2026 | Professional

MUSE Design Awards Gold Winner

Smart Retrofitting Design for Urban Residential Buildings

Entrant

Future City Aijia Intelligent Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.

Category

Product Design - Building Technology

Client's Name

Country / Region

China

Smart Retrofitting Design for Urban Residential Buildings
Addressing the global aging trend, this project proposes a smart and life-cycle adaptive retrofitting scheme for a typical 67m² urban residential unit. The original layout suffered from low space utilization, a lack of age-friendly facilities, and the difficulty of integrating smart systems post-renovation.
"Good House" concept is more than just a dwelling; it is a "living organism" that understands its residents. Guided by eight core values—Applicable, Economical, Green, Aesthetic, Safe, Comfortable, Smart, and Sustainable—it supports the dynamic evolution of space across four life stages: Comfort at 55, Freedom at 65, Safety at 75, and Dignity at 85.
Three Major Design Innovations
1. Smart Butler AI Agent: Configured with a dedicated Smart Agent in each space, the system proactively senses and learns, providing non-intrusive health monitoring and emotional companionship.
2. Cross-Generational Upgradable Infrastructure: By transforming smart systems into infrastructure similar to water and electricity, and using modular assembly walls with pre-embedded interfaces, the design ensures continuous upgradeability for 30 years.
3. Atomic Age-Friendly Home Modules: Deconstructing complex renovations into dozens of plug-and-play micro-modules (e.g., multifunctional folding cabinets, accessible bathroom units), this approach reduces costs while precisely matching the needs of different life stages.
Design Values
The project tripled storage capacity (from 11.3m³ to 31.0m³) and improved indoor daylighting and ventilation through layout optimization. Detailed designs like the "Concealed Grab Bar System" and "Shower Buffer Zone" ensure safety while preserving the dignity of seniors.

Credits

CTO
Yang Xinyu
Designer
Teng Yuwei
CEO
Ma Chunqing
Designer
Pan Yueting
Designer
Liu Han
Designer
Hu Yunjia
Designer
Li Junyi
Marketing Manager
Yuanda Lu
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