Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

Learn from past Buildner architecture competition participants through our extensive project library, curated over more than 15 years!

Translucent Walls and Black Granite in a Memorial for Resilience and Remembrance

Author:
Christina Zhang
Translucent Walls and Black Granite in a Memorial for Resilience and Remembrance

Project in-detail

Translucent walls and smooth black granite define a memorial designed to honor genocide victims while fostering community resilience and awareness through shared stories and active engagement.
5 key facts about this project
01
Translucent walls allow natural light to illuminate the memorial while symbolizing hope and healing.
02
The smooth black granite surface on the Wall of Vigilance serves as a platform for active visitor engagement.
03
A red warning light emphasizes the ongoing need for awareness against current genocides.
04
The memorial integrates greenery, creating a peaceful environment for reflection and connection.
05
Personal stories and testimonies are recorded and shared, fostering community and remembrance.

The memorial is dedicated to honoring the victims of genocide while promoting collective memory and societal awareness. Located in a reflective landscape, it serves to commemorate loss and encourage action against ongoing atrocities. The design concept weaves together themes of memory, vigilance, and resilience, allowing visitors to engage deeply with the stories of suffering and survival.

Wall of Memory

The Wall of Memory is designed to pay tribute to victims, survivors, and their families. It offers an intimate space for personal stories and testimonies to be shared, helping to establish a sense of community. The inclusion of flowers and plants around this wall creates a peaceful atmosphere, encouraging healing and reflection. Visitors can think about the narratives of those who have experienced loss in a setting that feels personal and safe.

Wall of Vigilance

Alongside the Wall of Memory, the Wall of Vigilance takes on a more active role in the memorial. With a smooth surface made of black granite, it invites visitor involvement through the display of temporary posters and messages. A QR code allows access to information on current genocides and paths for advocacy. A red light serves as a visual cue, reminding visitors of the urgent need for awareness and action in response to ongoing threats to humanity.

Wall of Life

The Wall of Life uses translucent materials to represent the scars left by violence while also symbolizing resilience and hope. This design element conveys that new beginnings can sprout from the depths of trauma. Light passing through the translucent surfaces creates a visual reminder of the enduring human spirit and the potential for renewal, even in difficult times.

The memorial's design connects remembrance with a call to action, creating a unified experience for visitors. Each wall is crafted to engage the senses, from the cool touch of the granite to the natural presence of nearby plants. This thoughtful approach invites contemplation and connection, making the experience resonant and meaningful.

Noticed a mistake?
Highlight the text and click on
Noticed a mistake

MICROHOME 10: Celebrating Small-Scale Living with €100,000 Prize Fund and Kingspan’s Innovation

`
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

Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
100,000€ Prize / 2025
Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
Affordable Housing Series 19th Edition
The Architect's 
Chair
The Architect's Chair
Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #4
MICROHOME
MICROHOME
100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10
Kinderspace
Kinderspace
Architecture for Children’s Development #3
To view this project in detail,
please log in with your
Architects’ Network Plus account.
Subscription instantly unlocks all the architecture projects plus other member-only benefits:
  • Access the 17,725 Concept Library
  • Professional tools including file transfer, email, portfolio management, and more
Register now
Already a member? Log in

This website uses cookies to improve user experience and gather usage statistics.

More information is available in our Privacy & Cookie policy