Natural habitat: Ecosystems define skyscrapers

Malibu – A series of mutating skyscrapers may provide a solution to the needs of urban dwellers.

The Mangal City project by Chimera Design features a series of spiralling buildings based on mangrove trees, plant growth patterns and the interaction of natural ecosystems. Inspired by the principles of biomimicry, the project features modular pod capsules that shift to adapt to different environmental and contextual conditions.

‘Our vision is to define an urban ecosystem which supports housing and cultural programmes, and has the ability to adapt, transform, mutate and adjust according to the specific urban and social character of the site,’ the designers say.

Inspired by structures that occur in nature, new future-facing landscapes are quickly becoming a reality. See our exploration of the Utopia trend for more.