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Forest of Niches and Open Park Integrating Public Reflection and Remembrance

Authors:
Tony Yu, Wen-xin Yeunh, Danny Ngo
Forest of Niches and Open Park Integrating Public Reflection and Remembrance

Project in-detail

Designed with a forest of niches and an open park that encourages community interaction, the columbarium-park provides a modern space for public reflection and remembrance.
5 key facts about this project
01
Forest of niches designed to encourage quiet reflection and intimacy with nature.
02
Open-air upper park integrates community activities with memorial spaces.
03
Vertical openings create natural light pathways, enhancing the user experience.
04
Combines elements of Latvian culture in its approach to death and remembrance.
05
Layout promotes both communal gatherings and private contemplation.

The columbarium-park presents a unique interpretation of spaces designed for the deceased, focusing on bridging the gap between the living and the dead. This design creates an environment that promotes public engagement with death while ensuring areas for respectful remembrance. It draws inspiration from cultural practices that involve open discussions about mortality and reimagines memorial spaces as part of daily life. By integrating the concept of a park with a columbarium, it creates a community-oriented space that fosters interaction and reflection.

Conceptual Framework

The main idea is to blend memorial spaces with areas meant for daily life. This approach challenges the traditional view of cemeteries and columbariums, which are often seen as places solely for mourning. Instead, the design aims to encourage people to feel comfortable visiting, allowing these spaces to serve as vibrant venues for social activities. The upper park area offers a gathering space that invites the public to connect with one another amid carefully arranged landscaping.

Niche Arrangement

At the lower level, a forest of niches is carefully arranged within the structure. This design allows for both solitary reflection and group gatherings. Visitors can find quiet areas for contemplation while still being part of a larger community experience. Large vertical openings help bring in natural light, enhancing the connection between the interior spaces and the surrounding environment, making them feel more open and welcoming.

Integration with Nature

While specific materials are not detailed in the presentations, the design suggests a strong connection to the natural world. The intention appears to be to blend built structures with the landscape. This approach reflects a growing trend in architecture to prioritize sustainability and ecological sensitivity. The overall concept emphasizes a relationship with nature, encouraging visitors to appreciate the environment while remembering their loved ones.

Lively Interactions

The design promotes a lively atmosphere that counters the isolation often felt in spaces dedicated to mourning. By integrating everyday activities into the columbarium, it encourages the infusion of life into areas typically associated with grief. People can come together to share experiences, memories, and moments of joy, making the act of remembrance more accessible.

Attention to the details enhances the experience of this space. Visitors move through carefully considered areas where light and shadow play a significant role, inviting reflection and engagement with both memory and nature. This design facilitates conversations about life and loss while allowing individuals to navigate their feelings in an inviting environment.

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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

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