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Healing Spaces Enhanced by Natural Landscaping and Sustainable Features

Authors:
Julie Piper, Tanya Anderson, Tim Oates, Lou Pallay
Healing Spaces Enhanced by Natural Landscaping and Sustainable Features

Project in-detail

Integrating water features with native landscaping, the design enhances its surroundings while providing a supportive environment for patients in terminal care.
5 key facts about this project
01
The design incorporates a co-location strategy with a nearby daycare, fostering intergenerational interaction.
02
Water features enhance stormwater management while creating tranquil spaces for reflection.
03
Native landscaping minimizes irrigation needs and promotes local wildlife habitats.
04
The layout emphasizes natural light and open pathways to reduce the emotional burden of terminal care.
05
Intimate room scales facilitate comfort and privacy for patients and families.

The "Hospice - Home for the Terminally Ill" sits within a calm environment tailored to provide comfort and support for patients nearing the end of their lives. It is designed to foster a peaceful atmosphere where families can spend meaningful time together. The overall concept of the hospice emphasizes the importance of nature in creating a healing space, which guides the design approach throughout the facility.

Design Concept

The layout encourages interaction with both the interior and the surrounding landscape. Natural light floods the spaces, creating bright and airy environments. Pathways throughout the building are thoughtfully arranged to facilitate movement and exploration. This design helps users experience the various rooms and areas in a way that alleviates the pressures often felt in traditional healthcare settings.

Co-location Strategy

Placing the hospice alongside a school or daycare allows for a unique blend of activity and tranquility. This strategy not only maximizes staffing efficiency but also brings a youthful energy into the environment. Families can find support and distraction, while children can learn about compassion in a real-world context, creating a community atmosphere that softens the weight of terminal care.

Water Features and Landscaping

Water plays a vital role in the overall design, serving both functional and aesthetic purposes. These features assist with stormwater management while enhancing visual appeal. The inclusion of ponds and wetlands reduces the need for additional irrigation and helps create a habitat that encourages wildlife. Together, these elements strengthen the connection to the natural environment, promoting a sense of peace for patients and families.

Sustainability and Community Spaces

Sustainability is integrated into the design through the use of solar panels and a green roof. These elements not only reduce energy consumption but also contribute to the connection between the building and nature. Communal areas, such as gathering rooms and a library, provide cozy spaces for social interaction. An accessible boardwalk encourages all visitors to engage with the natural surroundings, offering quiet places for reflection and connection.

The hospice includes landscaped gardens featuring a variety of plants, providing serene settings where patients can focus on nature and find moments of calm.

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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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