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Translucent Marble Memorial Embracing Verticality and Community Reflection

Authors:
HAOYANG SONG, KIWON HONG, HUIYUAN LI
Translucent Marble Memorial Embracing Verticality and Community Reflection

Project in-detail

Inspired by the form of interconnected cubes and constructed with translucent marble, this memorial serves as a contemplative space for community reflection and education in the heart of Casablanca.
5 key facts about this project
01
The structure includes 45 distinct cubes, each representing an individual victim of violence.
02
Translucent marble is used to enhance natural light throughout the interior spaces.
03
Interconnected voids facilitate vertical connections and promote community interaction.
04
The ground floor features a public garden designed for communal gathering.
05
Upper levels house multi-functional areas for prayer, learning, and reflection.

### Overview
Located in Casablanca, Morocco, Urban Kerkour responds to the city's rich cultural and historical context, particularly in light of past tragedies. The design concept is based on the traditional "kerkour," a memorial structure that aims to integrate natural and urban elements while fostering community engagement in a densely populated area. This approach reflects a commitment to addressing the emotional landscape of the city while creating a vibrant space for reflection and interaction.

### Spatial Configuration
The spatial organization of Urban Kerkour is carefully structured across multiple levels to promote community interaction and functionality. The ground floor features an open hall and a garden, designed to create an inviting atmosphere conducive to gathering. The upper floors include designated areas for prayer, community activities, and educational resources, encouraging engagement among diverse user groups. A distinctive void on the sixth floor enhances the overall spatial experience and maintains visual connectivity across levels. Essential service spaces, including mechanical areas and exhibition rooms, are located on the top floor, ensuring the building serves a multifaceted role in the community.

### Material Selection
The material palette of Urban Kerkour plays a crucial role in establishing its identity and connection to the surrounding environment. Translucent marble predominates, offering transparency and lightness synonymous with the Mediterranean context. This choice facilitates a relationship between indoor and outdoor spaces, while concrete provides structural integrity and durability. The use of glass ensures ample natural light permeates the interior, enhancing warmth and connection to the outside world, and steel offers necessary strength and flexibility within the framework. This thoughtful integration of materials creates a modern aesthetic that references traditional building methods, contributing to a dialogue between history and contemporary architecture.

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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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