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Sound-Absorbing Spaces Crafted with Translucent Concrete and Water Features in Urban Environment

Authors:
Joseph Boring, Yifan Gu
Sound-Absorbing Spaces Crafted with Translucent Concrete and Water Features in Urban Environment
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Crafted with translucent concrete and integrated sound-absorbing materials, the design harmoniously merges with water features and green landscapes to create a tranquil urban retreat focused on community engagement.
5 key facts about this project
01
Utilizes translucent lightweight concrete to enhance natural light while maintaining structural integrity.
02
Acoustic walls are designed to absorb sound, creating a peaceful indoor environment.
03
Incorporates integrated water features that contribute to both aesthetics and sound dampening.
04
Fluid spatial layout encourages seamless movement and interaction among users.
05
Landscaped green slopes blend indoor and outdoor areas, promoting ecological connectivity.

### Overview

Located in a dense urban setting, the project aims to establish a serene retreat that mitigates the stress of city life. Drawing inspiration from the calming properties of water, light, and sound, the design creates a space conducive to relaxation and community engagement. The architectural approach emphasizes fluid forms and dynamic spatial configurations that reflect the surrounding terrain, thereby fostering a sense of tranquility and connection to nature.

### Spatial Organization and Materiality

The spatial arrangement consists of interconnected zones that fluidly transition between indoor and outdoor environments. This layout encourages movement and exploration, enhancing user interaction within the space. The architectural surfaces exhibit subtle undulations, inviting engagement and creating a lively atmosphere that contrasts with traditional urban structures.

Key materials include:

- **Serenity Concrete**: A smooth concrete variant that reflects sound, contributing to a distraction-free environment.
- **Concrete Earth**: Designed to absorb unwanted noise, this material enhances the ambience of serenity.
- **Translucent Lightweight Concrete**: Composed of fiber optics, this material allows natural light to permeate the structure while maintaining stability.
- **Ultra-High Performance Concrete**: This highly durable material provides structural support for the canopy, allowing for innovative design elements.
- **Water Installations**: Prominent water features, including waterfalls, serve both aesthetic and acoustic functions, enriching the overall sensory experience.

### Landscape and Lighting Integration

The surrounding landscape is intentionally designed to visually and physically connect with the building, featuring gentle green slopes that break the rigidity of the urban environment. This integration promotes ecological benefits and enhances user experience by inviting natural elements closer to the architectural space.

Lighting plays a crucial role, with a focus on maximizing natural light through strategic openings and translucent materials. Artificial lighting is discreetly incorporated to highlight key design features during nighttime, maintaining a cohesive ambiance. The overall design reflects a commitment to sustainability through thoughtful material choices and a focus on environmental impact while achieving a visually harmonious composition.

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Enter an open architecture
competition now

Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
100,000€ Prize / 2025
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The Buildner’s Unbuilt Award 2025: Celebrating Architectural Creativity and Visionary Unbuilt Designs with a Total Prize Fund of €100,000

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Competition organisers

The Buildner’s Unbuilt Award 2025 is an international architecture competition dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the value of unrealized architectural designs. It invites architects, designers, and students worldwide to submit visionary projects that have not yet been constructed, highlighting the power of ideas and the creativity behind the design process. By focusing on unbuilt work, the competition aims to bring forward concepts that shape the future of architecture and push the boundaries of the profession. 

Participants can compete in three categories based on project scale: Small Wonders (up to 100 m²), Medium Marvels (101–999 m²), and Large Visions (over 1,000 m²). Each category winner will receive €20,000, and additional prizes include honorable mentions, student awards, and a special Best Presentation Award. Winning projects will gain significant international exposure through Buildner’s publicity campaign and a feature article on ArchDaily, providing a unique opportunity to showcase creative ideas to a global audience. 

The Buildner’s Unbuilt Award 2025 encourages entrants to submit any type of unbuilt project, from conceptual visions to detailed designs, celebrating bold innovation without the constraints of realization. Important deadlines: registration closes on October 30, 2025; submissions are due by November 20, 2025; winners will be announced on December 17, 2025.

Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025

Celebrating your unbuilt architecture visions with a €100,000 prize

100,000€ Prize / 2025 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 100,000 €
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 30 October 2025

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