Stelné

Stelné is a concept in speculative urban design that describes an integrated, modular approach to creating energy-conscious neighborhoods. It treats buildings, streets, and public spaces as a single system where architectural form, infrastructure, and governance reinforce one another to reduce energy use and support local resilience.

Core components include modular prefabricated building units that can be reconfigured as needs change, a district energy network combining solar, geothermal, and battery storage, shared resources such as tools and vehicles, and a participatory planning platform that coordinates maintenance, governance, and resource allocation. Design emphasizes walkable streets, biophilic elements, rainwater harvesting, and daylight optimization, with data-driven management to balance energy generation, storage, and demand.

Origins and use: The term arose in European design discourse in the mid-21st century and has since appeared in speculative planning publications and design studios. It is used to describe both the methodological approach and realized neighborhoods that implement the integrated system.

Applications and reception: Stelné projects seek energy-positive performance and low greenhouse gas emissions, while prioritizing social equity and local ownership. Critics point to high upfront costs, retrofitting challenges in existing fabric, and the risk of standardization limiting local context.

See also: sustainable architecture, district energy systems, modular construction, participatory planning.