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Perforated Concrete Facade With Transparent Glass and Natural Wood Integration in a Memorial Space

Authors:
Cedric Harvey, Rose-Marie Guévin
Perforated Concrete Facade With Transparent Glass and Natural Wood Integration in a Memorial Space

Project in-detail

A perforated concrete facade seamlessly integrates with transparent glass and natural wood elements, creating a contemplative memorial space that fosters reflection and community engagement.
5 key facts about this project
01
Designed with a dual volume concept, incorporating a solid columbarium and a transparent pavilion.
02
Utilizes a perforated concrete facade to create dynamic light patterns throughout the space.
03
Integrates natural wood elements that enhance the connection with the surrounding landscape.
04
Incorporates negative spaces to facilitate personal reflection and communal interaction.
05
Embodies cultural narratives through adaptable design, accommodating diverse memorial practices.

The architectural project titled "Tesselle" is a thoughtfully conceived memorial space that intertwines the concepts of remembrance and community engagement. The design consists of two primary architectural volumes that create a dialogue between heaviness and lightness, embodying the dual themes of permanence in memorialization and the ephemerality of memory. The project aims to facilitate reflection, mourning, and celebration of life through its spatial organization and materiality.

One of the main components is the columbarium, designed to house individual urns within enclosed niches. This area is characterized by a solid structure that conveys the weight of memory and offers a private space for personal reflection. The arrangement of the niches is intentional, enabling a progressive experiences that encourages visitors to engage with their memories.

Adjacent to the columbarium is the contemplative pavilion, which contrasts starkly with the columbarium's heaviness through its transparent and airy design. This space is crafted to enhance interaction and community gathering, offering informal seating areas and garden-like environments that invite contemplation and shared experiences. The pavilion's design harnesses natural light through perforated surfaces, creating a dynamic interplay between light and shadow that evolves throughout the day.

Unique Design Approaches

What distinguishes Tesselle from traditional memorial architecture is its integration of light as an essential design element. The use of perforated walls creates patterns of light that foster a sense of change and reflection, embodying the passage of time. This approach encourages visitors to engage with their emotions in a meaningful way.

Additionally, the project interlaces various cultural narratives through its spatial expressions, making it adaptable to different traditions of remembrance. The columbarium and pavilion are designed not merely as structures but as facilitators of collective memory, fostering an atmosphere where individual and communal experiences can coexist.

Material selection also plays a critical role in shaping the identity of Tesselle. The use of concrete for structural elements conveys durability, while metal and glass enhance the feeling of transparency and connection with the surrounding landscape. This careful choice of materials contributes to the overall experience and sentiment of the space, making it reflective of both weight and lightness.

Spatial Organization and Experience

The architectural organization of Tesselle emphasizes a seamless flow between the differing volumes, encouraging exploration and interaction. The niches in the columbarium are methodically arranged to allow visitors to navigate through them, fostering contemplation and personal connections to those remembered. In contrast, the open pavilion invites visitors to come together in remembrance, characterized by informal settings that prompt social interaction.

Ultimately, the design outcomes of Tesselle reveal an architecture that is both functional and evocative, engaging visitors in a dialogue about life, loss, and memory. The project stands as a significant contemplation space that supports individual reflection within a communal context.

To gain a deeper understanding of Tesselle, interested readers are encouraged to explore the architectural plans, sections, and design ideas available in the project presentation, which offer further insights into this innovative memorial space.

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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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