LANTERN

In the era of global warming, human civilization is facing challenges to survive. Millions of people have lost their homes in natural calamities. The field of construction contributes to 26% of global carbon emissions, which should be changed. In this project, the goal is to think of a new way to produce energy, use bio-based materials, make it affordable for the user group, and return to nature from where we came. By 2040, sea levels are projected to rise by approximately 25 to 43 cm. With rising sea levels, within a decade, some countries will go underwater. For instance, a report by the Institute for Economics and Peace estimates that up to 1.2 billion people could be displaced by 2050 due to climate change and natural disasters. Many young couples and professionals have already started migrating to places where they can find a home. But urban areas are becoming increasingly crowded. So, once again, humans are destroying nature and building homes for their living. In this project, we focus on how we can build a home in nature without destroying it. The shape of the design is inspired by a ‘nest,’ which is aerodynamically stable and decomposes within nature when its purpose ends. This project is specifically for young professional couples. Every module will be separated into three different zones: space for living, production space for producing food or working as a workshop, and an office for work. This modular system also provides the flexibility to extend their home for future family growth. All these features of adaptability will give ownership to young couples, which is very important for sustainable social development. Every microhome will be connected by a hanging footpath, ensuring accessibility between each module. Though the architecture is situated in the forest and off-grid, energy storage is becoming a challenge. Traditional energy storage systems, like lithium-ion batteries, produce lots of toxic gases and materials during production. In this project, we will use kinetic energy to store solar energy and utilize it when necessary. The solar energy will run the system to lift the building up, and when the building needs energy, it will go down, and a generator will produce electricity from the kinetic energy. The entire colony will be connected, so any building that doesn’t need energy will share it with others. This hanging structure helps minimize the disruption of animals' natural movements caused by the structure. It will also use a minimal building footprint in the forest. Community thought is important to establish and stimulate by making a suitable vegetable, fruit, and herb field where people can work together and generate their own food.