No one has better embraced a progressive ideal for our urban future than Dutch design firm MVRDV. Its radical designs comfortably and sustainably fit as many people in as little space as possible. In the past 18 months, the 50-architect firm has been winning design competitions, getting projects green-lighted, and breaking ground on its urban climbing utopias, meaning the rest of the world is finally catching up to its way of thinking.

LOCATION: South of Seoul, South Korea
STATUS: Under further budget and concept development
BIG IDEA: By building upward, Gwanggyo will support 77,000 people in 1.2 million square feet and be completely self-sufficient.

LOCATION: Oslo, Norway
STATUS: Under construction for 2012 completion
BIG IDEA: The space was designed as specific small-scale working clusters, like mini-offices, with an emphasis on communal spaces and sheltered public passages. The niches in the building allow for roof gardens and outside areas on every floor, where vegetation can be grown.

(Click to the next slide for a look at the thought process behind the building.)

MVRDV's thought process behind DnB NOR Headquarters in Oslo.

LOCATION: Rotterdam, the Netherlands
STATUS: Under construction for 2014 completion
BIG IDEA: Creating a market "tunnel" surrounded by housing uses space typically meant for residential or retail as both, on the same plot of land. Each of the 228 apartments will include a balcony on the outside and a window into the market on the inside.

LOCATION: Logroño, Spain
STATUS: Under construction for 2013 completion
BIG IDEA: Only 10% of the allotted 140 acres will be used for housing and retail. What remains is for an eco-park -- part public space, part energy-production facility, including solar cells and wind turbines. The site will have 3,000 affordable housing units, as well as retail, restaurants, sports facilities, and a museum -- all of them 100% carbon neutral.

LOCATION: Delft, Netherlands
STATUS: Completed
BIG IDEA: Utilizing limited space for a new research institute lead by MVRDV and the Technical University Delft, the Why Factory's statement-making orange stairs serve as auditorium seating and public space, and have classrooms and offices built inside them as well.

LOCATION: Spijkenissse, the Netherlands
STATUS: Under construction for Fall 2011 completion
BIG IDEA: The building for the Spijkenissse public library is all stacked -- walls of books make up the walls of the offices and other rooms in the building.

LOCATION: Singapore
STATUS: Concept
BIG IDEA: Extending and renovating an older tower from the 1970s by adding condos on top, MVRDV's design for Singapore Westwood creates a new Sky Village that hovers over the city.