Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, renowned Spanish architect Vicente Guallart envisioned innovative self-sufficient homes and an entire "post-COVID" neighborhood. This visionary project prioritizes community living, food and energy independence, and seamless remote working.
As SARS-CoV-2 triggered global quarantines, isolating cities from essential supplies, architect Vicente Guallart designed a fully operational, self-sufficient neighborhood—even during pandemics. As reported by Cities Today magazine, Guallart won a pre-crisis competition from the Chinese government to reimagine Xiong'an City, 100 km south of Beijing. His team refined the concept amid lockdowns, creating "post-COVID" buildings tailored for resilience.
This neighborhood houses 3,000 residents, structured like an onion's layers—from individual homes to buildings, neighborhoods, and the broader city. Drawing from the pandemic's exposure of urban vulnerabilities to disasters, Guallart advocates for robust structures that empower individuals and communities alike.
Each building integrates residences with greenhouses for food self-sufficiency, plus a market, offices, kindergarten, swimming pool, and fire station. Energy independence is key, alongside revitalizing urban industry—as seen in the rapid mask production surges that saved lives during shortages.
Guallart also addressed pandemic-driven lifestyle shifts, incorporating dedicated telework and homeschooling spaces. Confinement highlighted the need to rethink living areas: homes now feature expansive terraces extending living rooms, rooftop gardens, greenhouses, and recreational zones opening to the outdoors.
Here's a presentation video from Cities Today:
