You could try something like I am doing in my world. My first week was just basic minecraft, building a Savanna Ranch complex, with buildings planned for future technology. Challenge was to make each building large enough for pipes, tubes, machines, etc. So far I have my main ranch, a barn which generates biofuel and seed oil. I built a blacksmith and sawmill combined structure. Have a small building that is my library (for enchanting and TC3 stuff), and recently built a greenhouse for beekeeping (until I found that a Savanna biome is not good for starter bees so had to make a separate building in a different biome to get started). I still need to build something for a brickworks and a glassworks.
All the buildings have basements and underground connections, so try and hide pipes/tubes and power lines.
Only down side is it's a bit impraticle, and requires a lot more resources for power/item transport as everything is spread over a larger area. The amount of redstone I've used up for conduits at this early stage - shudder.