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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
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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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The Buildner’s Unbuilt Award 2025 is an international architecture competition dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the value of unrealized architectural designs. It invites architects, designers, and students worldwide to submit visionary projects that have not yet been constructed, highlighting the power of ideas and the creativity behind the design process. By focusing on unbuilt work, the competition aims to bring forward concepts that shape the future of architecture and push the boundaries of the profession. 

Participants can compete in three categories based on project scale: Small Wonders (up to 100 m²), Medium Marvels (101–999 m²), and Large Visions (over 1,000 m²). Each category winner will receive €20,000, and additional prizes include honorable mentions, student awards, and a special Best Presentation Award. Winning projects will gain significant international exposure through Buildner’s publicity campaign and a feature article on ArchDaily, providing a unique opportunity to showcase creative ideas to a global audience. 

The Buildner’s Unbuilt Award 2025 encourages entrants to submit any type of unbuilt project, from conceptual visions to detailed designs, celebrating bold innovation without the constraints of realization. Important deadlines: registration closes on October 30, 2025; submissions are due by November 20, 2025; winners will be announced on December 17, 2025.

Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025

Celebrating your unbuilt architecture visions with a €100,000 prize

100,000€ Prize / 2025 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 100,000 €
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 30 October 2025

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