Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Exploring Duality Through Contrasting Facades In A Reflective Cultural Pavilion

Author:
Hiroyuki Watanabe
Exploring Duality Through Contrasting Facades In A Reflective Cultural Pavilion

Project in-detail

Contrasting facades reflect the complexity of humanity in a pavilion designed for exhibitions and contemplation, inviting visitors to engage deeply with both its achievements and challenges.
5 key facts about this project
01
Contrasting facades symbolize the duality of human experience.
02
Gallery layout encourages a three-dimensional narrative exploration.
03
External walls display humanity's achievements alongside internal hardships.
04
Natural light creates dynamic patterns that shift throughout the day.
05
Separate sections, “Heads” and “Tails,” uniquely categorize positive and negative human narratives.

The Pavilion of Humanity serves as a profound exploration of the contrasting realities of human life. Positioned within a reflective setting, it is designed to function not only as a space for exhibitions but also as a place for contemplation. The structure is built on the idea of showcasing both uplifting and challenging elements of society. Its design captures the essence of this duality, inviting visitors to engage with the multi-layered nature of the human experience.

Conceptual Framework

The Pavilion presents a clear contrast between two sides: one side reflects positive elements such as technology, art, faith, favor, and love, while the other side exposes darker truths like war, disaster, disease, discrimination, prejudice, and lies. This theme is expressed through a carefully designed facade, which creates a sense of incompleteness. The intention is to encourage visitors to confront and reflect on the complexities of humanity.

Spatial Organization

The layout divides the pavilion into two distinct areas labeled “Heads” and “Tails.” The “Heads” section highlights humanity’s achievements, displaying aspects that represent progress and cultural growth. In contrast, the “Tails” section addresses the failures and struggles throughout history. This separation facilitates a meaningful journey where visitors can immerse themselves in both the triumphs and challenges faced by society.

Narrative Experience

As visitors move through the pavilion, they follow a pathway that transitions between the thematic zones. The exterior walls present achievements and positive stories, creating an uplifting experience. On the inside, however, the atmosphere changes to confront the past, presenting narratives of hardship and failure. This journey through contrasting perspectives allows visitors to understand the richness of human existence, blending lessons from history with moments of success.

At the meeting point of these distinct areas, light plays a significant role, with natural illumination filtering through the facade. This creates moving patterns throughout the day, symbolizing the dynamic and ever-evolving nature of humanity. Each shift in light enhances the depth of the visitors' experience, encouraging them to reflect on their own place within this complex narrative.

Noticed a mistake?
Highlight the text and click on
Noticed a mistake

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

`
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

Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
100,000€ Prize / 2025
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
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 17,725 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