Sigurd Larsen proposes modular village on apartment block roof
In our latest Dezeen x MINI Living video, we explore a proposal by Danish architect Sigurd Larsen to house Berlin's growing population on the roof of an existing apartment building. More
![]()
![Traditional Korean house installed above busy London street by Do Ho Suh]()
Traditional Korean house installed above busy London street by Do Ho Suh
South Korean artist Do Ho Suh has built a replica of his childhood home and installed it above a road in the City of London. More
![Malka Architecture has proposed adding cubed parasitic extensions to an apartment building in Paris]()
Parasitic extensions to Paris apartment building could reduce energy consumption
Our latest Dezeen x MINI Living video features a proposal by Malka Architecture to improve the energy efficiency of a Parisian apartment building, by attaching boxy, parasitic extensions to its exterior. More
![Framlab's Homed proposal seeks to house the homeless population of New York in parasitic pods attached to the exteriors of buildings.]()
Parasitic pods attached to buildings could house New York's homeless
Our latest Dezeen x MINI Living video features a proposal by creative agency Framlab to house the homeless population of New York in parasitic pods attached to the outside of existing buildings. More
![Homed by Framlab]()
Framlab proposes parasitic hexagonal pods to sleep New York's homeless
New York's empty walls could be covered with honeycomb-like clusters of pods to house the city's growing homeless population, as part of this proposal by creative agency Framlab. More
![]()
10 parasitic dwellings that cling to other buildings
Following the popularity of an artist's studio latched onto a concrete bridge, we've brought together 10 examples of parasitic structures that rely on a host building for support or services. Others include experimental housing for the homeless and a house-shaped wooden hut affixed to the side of a hotel. More
![Secret studio under a bridge by Fernando Abellanas]()
Fernando Abellanas hangs secret studio under a bridge in Valencia
Self-taught designer Fernando Abellanas has installed a covert studio beneath a graffiti-covered bridge in the Spanish city of Valencia, making use of the concrete infrastructure to form a roof and walls for the hideaway. More
![CN Tower reimagined by Quadrangle]()
Toronto's CN Tower reimagined as residential high-rise covered in wooden pods
Clusters of parasitic apartment units cling to the sides of the CN Tower in this conceptual proposal by Toronto studio Quadrangle. More
![Havre 77 by Francisco Pardo Arquitecto]()
Derelict Mexico City house transformed into mixed-use venue
Mexico City architects Francisco Pardo and Julio Amezcua have added an architectural "prosthesis" on top of a dilapidated brick residence to turn the building into offices and a co-working space. More
![LIGHT HOUSE allzone for Chicago Architecture Biennial 2015]()
Micro dwelling by All(zone) could be erected within abandoned towers
Chicago Architecture Biennial 2015: Bangkok studio All(zone) has conceived a small temporary home intended to be set up inside unfinished high-rise buildings in tropical cities (+ movie). More
![Homeless shelters by James Furzer]()
James Furzer to crowdfund parasitic sleeping pods for London's homeless
Architectural designer James Furzer has developed a modular homeless shelter that would hang off the sides of existing buildings, and launched a campaign on crowdfunding platform Indiegogo to finance a prototype. More
![]()
Metal-clad power plant by Tzannes Associates is mounted on the roof of an old Sydney brewery
These three zinc-cloaked towers form a power plant on the roof of an old beer brewery in Sydney, which will supply energy to a new housing and shopping complex on the site below (+ slideshow). More
![Piñeiro House by Adamo-Faiden]()
Foliage-clad pavilion by Adamo-Faiden creates a home on a disused roof
Architecture studio Adamo-Faiden has transformed the vacant roof of a 15-storey block in Buenos Aires into a home for a young couple, by installing a glazed pavilion-like structure surrounded by plants (+ slideshow). More
![Oak Hill by Claridge Architects]()
Claridge Architects inserts timber-clad house behind north London mansion block
Diagonal strips of timber clad this single-storey addition to a Hampstead apartment block, which also features a rooftop garden that can be used by neighbouring residents (+ slideshow). More
![Detached Urban Hut in Athens by Dragonas Christopoulou Architects]()
City rooftop cabin offers an alternative to the primitive forest hut
Architects Panos Dragonas and Varvara Christopoulou believe there is no longer anywhere remote enough to build a wilderness hideaway, so have instead proposed a cabin raised above the Athens rooftops. More
![Disruption by James Christian at Designers in Residence]()
James Christian designs parasitic structures for disused city spaces
London designer James Christian has created a series of architectural parasites intended to occupy empty rooftops, car parks and greens of dilapidated estates across the capital for his residency at the city's Design Museum. More
![dezeen_Mountain-built-on-top-of-Chinese-apartment-block_1]()
Man ordered to remove fake mountain villa on top of Chinese tower
News: a Chinese businessman who built a house covered by an artificial mountain on top of a 26-storey apartment block in Beijing has been told to remove it or face having it demolished. More
![Excrescent Utopia by Milo Ayden De Luca]()
Excrescent Utopia by Milo Ayden De Luca
Parasitic dwellings for homeless people would cling to the sides of lamp posts in this concept by British architecture graduate Milo Ayden De Luca (+ slideshow + movie). More
![Music School Louviers by Opus 5]()
Music School Louviers extension by Opus 5
French architects Opus 5 have built a concert hall on top of a former seventeenth century convent in northern France (+ slideshow). More
![Dezeen Archive Parasites]()
Dezeen archive: parasite architecture
Dezeen archive: we've noticed a lot of parasitic architecture so here's a selection of buildings on Dezeen that sit, lean or cling on to others. See all the stories »
