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Light-Filled Sanctuary for Healing Through Memory and Reflection

Authors:
Lim Dabin, Han Seongju, Kim Ijin, Yu Hyewon
Light-Filled Sanctuary for Healing Through Memory and Reflection

Project in-detail

A corridor of light leads parents through a tranquil space designed for healing, where reflections on memory and loss are nurtured in a sanctuary that fosters emotional recovery.
5 key facts about this project
01
Meditation room utilizes a horizontal window to filter light for tranquility.
02
Piano room features a beam of light that enhances auditory memory.
03
Corridor symbolizes progression from darkness to light, guiding emotional healing.
04
Bedroom incorporates soft light to evoke a sense of hope each morning.
05
Kitchen and dining areas represent life’s continuity amid grief.

The Womb is designed as a sanctuary for parents who have lost a child. Located in a calming environment, the space serves to promote healing and emotional reflection. The design concept builds around the idea of the womb as a protective area that allows parents to process their grief while finding hope and comfort in their memories.

Conceptual Framework

The main idea is to create a place that reflects the different stages of grief. Each part of the layout serves a specific function, enhancing the healing experience through careful organization of space. Light and shadow play important roles throughout the design, symbolizing the balance between grief and hope. This creates an atmosphere that resonates with the emotional journey of the parents.

Unique Spaces

The project contains several distinct areas that address various aspects of mourning. In the meditation room, a horizontal window is positioned to filter light, casting gentle shadows that offer a sense of calm and introspection. This environment encourages parents to reflect and find comfort in their thoughts, helping them to connect with their feelings.

In the piano room, a powerful beam of light creates a blurred visual effect. This invites parents to remember their lost child. The piano becomes a tool for expressing emotions, reinforcing the bond between the parents and their cherished memories of the child.

Transitional Pathways

A notable feature is the corridor leading to the light of amniotic fluid. This pathway symbolizes a shift from darkness to light, representing the journey from sorrow to acceptance. The variations of light and shadow along this path deepen the emotional experience, guiding parents towards healing and renewal.

Design Elements

Furthermore, the bedroom embodies hope, as soft light gently awakens parents in the morning. The kitchen and dining areas symbolically reflect life continuing amid loss. Together, these spaces illustrate a revival of life through thoughtful design, ensuring that light permeates areas that may feel silent or empty. The architecture creates an environment that not only honors memory but also encourages progress in the healing process.

A notable design detail can be seen in how light interacts with different surfaces throughout the day. This dynamic relationship shifts and changes, mirroring the emotional highs and lows experienced by parents as they navigate their grief.

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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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