Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

Learn from past Buildner architecture competition participants through our extensive project library, curated over more than 15 years!

Breathable Space with Air Tunnels and Integrated Flora for Reflection

Author:
Yi Wu
Breathable Space with Air Tunnels and Integrated Flora for Reflection

Project in-detail

Air tunnels and a roof opening that integrates plant life create a space for contemplation and memory, serving as a unique columbarium that bridges the essence of life and death.
5 key facts about this project
01
Air tunnels create dynamic airflow, enhancing visitor experience.
02
The roof opening allows natural light and supports plant growth.
03
Thin, paralleled walls facilitate a variety of reflective spaces.
04
Integrated flora promotes a connection between life and memory.
05
Design encourages both private contemplation and communal interaction.

Breathing Boundaries: Columbarium - Chamber of Memories presents a thoughtful space that reflects on life and death. Located in an urban setting, the columbarium serves to honor the deceased while allowing visitors to engage in personal reflection. The design centers around the act of breathing, making it a core theme that influences the experience within.

Spatial Dynamics

The design features paralleled thick walls that act as air tunnels, guiding airflow and movement throughout the columbarium. These walls create a variety of pathways, prompting visitors to engage deeply with their thoughts as they move through the space. This arrangement supports a fluid experience, enabling users to shift easily between moments of solitude and shared reflection.

Natural Light and Flora

A key element of the design is a roof opening that allows natural light to fill the interior. This choice not only brightens the space but also encourages the growth of plants inside. By incorporating nature, the columbarium becomes more inviting, and the greenery serves as a reminder of life's connection to memory. The relationship between light and plant life enriches the atmosphere, creating a peaceful environment for contemplation.

Privacy and Community Interaction

The layout includes areas designed for rest and conversation, which encourages social interaction among visitors. These spaces balance quiet reflection with shared experiences, inviting people to honor memories together. The design fosters a sense of community while still allowing for individual contemplation. This balance enhances the experience, making the columbarium a place for both solitude and connection.

Throughout the structure, various details like the texture of the walls and the quality of light come together to create a consistent atmosphere. These design features ensure that visitors are surrounded by an environment that engages the senses, providing a meaningful setting for reflection on the experiences of life and loss.

Noticed a mistake?
Highlight the text and click on
Noticed a mistake

MICROHOME 10: Celebrating Small-Scale Living with €100,000 Prize Fund and Kingspan’s Innovation

`
Competition organisers

The MICROHOME 10 competition invites participants to submit visionary designs for off-grid, modular microhomes that push the limits of sustainable, small-scale living. Organised by Buildner in partnership with Kingspan and Hapi Homes, this tenth edition sets the challenge of designing a dwelling for two people within a maximum floor area of 25 m², encouraging bold solutions adaptable to any urban or rural location. The competition continues Buildner’s mission to foster innovative approaches to compact, energy-efficient housing that can address pressing global challenges.

This year’s edition offers a generous total prize fund of €100,000, including the Kingspan Award for designs that integrate high-performance Kingspan products and the Hapi Homes Award for a project selected for real-world construction. In addition to cash prizes, the winners gain international exposure through Buildner’s media partnerships, publications, and a dedicated MICROHOME magazine, further amplifying their ideas to the wider architectural community.

Key dates for MICROHOME 10 include the closing date for registration on 25 September 2025, the submission deadline on 29 October 2025 (11:59 p.m. London time), and the announcement of winners on 9 December 2025. These milestones ensure participants have clear timelines to develop and present their concepts, with early registration discounts available to support students and emerging designers worldwide.

MICROHOME

Design a new small-scale home concept in the 10th edition of MICROHOME — 100,000 € prize + construction

100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 100,000 € + Potential realisation
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 25 September 2025

Enter an open architecture
competition now

Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
100,000€ Prize / 2025
Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
Affordable Housing Series 19th Edition
The Architect's 
Chair
The Architect's Chair
Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #4
MICROHOME
MICROHOME
100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10
Kinderspace
Kinderspace
Architecture for Children’s Development #3
To view this project in detail,
please log in with your
Architects’ Network Plus account.
Subscription instantly unlocks all the architecture projects plus other member-only benefits:
  • Access the 17,725 Concept Library
  • Professional tools including file transfer, email, portfolio management, and more
Register now
Already a member? Log in

This website uses cookies to improve user experience and gather usage statistics.

More information is available in our Privacy & Cookie policy