Qingyun Chen

My design is grounded in the belief that architecture can be a tool for urban regeneration, community building, and ecological education. Inspired by informal self-governing communities such as Kowloon Walled City and Huajiadi’s underground shelters, I explored how shared space fosters strong social ties, resilience, and creative adaptation—especially in underused or unsanctioned environments.

Rather than emerging from necessity, my project invites voluntary participation and reimagines urban vacancy as an opportunity. Through urban farming, co-living, and collaborative workspaces, it encourages people from different backgrounds—locals, volunteers, and short-term visitors—to engage with one another, learn through doing, and take part in a shared system of care.

The hybrid structure combines a lightweight ETFE greenhouse roof with transparent lower glass walls, supporting both plant growth and human activity. The design integrates vertical farming systems to address space limitations, and preserves parts of the original Safehouse structure, embracing imperfection and reuse.

Ultimately, the project is not just about producing food or providing shelter—it is a social and ecological experiment, proposing new ways to inhabit the city through adaptability, sharing, and participation.