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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
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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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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.

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