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Cypress-Focused Rest Area with Reflective Water Mirror and Personal Niches

Author:
Anton Orlovic
Cypress-Focused Rest Area with Reflective Water Mirror and Personal Niches
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An inverted dome filled with greenery crowns a pathway of 512 personalized niches, complemented by a reflective water mirror and cypress tree, creating a serene environment for remembrance.
5 key facts about this project
01
The complex includes an inverted dome filled with greenery as a focal point.
02
Personalization options allow visitors to place mementos in 15 cm gaps between niches.
03
Abstract sculptures resembling angelic forms end each row of niches.
04
Water features include narrow canals that symbolize tears.
05
A circular water mirror surrounds a centrally planted cypress tree.

The design presents a small complex oriented on a northwest-southeast axis, set in a peaceful area that encourages reflection. Covering 351 square meters, the space serves as a place for remembrance with a layout that includes a total of 512 niches. The overall concept highlights order through symmetry, creating an environment that is both calming and personal for visitors.

Niche Arrangement

The complex includes 496 niches, with the option to add 16 more for better symmetry. These niches are arranged into four rows, each containing 31 columns with four niches per column. Each niche measures 45 by 45 centimeters, accommodating urns that are 18 by 27 centimeters in size. This thoughtful arrangement allows individuals to personalize each niche in a meaningful way.

Entrance and Pathways

Visitors enter through a prominent gate made up of six wall planes that are symmetrically placed. Above it is an inverted dome filled with greenery and flowers, making the entrance a welcoming focal point. After entering, pathways branch out, each 225 centimeters wide, guiding visitors past rows of niches and to benches positioned for quiet reflection. The lack of canopies sets the complex apart, creating a direct connection between the visitors and the space around them.

Sculptural and Water Features

At the end of each row of niches, abstract sculptures gracefully rise from the ground. These forms resemble angelic figures and are created from intersecting planes that look like flower petals or pages from a book. They add depth to the design and support the theme of remembrance. In addition, fountains are strategically placed at corners, providing peaceful spots for visitors. Narrow, shallow canals for stormwater drainage run alongside, symbolically representing the tears shed in moments of loss.

Rest Area Design

The complex includes a special rest area designed like an oasis. Here, a circular water mirror lies at the center, surrounding a semicircular bench where visitors can sit and reflect. A cypress tree, planted in the middle, symbolizes life and memory. The shallow water allows its roots to grow freely, highlighting the blend of nature and design. The lighting throughout the complex is gentle and warm, enhancing the intimate atmosphere and allowing each visitor to find a space for personal thoughts and memories.

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The Next House: USA — A Global Call to Reimagine the American Suburb

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Buildner is launching The Next House: USA, a global architecture competition that challenges architects, designers, and thinkers to reimagine the American suburban home for the 21st century. For decades, the suburban house has symbolized comfort and stability, but today it often reflects excess, isolation, and environmental strain. This competition asks: how can the American home evolve to address climate urgency, economic pressures, and shifting social values?

Participants are tasked with designing a prototype home of no more than 1,500 sq ft (≈140 m²) for a household of two adults and one child. The design should be compact yet generous, adaptable, sustainable, affordable, and replicable across diverse U.S. contexts. More than a design exercise, the competition aims to spark a conversation about how homes can support healthier, smarter, and more connected communities.

The total prize fund is $20,000 USD. The final registration deadline is May 20, 2026, and winners will be announced on September 22, 2026. The Next House: USA invites architects, students, and visionaries worldwide to redefine what the American home means today—and what it should mean tomorrow.

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