread the word of Project Shea and inspire people to join
Let’s Stay Connected!
Partner with us!

CONTACT

CleanTech One (CTO)
1 CleanTech Loop #06-04
Singapore 637141
+65 69082353
project-shea@ntu.edu.sg