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Columbarium Emphasizing Light and Reflection Through Interconnected Zones

Author:
Eric Mason
Columbarium Emphasizing Light and Reflection Through Interconnected Zones

Project in-detail

Emphasizing interconnected zones and the interplay of light, the columbarium serves as a contemplative space that bridges the experiences of the living and departed.
5 key facts about this project
01
Interconnected zones encourage both communal gathering and private reflection.
02
The columbarium's orientation maximizes natural light throughout the day.
03
Pathways are designed to guide visitors through contemplative journeys.
04
The design emphasizes the relationship between the living and the deceased.
05
Careful ground manipulation creates distinct yet cohesive spaces.

"Bridging the Lamented Columbarium" is a memorial space that connects the lives of the living with the memories of the deceased. Located in a carefully designed landscape, the project blends structures and pathways to create a peaceful journey for visitors. The main concept revolves around a columbarium, which both separates and unifies different areas, allowing users to navigate the site with thoughtful engagement with their surroundings.

Conceptual Framework

The design highlights the relationship between its various spaces, encouraging movement in multiple directions across the site. By altering the existing ground, three interconnected zones are created. These zones foster both community remembrance and individual reflection, honoring the emotional significance of the place. Visitors are invited to explore these areas in ways that resonate personally with their experiences and memories.

Spatial Organization

At the heart of the design is the columbarium, which represents the connection between the living and the departed. Its carefully chosen location takes advantage of natural light, which plays an important role in shaping the environment. The columbarium effectively divides the site while guiding visitors along pathways, ensuring a smooth journey through the memorial space that feels both intentional and welcoming.

Material and Light

Light is essential in creating the right atmosphere within the columbarium. The orientation of the building allows for changing light throughout the day, enriching the experience for everyone who visits. This interplay of light and shadow deepens the sense of connection present in the space, encouraging reflection on both life and memory. The design responds to these variations, inviting visitors to observe how light transforms the memorial area as it shifts.

Design Details

"Bridging the Lamented Columbarium" integrates thoughtfully with the surrounding landscape. Each part is designed to support the overall theme of connection and remembrance. Pathways lead visitors to different areas for contemplation, with the columbarium serving as the central element that draws attention. The arrangement of these spaces encourages interaction, allowing individuals to engage with the design and its themes on a personal level.

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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

Enter an open architecture
competition now

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