A new habitat is forming in Miami’s Biscayne Bay, merging architecture with ecology and redefining shelter as infrastructure. Expanding the mission of the local Biscayne National Park Institute, MICROGROVE is a living research community designed for scientists, ecologists, researchers, and eco-tourists, dedicated to the study, restoration, and increased social awareness of coastal ecosystems.
This microhome community does not just exist in the bay—it functions like the bay. Each microhome, 3D-printed with organic, nature-inspired concrete forms, mimics the structural intelligence of local mangrove roots, standing resilient against tides and storm surges while providing shelter for both human and non-human inhabitants of the bay. Equipped with self-sustaining energy systems, including solar power and integrated water management, MICROGROVE functions as a shared living framework within Biscayne Bay.
Attached to the MICROGROVE community, aquatic permaculture structures are maintained and observed to support research and provide food for manatees, fish, and other marine species. This effort fosters a symbiotic relationship between architectureand the bay’s existing inhabitants.
Rather than imposing a static human development, MICROGROVE is an adaptive, breathing organism—a vision for a coastal community that regenerates its own future—a place where design is not an intrusion, but an extension of nature’s intelligence—a prototype for living architecture in a world where climate and urbanism must no longer be at odds.
PROGRAM: Microhome Ecological Research Community
CONTEXT: Miami, Florida, USA
SITE: Biscayne Bay National Park
TEAM: Bryan Maddock, Grace Infante
ORGANIZER: Buildner
Honorable Mention
Emphasizing aquatic architectural details, MICROGROVE integrates water-resistant materials, ensuring longevity in a brackish, tidal environment. Porous gangways allow water and light to pass through, reducing impact on marine ecosystems while providing safe elevated access. Storage spaces and building systems are integrated under the deck of the cabin (the hull) and in the thickened dome ceiling space above the kitchen. The doors, windows, structure, and machinery are inspired by the forms of aquatic vessels, referencing submarine doors, portholes, deck planks, ship netting, and sail rigging.
