Get inspired!

17,363 architecture projects

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

Charred Wooden Shingles and Cross-Laminated Timber Create Nurturing Space for Childhood Healing

Author:
Nazanin Zakeri sardroudi
Charred Wooden Shingles and Cross-Laminated Timber Create Nurturing Space for Childhood Healing

Project in-detail

With charred wooden shingles and cross-laminated timber framing, the design creates a tranquil setting that prioritizes healing and support for children and their families in a dedicated hospice environment.
5 key facts about this project
01
Charred wooden shingles enhance both aesthetics and fire resistance.
02
Cross-laminated timber construction promotes rapid assembly and sustainability.
03
Bent A-frame design maximizes interior space for comfort and functionality.
04
Dedicated sensory gardens integrated into the design promote outdoor therapy.
05
Flexible room layouts allow adaptive use for various family needs.
The architectural project, Noor Express, is designed as a children's hospice that provides specialized care for ill children and their families. Located in an area conducive to healing, this facility emphasizes creating a supportive, comforting environment. The design focuses on addressing the emotional and physical needs of its users, ensuring that the space offers a blend of function and comfort.

The layout is methodically organized into three distinct zones: public, semi-private, and private, promoting interaction while preserving a sense of privacy. This zoning strategy allows families to engage socially while attending to their child's needs. Each area incorporates natural light through large windows and strategically placed skylights, creating a warm atmosphere that counters the clinical aura often associated with medical facilities.

The public zone serves as the welcoming entry point, featuring visitor areas that foster community engagement, along with communal play spaces that encourage interaction among children and families. The semi-private zone contains treatment and shared play areas, designed to minimize the anxiety typically experienced in medical settings. This area facilitates patient care while allowing families to remain close, thereby enhancing emotional support.

The private zone prioritizes the needs of individual patients. Patient and parent rooms are designed for comfort, offering a home-like environment that eases stress during difficult times. This careful attention to layout and material selection reinforces the design’s overarching goal: to provide a comforting sanctuary for children and their families.

Design Innovations and Unique Features

Noor Express employs design approaches that distinguish it from typical hospice facilities. These include an emphasis on interaction with nature through garden spaces that encourage outdoor exploration and sensory engagement. The integration of flexible rooms allows for adaptive use, ensuring the space can cater to various activities as needs evolve.

Sustainable materials form a core part of the project’s identity. Wood is used extensively in structural and finishing aspects, promoting warmth and comfort. Glass elements enhance transparency, allowing natural light to permeate the building and establishing a connection between indoor and outdoor environments. Stone pavers are utilized for outdoor pathways, ensuring durability and accessibility.

Architectural Integration and Community Focus

The architectural design reflects a holistic understanding of community needs. Common areas and treatment rooms are designed with family involvement in mind, enabling parents to stay close to their children while access to clinical care remains seamless. The design actively fosters a sense of belonging and support, prioritizing emotional wellness through intentional architectural decisions.

Unique elements, such as sensory gardens and play areas, provide therapeutic benefits and promote healing. The focus on a versatile layout ensures that spaces can adapt to both clinical functions and familial activities, accommodating various needs throughout the day.

This project illustrates a commitment to creating a specialized environment for children experiencing significant medical challenges. By prioritizing light, comfort, and community interaction, Noor Express serves its function as a children's hospice effectively, distinguishing itself within its typology.

For a more comprehensive understanding of the architectural plans, sections, and design ideas behind Noor Express, the presentation offers additional details and insights into the architectural approaches employed in this project.
Noticed a mistake?
Highlight the text and click on
Noticed a mistake

Enter an open architecture
competition now

The Architect’s 
Stair
The Architect’s Stair
Take a step and make a statement! Edition #2
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
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
100,000€ Prize / 2025

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

Competition organisers

The 10th edition of the MICROHOME architecture competition invites architects and designers from around the world to explore the possibilities of compact, sustainable living. Hosted by Buildner in collaboration with Kingspan and Hapi Homes, this special edition challenges participants to design an off-grid, modular microhome for a young professional couple, with a maximum floor area of 25 m². Designs should prioritize innovation, efficiency, and real-world feasibility. 

A total prize fund of 100,000 € will be awarded, including three main prizes, the Kingspan Award, and the Hapi Homes Award, which will grant 15,000 € and lead to the construction of the selected design. The final registration deadline is September 25, 2025, and winners will be announced on Decebmer 9, 2025. For full competition details and submission guidelines, visit microhome.info.

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
Early bird registration deadline 22 May 2025
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 17,363 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