# Sustainable Vertical Villages This Housing Development is Meant to Combat Urban Sprawl By Christopher Magsambol | Published 2015-09-03 | Eco Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vertical-villages References: [dezeen](http://www.dezeen.com/2015/08/31/mad-skyscraper-concept-vertical-village-los-angeles-alternative-to-sprawl/) & [i-mad](http://www.i-mad.com/categories/status/) [MAD](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-ark-extension) Architects unveiled a plan to convert a portion of Los Angeles into large scale vertical villages. The complex plan involves erecting buildings from a single podium and combining elements of green space throughout the development. Essentially, MAD proposes to convert a typical horizontal development into a set of [high rises](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/highdensity-residential-design). The buildings will feature sculptural towers, gardens and sky bridges to connect the various structures. The proposed plan is representative of the firm's founder, Ma Yansong's concept for a high density urbanized development which mimic Chinese traditional paintings of mountain ranges. By creating a complex, interconnected neigborhood, MAD is essentially reinventing the notion of community and placing it in a massive vertical village. Each floor is designed to have a [lush garden](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/volante), giving residents the look and feel of nature but hovering over the bustling streets of LA. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.2/10 - Popularity: 80% | Activity: 67% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Eco](https://www.trendhunter.com/eco) > [Eco Architecture](https://www.trendhunter.com/ecoarchitecture) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Vertical Village Living:** The trend of building high-rise multi-use developments offers dense housing solutions to urban populations and encourages sustainable living. - **Green Space Integration:** The integration of green space into urban architecture offers a unique opportunity to reduce the environmental impact of cities and promote wellbeing. - **Sculptural Architectural Design:** The trend towards sculptural and visually stunning building designs offers architects the opportunity to create unique urban landscapes and improve the overall feel and aesthetic of cities. ### Where This Applies - **Real Estate Development:** There is an opportunity for real estate developers to focus on creating sustainable, environmentally friendly high-rise residential developments that offer unique community living experiences. - **Green Architecture:** The trend towards integrating green space into urban architecture creates an opportunity for companies to specialize in sustainable and innovative design solutions. - **Urban Planning:** The trend of building high-rise multi-use developments calls for innovative urban planning to create dynamic, walkable cities with a focus on livability, community and sustainability. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Eco Living Vertical Towers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/eden-rise-vertical.md) - [High-Rise Villa Housing Typologies](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/marbella-residential-complex.md) - [Housing Collective Projects](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/la-comunidad-habitacional.md) - [Multifunctional Circular Housing Blocks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/eve-park.md) - [Multifamily Canadian Housing Developments](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/grow-project.md) - [Rurally-Inspired City Buildings](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ziel-highrise-building.md) - [Futuristic Factory Rooftop Extensions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-ark-extension.md) - [Greenery-Filled Skyscraper Terrarium](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/terrarium-cheongdam.md) - [Captivating Facade Residential Buildings](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/one-river-north.md)