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Concrete Refuge Within a Chernobyl Cooling Tower

Authors:
Yichen Zhai, Jimmy He
Concrete Refuge Within a Chernobyl Cooling Tower

Project in-detail

Housed within an unfinished concrete cooling tower in Chernobyl, the pavilion serves as a reflective space for education and engagement, emphasizing the complex relationship between humanity and technology.
5 key facts about this project
01
Housed in an abandoned cooling tower, the pavilion repurposes industrial architecture for educational use.
02
The design features a central amphitheater to narrate the human story related to nuclear technology.
03
Dappled sunlight filters through concrete gaps, creating dynamic shadow patterns inside the space.
04
Circular observation decks offer unique perspectives on exhibitions and foster visitor engagement.
05
The pavilion emphasizes adaptive reuse, transforming a symbol of disaster into a site of reflection.

The House of Man is a pavilion located within the Chernobyl complex, specifically in an unfinished concrete cooling tower. It serves as a space for reflection and education, addressing the historical narratives of nuclear technology and its effects on people and the environment. The design centers around the idea of adaptive reuse, turning a structure once associated with industrial growth and disaster into a site for contemplation and learning.

Spatial Design
The concept includes a "tower within a tower," which creates a complex arrangement of spaces that invite exploration. Visitors enter at the base and are met with a large, open area filled with filtered sunlight pouring through the concrete structure. This combination of light and shadow enhances the atmosphere, prompting visitors to think about the significance of the location.

Movement and Visitor Experience
As visitors travel upward through the pavilion, they use central elevators and spiral staircases to reach a performative area, designed as an amphitheater that narrates the story of humanity. This layout encourages engagement, allowing for interaction with both physical exhibits and digital displays. The exhibition spaces are flexible and can be arranged into different themes, offering varied approaches to storytelling.

Interior Environment
The design prioritizes observation and reflection, with circular observation decks available for visitors to gain different viewpoints on displayed content. These elevated areas foster connection with the exhibits, allowing for deeper understanding and interaction. This focus on engagement emphasizes the complex relationship between people and technology, all within the context of Chernobyl's history.

Natural Elements
The integration of natural light into the design plays an important role in the visitor experience. Sunlight enters the space and highlights its features, forming a link between what is outside and the interior. The House of Man thus serves as a venue for thought, reinforcing the value of remembering the past as a guide for the future.

The design culminates in an upper structure that appears to float above, creating a sense of elevation and inviting visitors to explore the multi-layered space below. This downward viewpoint encourages a more in-depth experience as guests reflect on the meanings embedded within the pavilion.

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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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