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Exploring Snail-Shaped Spaces with Water Ponds and Garden Beds

Authors:
Leilei Xu, Leah Sun, Heng Tan
Exploring Snail-Shaped Spaces with Water Ponds and Garden Beds

Project in-detail

With a form inspired by a snail and integrated water ponds alongside semi-recessed garden beds, the pavilion serves as a platform for community interaction and exploration of human values and achievements.
5 key facts about this project
01
The conference room shape is inspired by a snail, promoting organic conversation flow.
02
Water ponds are strategically integrated into the landscape design, enhancing ecological engagement.
03
Semi-recessed garden beds showcase essential crops like rice, wheat, and corn.
04
The pavilion includes areas for hands-on workshops, emphasizing community creativity.
05
Immersive technology supports dialogue between visitors and potential extraterrestrial entities.

The Human Habitat: Solar System project is located at St Kilda Beach in Melbourne, Australia. It is designed to explore human values, achievements, and the possibility of interacting with extraterrestrial beings. The concept focuses on love, respect, empathy, and appreciation, creating a space that reflects various facets of humanity. The pavilion serves both visitors and the broader community, inviting exploration and engagement.

Conference Room of Human Values
The Conference Room of Human Values is a key element, inspired by the shape of a snail. This design aims to encourage a natural flow of conversation and openness. Immersive technology enhances communication in this area, making it a critical space for discussions between humans and potential extraterrestrial visitors.

Gallery of Human Achievements
The Gallery of Human Achievements showcases important milestones in fields like science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics, known collectively as STEAM. It presents these accomplishments through illuminated displays and sculptures, allowing visitors to appreciate human creativity and innovation. These visual elements make it easy for people to connect with the contributions of humanity.

Workshops of Human Curiosity
In the Workshops of Human Curiosity, large tables and seating encourage hands-on activities and creative expression. This area is designed for visitors to engage in arts and crafts, fostering imagination and collaboration. It reinforces the pavilion's purpose as a place for community learning and exploration.

Elements Supporting Human Life
The landscape design features essential agricultural elements, including rice, wheat, and corn, which are arranged in semi-recessed garden beds. These features are not only visually appealing but also highlight the importance of these crops for human survival. Water ponds integrated into the landscape enhance the experience, reminding visitors of the vital resources necessary for life.

As visitors wander through the pavilion, they encounter a narrative that captures the essence of humanity while exploring possibilities beyond Earth. The careful arrangement of spaces and interconnections creates a rich environment filled with experiences that reflect both human history and future goals.

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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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Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
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