Bioclimatic House Tenerife” by Ruiz Larrea y Asociados, image/information source: ITER project portfolio
“Ecosystemic Recovery vertical farm render” by Exploration Architecture (Michael Pawlyn), image/information source: PA Academy
Ecosystemic Recovery, London Site by Exploration Architecture features a 3D model insertion of a futuristic vertical farm and recovery ecosystem, designed to regenerate urban brownfield sites into productive green infrastructure.
Design Innovation
Michael Pawlyn’s concept inserts modular, stackable biomass-processing towers into a derelict London industrial site, with facades of responsive biomimetic panels mimicking pinecone bracts for automated shading and ventilation. A central aquaponic core circulates nutrient-rich water through vertical farms, algae bioreactors, and mycelium-based waste processors, creating a self-building structure that evolves over time. 3D-printed components from recycled site materials enable rapid deployment, with parametric modeling optimizing solar access in dense urban contexts.
Sustainability Features
The system achieves full circularity by converting local organic waste into biogas, fertilizer, and building materials, targeting net-zero emissions through bio-mimicry of forest succession—algae facades sequester CO2 while generating oxygen and biofuels. Passive downdraft evaporative cooling, inspired by desert plants, eliminates air conditioning, and the design supports biodiversity with integrated habitats for pollinators and urban wildlife.
Impact and Legacy
Proposed around 2010 as part of Pawlyn’s regenerative urbanism series, the 3D visualization influenced UK brownfield regeneration policies and EU Horizon projects on circular bio-economies.
