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Candle-Lit Ceremonial Spaces in a Stone and Concrete Memorial Maze

Authors:
Zi wei Teh, Abril Jiang
Candle-Lit Ceremonial Spaces in a Stone and Concrete Memorial Maze

Project in-detail

Emerging from the earth, a maze of stone and concrete intertwines nature with memory, creating a reflective space that honors the past through candle-lit ceremonies and community gatherings.
5 key facts about this project
01
Columbarium niches designed to accommodate varying heights, enhancing accessibility.
02
A central square dedicated to community gatherings, promoting collective remembrance.
03
Natural plant growth integrated into stone graves, symbolizing life's continuity.
04
Maze-like pathways facilitate meaningful exploration and personal reflection.
05
Candle-lit ceremonies connecting visitors through shared experiences of memory.

The design titled "Maze of Death and Life" introduces a contemporary cemetery that thoughtfully explores themes of memory and emotional connection. It is designed as a place for reflection on life and death, using a maze-like arrangement that encourages visitors to navigate through their personal and collective memories. The overall concept allows for a journey of introspection, with pathways facilitating a contemplative experience in a peaceful setting.

Design Concept

The maze serves as a metaphor for the complexity of life, offering a non-linear experience that reflects various uncertainties. Visitors can explore and engage with different emotional moments throughout the cemetery. The arrangement of paths enables a unique sense of journey, deepening personal engagement with the space and the memories it houses.

Materiality

Stone and concrete are the primary materials used in this cemetery, selected for both their strength and longevity. These materials enhance the cemetery's structural integrity and reflect the lasting nature of memory and life. The careful integration of these elements allows for meaningful interactions with the surrounding environment, reinforcing the idea of life continuing alongside death.

Accessibility Features

Accessibility is a key element in the design, incorporating free entrances, wide pathways, and ramps to ensure that everyone can visit comfortably. Features like anti-skid surfaces and built-in drainage systems address safety concerns, making the cemetery usable year-round, regardless of the weather conditions.

Ceremonial Spaces

A notable aspect of the cemetery is the "Night of Candles," an event where the central square becomes a gathering place. During this time, visitors light candles and share music and poetry to remember their loved ones. This communal experience fosters connections among visitors while allowing for personal reflection and expressions of grief.

The pathways meander through the cemetery, adorned with plants emerging from the spaces between stones. This detail symbolizes the ongoing cycle of life amidst the solemnity of the environment.

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

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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

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competition now

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