City Cell Prototype

The City Cell Prototype was created in response to the current threats associated with ongoing climate change and its impact on cities. The research platform NEXT Institute is the author of the concept, which brings new technologies that need to be adapted into the existing infrastructure of the city through the so-called prototyping phase. The prototype is designed specifically for the city of Brno and is based on the Brno 2050 strategy, which, among other things, plans the planting of blue-green areas that would cool the city and prevent wasting rainwater.

The prototype allows for data collection and subsequent evaluation, which is a very important step before implementing these technologies in permanent infrastructure projects.

The architectural design is by the studio KOGAA. The form of the object is based on the need to provide shade and collect rainwater without disrupting the current appearance of the square where it is located.

The main component of the prototype is a biofilter, into which rainwater from the roof flows. The biofilter, with the help of sedimentation and phytotechnology planted with vegetation, cleans the rainwater of impurities, and then collects it into tanks, from where it is pumped via a drip irrigation system to the hanging plants on the outer walls of the prototype. Among other things, the biofilter helps retain rainwater, which then evaporates and improves the surrounding microclimate. Vertical greenery placed on the structure also serves to improve the microclimate.

The entire project emphasizes a minimal ecological footprint. The construction primarily consists of pre-dried wooden KVH profiles that do not require additional impregnation. Electricity for lighting and pump operation is supplied by solar panels on the roof, making the entire prototype energy self-sufficient.