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


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!
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.Â
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.Â
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
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
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
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.
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