Monsoon Nest

Flood-resilient modular housing for Bangkok using WFC

by Ahmad Baltaji & Shuai Zhang, IAAC MaCAD, 2026

Tutors: James McBennett, Lucia Leva Fuentes, Laukik Lad

Monsoon Nest is a computational housing proposal addressing Bangkok’s unique environmental challenges: flooding risk, monsoon rainfall, high humidity and the demand for affordable mid-rise residential development. The project integrates contextual data, parametric geometry, building regulations and local identity into a coherent design system.

Using Monoceros, the project applies three-dimensional discrete assembly logic to generate modular urban housing systems. A 3×3×3 meter modular system with interchangeable tiles - residential, commercial, circulation and service units - is encoded with adjacency rules and spatial constraints. The WFC solver rapidly tests configurations of density, courtyard placement, circulation networks and mixed-use distribution, producing multiple valid building arrangements from the same rule set.

The design features elevated ground levels for flood resilience, integrated roof rainwater collectors, interstitial courtyards for ventilation and daylight, and adaptable residential layouts. Tree-like structural columns carry canopy roofs that provide shade and collect monsoon water, while the modular system allows the building to grow and reconfigure over time.