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Morphed Topography with Flamed Granite and Hidden Lighting for Reflective Remembrance

Author:
Ignat Todorov
Morphed Topography with Flamed Granite and Hidden Lighting for Reflective Remembrance

Project in-detail

The morphed topography, crafted with flamed granite and illuminated by hidden lighting, creates a reflective environment designed for remembrance within a serene cemetery landscape.
5 key facts about this project
01
Morphed topography invites exploration and reflection.
02
Integration of flamed granite creates a tactile connection.
03
Hidden lighting enhances the serene atmosphere.
04
A flexible niche configuration accommodates personal memorialization.
05
Replicated landscape elements enhance harmony with the cemetery.

The design focuses on a columbarium situated in a quiet cemetery, aiming to create a place for reflection and remembrance. The concept centers on a unique topography that allows visitors to engage meaningfully with their surroundings. The design seeks to blend architecture with nature, offering a space that encourages personal connections and collective memory.

Niche Configuration

The layout includes between 500 and 1,749 niches, designed to accommodate a range of occupancy. Some niches are partially occupied, while others provide full housing for urns. This flexibility allows individuals and families to honor their loved ones in a personal and significant way. The arrangement promotes interaction between occupied and unoccupied niches, enhancing the quiet atmosphere and encouraging moments of contemplation.

Topographical Design

The topographical elements include flat and morphed areas, featuring pavement made of convex blocks in the flat sections and concave blocks in the morphed areas. This design creates pathways that guide the movement of visitors through the columbarium. The varied surfaces invite exploration, encouraging visitors to navigate the space thoughtfully and reflect on their experiences.

Seating and Lighting

Seating is strategically placed throughout the columbarium, providing spots for rest and quiet reflection. These areas invite visitors to pause and engage with their thoughts. Additionally, the design includes hidden lighting that contributes to the overall atmosphere. This lighting creates a peaceful environment both during the day and at night, emphasizing the calming nature of the space and encouraging deeper emotional connections.

Materiality

Flamed granite and brushed granite are the key materials used for the niches and benches. These choices are made for their durability and appealing tactile quality. The textures of the stones connect the structures to the landscape, enhancing the sensory experience for those who visit. The selection of materials supports the themes of remembrance and connection, forming a cohesive environment for contemplation.

As visitors walk along the paths, they discover subtle niches and seating areas that invite stillness and reflection, creating a thoughtfully designed space that honors the memories held within.

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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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