With urban density expected to soar over the next 100 years, what will the future city look and feel like for its inhabitants? Across the street from City Hall in downtown Dallas, a neglected parking lot spanning one square block will soon be transformed into one of the worldâ€™s most sophisticated models for sustainable urban development.

Today, Urban Re:Vision announced the winners of its international design competition, Re:Vision Dallas, which drew hundreds of entries from the worldâ€™s top architecture firms and city planners in 26 countries. The self-sustaining inner-city block will run â€œoff the gridâ€ using advanced technologies to capture wind, solar, water and geothermal resources. Meant to contribute to an array of revitalization programs in Dallas, the block will generate resources, and support and empower the community, all while acting as a working model of sustainability for cities around the world.

A local community development organization, the Central Dallas Community Development Corporation (CDC), is the lead developer for the project. â€œThe quality of the thought and effort of the design teams is astounding. It was very clear that a lot of people had put their hearts and souls into this competition,â€ said CDC Executive Director John Greenan. â€œIt was an absolute privilege spending time with the competition entries and seeing their creative vision.â€

On Dec. 5, 2008, prior to the competition, Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert hosted urban planners and leading design professionals from around the country for an intensive â€œdesign charetteâ€ put on by Re:Vision to examine the necessary framework and community impact of what will become the first fully sustainable, urban square block in the U.S. â€œIâ€™d like to see Dallas be at the forefront of design, sustainability and vibrancy of cities,â€ says Mayor Leppert. (VIDEO: Watch Mayor Leppertâ€™s Kickoff Speech)

Entries were judged by a panel comprised of a number of Dallas community leaders as well as several expert global architects and community planners. Among the judges were Eric Corey Freed, principal of organicARCHITECT and Aidan Hughes, principal at ARUP, leading North American planning practice. Also on the panel were Nathanial Corum, an architect with Architecture For Humanity, Pliny Fisk, director/co-founder of Maximum Potential Building Systems and Sergio Palleroni, director/co-founder of the BaSiC Initiative at University of Texas at Austin. Acting as advisors were Cameron Sinclair, executive director/co-founder of Architecture For Humanity, and Peter Head, director of ARUP.

The jury criteria were evenly balanced to consider:

Sustainability and reality of intent

Affordability/Constructability: Could it be built in the next few years?

Innovation and Originality

Incorporation of Sustainable Materials and Practices

The three Re:Vision Dallas finalists are:

Entry #193: Forwarding Dallas, chosen for European-style massing, vegetated screens, innovation

Entry #193: Forwarding Dallas by Atelier Data & MOOV

Architectural Firm: Atelier Data & MOOV

Lisbon, Portugal

Authors: AntÃ³nio Louro (MOOV), Filipe Vogt (Atelier Data), Marta FrazÃ£o (Atelier Data)

Collaborators: AndrÃ© Almeida (Atelier Data), Carolina Pombo (Atelier Data), InÃªs Vicente (Atelier Data), JosÃ© Niza (MOOV), JoÃ£o Calhau (MOOV)

Landscape architecture: Susana Rodrigues

Energy efficiency and resources: Maria JoÃ£o Rodrigues, JoÃ£o Parente

Concept communication: JoÃ£o Rato

Entry #193: Forwarding Dallas by Atelier Data & MOOV

Entry #193: Forwarding Dallas by Atelier Data & MOOV

Entry #193: Forwarding Dallas by Atelier Data & MOOV

Forwarding Dallas is modeled after one of the most diverse systems in nature, the hillside. The site is a series of valleys and hilltops. The valleys contain trees and more luxurious plants which transition into more resistant plants as the altitude increases. Atop the hills, solar thermal, photovoltaic and wind energy is harvested.

Design components include:

Heavy utilization of native vegetation

Open â€˜greenâ€™ spaces including wooded paths and interior courtyards as well as green roof prairies and orchards

100% prefabricated construction system, integrating building materials from local sources

Housing options from studio apartments to three bedroom flats fit to accommodate approximately 854 residents

Combination of photovoltaic (solar) and wind power which will providing 100% of the energy needed for each resident

A Southwest faÃ§ade set up for solar gain in a venetian-blind-like system which adjusts according to the season

A Northeast faÃ§ade made from prefabricated, thick, high thermal mass straw bales provides added insulation

Rooftop water catchment system designed to recycle water collected from rooftops and store underground for later use

Public green houses, including a sensorial greenhouse, swimming pool green house and meeting point green house

Water permeable paved areas to prevent pooling and flooding

A spiritual space, gymnasium, cafÃ© and exhibition space are also provided to accommodate various lifestyles. There is a temporary accommodation center as well as a daycare center designed for both children and the elderly.

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Entry #113: Entangled Bank, chosen for striking full-block massing, arrangement of sustainable systems

Entry #113: Entangled Bank by Little

Architectural Firm: Little

Charlotte, North Carolina

Team Members: Bradley Bartholomew, Ashley Spink, Stacy Franz, Kevin Franz, Kumar Karadi, Don Breemes, Coby Watts, Chad Lukenbaugh, Jason Bizzaro, Ryan Davis, Philippe Bouyer, Bo Sun

Entry #113: Entangled Bank by Little

Entry #113: Entangled Bank by Little

Entry #113: Entangled Bank by Little

The Entangled Bank is a mixed use development combines residence and retail, making each sustainable through the integration of education and green technology. On top of the Entangled Bank is a green roof with vegetation and a sky pasture to sustain â€˜Dexterâ€™ livestock that require less dietary consumption and can thrive on pastures where other cattle would starve. The sky pasture is also available for each tenant in the community to grown produce for their own consumption or resale in the market. The power utility system outfitted with vertical axis wind turbine that produces 50% more electricity than conventional turbines. This is best suited to the Dallas median wind needed to generate the turbines. A grey water treatment will be redistributed for irrigation. This plan is designed to incorporate education with sustainable profitability through the Organic Farming Institute and a Slow Food Restaurant. Food will be grown on site for the organic grocery store and host produce from many local organic farmers.

Design components include:

Intensive green roof system providing the base structure for an elevated park

Grain field providing seasonal vegetation for livestock grazing in the sky pasture

A vertical farm which climbs the side of the building for tenant use

Photovoltaic panels are attached to the exterior providing up to 100% of the power required on each of the 500 units

Vertical axis wind turbine will provide power for core needs including common lighting, retail space and parking level ventilation

Glass ponds on the elevated park level captures runoff from rooftop vegetation

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Entry #136: Greenways Xero Energy, chosen for creating sense of community, bold greenway plans

Entry #136: Greenways Xero Energy by David Baker and Partners Architects and Fletcher Studio

Architectural Firm: David Baker and Partners Architects and Fletcher Studio

San Francisco, California

Team Members: Mark Hogan, Amit Price Patel, Ian Dunn, Amanda Loper

From Fletcher Studio: David Fletcher, Sarah Donato

Rendering assistance from Mike Brown and Megan Morris of Medized.

Entry #136: Greenways Xero Energy by David Baker and Partners Architects and Fletcher Studio

Entry #136: Greenways Xero Energy by David Baker and Partners Architects and Fletcher Studio

Entry #136: Greenways Xero Energy by David Baker and Partners Architects and Fletcher Studio

The Greenways Xero Energy design, which centers around a working landscape, focuses heavily on making connections with surrounding neighborhoods. The 12-story building is divided into three, four-story sections and houses 210 bedrooms total.

Design Components Include:

Walkable â€œgreenwaysâ€ serving as the public space infrastructure

Multi-modal transit center designed to decrease reliance on cars

Ground level and balcony gardens to provide shade and improve air quality

Self-sustainability through urban agriculture practices including vertical farming and slow food restaurants

Water catchment from adjacent buildings to provide grey water irrigation system

Micro-retail space offering a variety of goods and services

Domestic solar hot water system

Photovoltaic panels in a grid-tied system on south faÃ§ade produce electricity during daylight hours

Alternating courtyards integrated into the building design creates a variety of micro-climates across different seasons

Landscaped surfaces wind up from the street level and continue onto the green roof providing additional shade to south faÃ§ade

Ground source heat pump combined with hybrid dessicant cooling system provides air conditioning during summer months with minimal energy use

By nature of its concept, Greenways Xero Energy allows for easy integration of surrounding areas into the block, each â€˜districtâ€™ having a unique identity; one might be the arts district while another is the historic or design district. Elements of this unique platform include public orchards, community gardens, private planter boxes, food stalls and locally supplied restaurants, all designed to appeal to the surrounding Dallas community and connect this block with surrounding neighborhoods.

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Re:Vision Dallas is the 6th in a series of global competitions that focus on:

Images: Re:Vision Dallas