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Natural Wood and Lightweight Concrete Create Serenity in a Thoughtful Hospice Design

Natural Wood and Lightweight Concrete Create Serenity in a Thoughtful Hospice Design
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Emphasizing a harmonious blend of natural wood and lightweight concrete, the design fosters a calming environment for end-of-life care, prioritizing both individual tranquility and communal connection amidst curated gardens.
5 key facts about this project
01
Incorporates a central circular garden designed specifically for mindfulness activities.
02
Utilizes lightweight concrete to seamlessly allow for expansive, open interior spaces.
03
Integrates large glass elements for unobstructed views of nature throughout patient rooms.
04
Features local wood sourced to enhance regional identity and environmental sustainability.
05
Includes communal spaces that promote interaction while maintaining patient privacy.

**Project Overview**

Located in a serene environment, the hospice is designed to offer support for terminally ill patients and their families. The project aims to create a calming atmosphere that meets the emotional and psychological needs of occupants during a profoundly challenging time. By integrating nature, light, and communal areas, the design facilitates a healing environment that encourages connection and reflection.

**Spatial Organization and User Engagement**

The layout emphasizes accessibility and permeability, centering around comfortable patient rooms that allow views of the surrounding gardens. These rooms are designed to provide both privacy and a connection to nature, enhancing the occupant's comfort. Shared community spaces, such as multi-use therapy rooms and dining areas, play an essential role in fostering social interaction among patients and families, thereby reducing feelings of isolation. Landscaped pathways guide visitors through gardens, with a circular mindfulness area serving as a focal point for quiet reflection.

**Materiality and Sustainability**

The material selection prioritizes sustainability and sensory engagement. Lightweight concrete serves as a structural element, enabling open and airy interior spaces. Wood, sourced from local species, adds warmth to the façade and integrates the building with its natural surroundings. Strategically placed glass enhances daylight access and visual connections to outdoor areas. Landscaping incorporates native plants to support biodiversity, while metal railings provide safety and unobstructed views of the gardens. Additionally, the design includes features aimed at passive solar heating and cooling, underscoring a commitment to environmental responsibility.

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The Next House: USA — A Global Call to Reimagine the American Suburb

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Competition organisers

Buildner is launching The Next House: USA, a global architecture competition that challenges architects, designers, and thinkers to reimagine the American suburban home for the 21st century. For decades, the suburban house has symbolized comfort and stability, but today it often reflects excess, isolation, and environmental strain. This competition asks: how can the American home evolve to address climate urgency, economic pressures, and shifting social values?

Participants are tasked with designing a prototype home of no more than 1,500 sq ft (≈140 m²) for a household of two adults and one child. The design should be compact yet generous, adaptable, sustainable, affordable, and replicable across diverse U.S. contexts. More than a design exercise, the competition aims to spark a conversation about how homes can support healthier, smarter, and more connected communities.

The total prize fund is $20,000 USD. The final registration deadline is May 20, 2026, and winners will be announced on September 22, 2026. The Next House: USA invites architects, students, and visionaries worldwide to redefine what the American home means today—and what it should mean tomorrow.

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Early bird registration deadline 19 November 2025

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