Architects, designers, and researchers are rethinking how people will live, work, and interact in the future. Housing solutions may evolve into hybrid or amalgamated forms that foster social and environmental sustainability.
The Future Hybrid High-Rise Commune (project link) is a conceptual design research initiative exploring adaptable and regenerative residential buildings. This project envisions a permanent support structure complemented by modular infill units made from timber, a locally sourced Southeast Asian material.
At its core, the project demonstrates how different cohabitation models can integrate with shared spaces beyond traditional housing. Visitors can engage by assembling building modules and digitally participating as prospective tenants, selecting cohabitation preferences and locations. An algorithm then maps these choices into real-time vertical neighborhoods. Additionally, a dedicated social media interface encourages communication and collective decision-making among future residents, sparking discussions on new ways of urban living.
Developed by the REAL Renewable Architecture Lab and the UHL Urban Housing Lab at the Singapore University of Technology & Design (SUTD), the project is funded by the SUTD-MIT International Design Centre.
Join the Experience
Visitors can take part in shaping the future of high-rise communal living. Create your unit and contribute to discussions on social and spatial issues in a vertical community.
Michael Budig is an Assistant Professor in Architecture at SUTD, leading the REAL Lab for Research in Renewable and Regenerative Architecture and REACT Studio. His research focuses on computational design, fabrication, decarbonization, digitalization, and demographic shifts in urban environments.
Oliver Heckmann specializes in housing typologies, urban habitation research, and sustainable design. He co-publishes the Floor Plan Manual Housing, a key reference on innovative housing. His Urban Housing Lab explores socially and environmentally sustainable urban living, emphasizing vertical communities, demographic flexibility, and inclusive cohabitation models.
The Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) is Singapore’s fourth public university and one of the first globally to integrate design and technology into a transdisciplinary curriculum. As a research-intensive institution, SUTD cultivates technically skilled leaders and innovators to address critical societal needs. The university offers programs such as Architecture and Sustainable Design, blending innovation, design thinking, and industry collaboration to address the evolving challenges of urbanization.
