Living Around – A Circular Model for Sustainable Residential Architecture

"Living Around" presents an innovative approach to sustainable residential architecture, proposing a circular building typology that redefines how people inhabit, interact, and coexist within an urban environment. Conceived as one of the initial architectural interventions in its district, the project is intentionally non-hierarchical, offering no defined "front" or "back". Instead, its geometry embraces inclusivity, openness, and equal spatial value on all sides.

The hollow cylindrical form divides the site into two distinct yet interconnected zones: a publicly accessible outer ring and a semi-public inner courtyard reserved for residents. This duality creates both permeability and privacy, fostering community while preserving comfort. Landscaped mounds, pathways, and greenery populate the inner courtyard, forming an immersive landscape that functions as an everyday oasis for inhabitants.

Architectural Concept

At the heart of the design is the idea of living in proximity while still enjoying personal space. The cylinder is composed of three primary units repeated around its circumference, each containing communal areas and private rooms. The design responds to contemporary housing needs—flexibility, affordability, social integration—and presents a typology capable of adapting to future changes.

A Shape with No Better Side

The building’s circular form ensures consistent sunlight distribution, uninterrupted circulation, and equal access to shared amenities. As one of the first buildings in the expanding district, it avoids imposing future development patterns and instead allows future structures to coexist harmoniously. Its symmetry encourages organic urban development without dictating a singular direction.

Program & Spatial Strategy

The project blends private, semi-private, and collective functions with clarity and balance. The ground floor is dedicated to facilities accessible only to residents, enhancing daily living while strengthening social interaction. These include:

• Shared kitchen and dining space
• Swimming pool
• Workshop and hobby rooms
• Co-working areas
• Shops and services (for controlled internal use)
• Storage facilities
• Laundry rooms

The upper floors consist of modular accommodation units, each featuring a mix of bedroom typologies and shared living spaces. Double-height living rooms, mezzanine levels, and generous glazing make the units feel spacious despite their compact footprints.

Circulation & Social Connectivity

The circulation is arranged so that the inner-facing rooms overlook the landscaped courtyard, enhancing visual and social connectivity. The building’s central spiral staircase system provides vertical access and becomes a sculptural architectural element visible throughout the core. Corridors are eliminated, replaced by shared open spaces that encourage communication.

The design leverages everyday encounters—waiting for the elevator, grabbing a coffee in the shared kitchen, attending a hobby workshop—to foster a supportive community environment.

Inner Landscape: A Heart of Community

The central courtyard is a micro-park designed to energize daily life. Comprising soft mounds, tree clusters, ponds, and seating, it becomes a communal living room on a metropolitan scale. Residents can relax, exercise, dine outdoors, or join impromptu social gatherings.

Strategically placed elevation shifts and plant clusters provide semi-private pockets within the open courtyard, ensuring that social life can unfold naturally without compromising privacy.

Unit Design & Flexibility

Each unit in the cylindrical structure is designed to be affordable, compact, and adaptable. Varied room sizes—from 11.30m² to over 20m²—accommodate different needs and lifestyles. Bathrooms range from 3.00m² to 5.60m², and mezzanine levels introduce extra usable space.

The shared kitchens and living rooms inside each unit act as hubs where residents cook, meet, and relax. The spatial efficiency is elevated by:

• Curved internal walls that flow with the geometry of the building
• Modular furniture and layouts
• Open-plan shared zones
• Spiral stairs integrated into the structural rhythm

These elements create a balance between privacy and collectivity, allowing residents to personalize their living experience.

Social Interaction as Architecture

A key ambition of "Living Around" is to foster community not only through space but also through behavior. The architecture is complemented by a communication model that encourages spontaneous and purposeful exchanges among residents.

A simple digital-based interaction system—sharing messages like “anyone wants to join a grill today?” or “does anybody have garlic?”—helps cultivate collaboration and collective responsibility. From cooking together to organizing movie nights, these micro-interactions strengthen a sense of belonging.

Sustainability & Urban Integration

As a prototype for sustainable residential architecture, the project integrates environmental, social, and urban sustainability:

Environmental Sustainability

• Daylight optimization from 360° façade exposure
• Cross-ventilation provided by the building’s hollow structure
• Lush green landscape improving microclimate
• Reduced corridor footprint lowering embedded energy

Social Sustainability

• Encouraging shared living and reduced individual resource use
• Creating safe spaces for community-driven activities
• Supporting multi-generational and diverse resident groups

Urban Sustainability

• A plan that adapts to future development
• Flexible typology that can be replicated across varying site conditions
• Enhancing public space through an open-edge configuration

Visual Identity & Atmosphere

The building's visual language draws inspiration from Parisian massing silhouettes, evident in the sloping façade and rhythmic window placement. Soft white surfaces, warm interior materials, and gentle landscaping contribute to a welcoming, human-centric environment.

Renderings depict lively outdoor interactions, families picnicking, residents cycling, children playing, and friends gathering. These images highlight the project's emphasis on community-centered living.

"Living Around" is more than a housing complex—it is an architectural model for the future of sustainable, socially active, and adaptable living environments. By merging circular form, integrated landscape, flexible units, and community-driven spatial programming, the design demonstrates how architecture can nurture meaningful relationships and improve residents’ quality of life.

The project by Katarzyna Zabielska stands as a pioneering example of how sustainable residential architecture can fundamentally reshape the way communities grow and thrive in a rapidly evolving urban landscape.