Living Steel is a proposal by nArchitects, United States, that includes an environmentally responsive exterior street configuration as a relevant, sustainable model for housing in a sub-tropical climate. This strategy allows for cross ventilation, minimizes the thermally conditioned envelope, and encloses the building in tempering layers that reduce heat gain to the units.

They are, from south to north:

1^st layer: A screen of stainless steel cables spanning between floors that allows for foliage to take hold, providing shade. Combined with the deep overhang of the exterior walkways, this space tempers heat gain during summer. In winter when the foliage thins, winter light penetrates the apartments.

2^nd layer: The thermal envelope of the units is built as a series of colourfully painted steel structural insulated panels (SIPS) on a 1.5 m module. A compact zone of infrastructure and amenities comprising bathrooms, kitchens, closets, split-unit air conditioners, desks, windows and front doors is located behind this to further temper heat gain, as well as to provide a privacy and acoustic buffer. Rainwater collected in cisterns on the roof is piped through the zone to all toilets. This infrastructural layer can be quickly erected. Various degrees of prefabrication are possible, from a complete fit-out with all amenities, to the simple erection of the SIPS combined with traditional site labour.

3^rd layer: The predominantly glazed north facades lead onto balconies, built with perforated steel. This permeable membrane permits the northeast prevailing winds to filter close to the glazed surface.

The concept proposes three typologies: a narrow townhouse for lower floors, lofts in the center and wide apartments for the top floors. While the areas and layouts vary, each has approximately the same volume

The expressive potential of steel construction allows for the soaring cantilevers of three distinct vertical "neighbourhoods," each defined by colour and by one of three apartment types: townhouse, loft or wide apartments. This shifting of the building mass produces unique public exterior spaces, each with a different orientation and altitude to be enjoyed at different times of the day. This variation could extend to an entire development using the same components to vary its mix of apartment types and adjusting the cantilevered floors to create a unique urban setting with housing that is custom fit to the market and demographic demands.

Steel permeable screens allow northeast winds to pass through to ventilate interior spaces.