Grow Together Мікражыллё by Yanci Chen is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 Жалезная прэмія A' Design Award in Сацыяльны дызайн Competition Category.

ЖалезаСацыяльны· 2025

Grow Together Мікражыллё

by Yanci Chen

Client: Ycj Studio

Жалезная прэмія A' Design Award Winner in Сацыяльны Category

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View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

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The Design

About Grow Together Мікражыллё

Grow Together — гэта мадульны праект мікражылля, скіраваны на праблему бяздомнасці ў Сіэтле. Дызайн прадугледжвае размяшчэнне кампактных аўтаномных прытулкаў на прыдомавых участках жылых дамоў, прапаноўваючы пераходнае жыллё непадалёк ад сфарміраваных жылых раёнаў. Кожны модуль мае памеры 3000 на 6000 міліметраў і пабудаваны з перакрыжавана-клеенай драўніны і перапрацаванай сталі для хуткай зборкі. Сонечныя панэлі, сістэма фільтрацыі дажджавой вады і кампасныя туалеты забяспечваюць самадастатковасць. Агульныя цяпліцы і гнуткія калектыўныя прасторы прымаюць садоўніцкія праграмы і праграмы развіцця навыкаў. Планіроўка захоўвае прыватнасць, адначасова спрыяючы сацыяльнай рэінтэграцыі.

The Recognition

About the Жалезная прэмія A' Design Award

Grow Together Мікражыллё — пераможца Жалезнай прэміі A' Design Award, прэстыжнага прызнання, якое прысуджаецца добрым дызайнам, што адпавядаюць прафесійным і прамысловым патрабаванням, чаканым ад добра распрацаваных твораў. Жалезныя пераможцы дэманструюць вялікае майстэрства, высокую спецыялізацыю, экспертнае разуменне і творчыя здольнасці сваіх стваральнікаў. Чакаецца, што Grow Together Мікражыллё — гэта высока цэнены, захапляльны і любімы твор, практычны і інавацыйны. Гэты дызайн, што атрымаў Жалезную прэмію A' Design Award, інтэгруе лепшыя галіновыя практыкі і мае кампетэнтныя тэхнічныя характарыстыкі, звязаныя з ноу-хау і талентам. Grow Together Мікражыллё паважаецца за грунтоўнасць і прызначаны даваць паляпшэнні якасці жыцця, што дапамагаюць зрабіць свет лепшым месцам.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: Grow Together is an intergenerational community hub that integrates adaptive architecture, urban farming, and sustainable living. The design fosters cross-generational exchange through modular housing, shared greenhouses, and flexible communal spaces. Utilizing biophilic principles, passive cooling, and circular material strategies, it enhances resilience and well-being. Its unique strength lies in fostering social cohesion while promoting ecological responsibility and self-sufficiency.
Dimensions & Packaging: Grow Together features modular micro-housing units measuring 3,000mm (W) x 6,000mm (D) x 3,200mm (H), designed for easy deployment in residential backyards. Each unit incorporates off-grid solar panels, a rainwater filtration system, and composting toilets for self-sufficiency. The lightweight CLT and recycled steel structure allows for rapid assembly. Shared community hubs range from 20m² to 50m², integrating urban farming zones and flexible gathering spaces for reintegration programs.
Tags: micro-housing, intergenerational living, homelessness solution, modular architecture, urban farming, off-grid shelter, sustainable design, community reintegration, adaptive reuse, social impact
Production Technology: Grow Together utilizes prefabricated modular construction, integrating cross-laminated timber (CLT), recycled steel frames, and bio-based insulation for sustainability and efficiency. The design employs passive solar strategies, rainwater harvesting, and off-grid energy solutions to ensure self-sufficiency. Digital parametric modeling and AI-assisted spatial optimization guided the form and layout, maximizing adaptability, privacy, and seamless integration within existing urban fabric.
Design Challenge: The greatest challenge in Grow Together was balancing privacy and social reintegration while ensuring scalability and feasibility. Socially, resistance to backyard shelters required design solutions that reassured homeowners and preserved neighborhood aesthetics. Legally, zoning restrictions and permitting posed barriers. Technologically, optimizing off-grid utilities in a compact form was complex. Overcoming these required community engagement, modular innovation, and adaptive policy integration.
Research: Grow Together is based on social impact and architectural research addressing homelessness in Seattle. The objective was to explore backyard micro-housing as a transitional solution for reintegration. Using case studies, interviews, and spatial analysis, data was collected from homeowners, social workers, and unhoused individuals. Findings highlight the need for privacy, community engagement, and self-sufficiency. The project fosters scalable, community-driven solutions, influencing urban policy and inclusive design.
Inspiration: Grow Together is inspired by the urgent social challenge of homelessness in Seattle and the growing willingness of residents to share their backyards for micro/off-grid shelters. The project reimagines communal reintegration through modular, self-sustaining dwellings that offer transitional housing for individuals seeking to reconnect with society. By integrating adaptive architecture and urban farming, it fosters dignity, autonomy, and social inclusion.
Project Duration: March 2024 Seattle
Operation Flow: Grow Together operates as a flexible micro-housing solution that reintegrates individuals experiencing homelessness into the community. Homeowners can install modular units in their backyards, providing temporary, self-sustaining shelters. Residents engage in shared gardening, skill-building, and social programs in communal spaces. The adaptable design ensures privacy while fostering interaction, creating a supportive transition toward permanent housing and social reintegration.
Patents: Copyrights belong to Yanci Chen
Team Members: Yanci Chen
Image Credits: Yanci Chen