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Turquoise Linen and Light Pillars Enhancing Therapeutic Living in Daejeon

Authors:
Young jin Yang, Jin hyun Kyoung
Turquoise Linen and Light Pillars Enhancing Therapeutic Living in Daejeon

Project in-detail

Utilizing light pillars and turquoise linen, the garden house in Daejeon merges natural light with tactile elements to foster a tranquil environment for living and clinical practice.
5 key facts about this project
01
Light pillars direct natural light into private areas, enhancing the interior ambiance.
02
Turquoise linen and sky blue Korean paper improve tactile and visual comfort throughout the home.
03
The "Passage of Sense" integrates guiding elements for improved navigation at night.
04
The design merges living and clinical spaces, allowing for seamless transitions between functions.
05
The garden's silhouettes create dynamic shadow patterns within the interiors during the day.

The design for a home and clinic combined for a psychiatrist couple is located in a quiet area of downtown Daejeon, surrounded by mountains. This setting creates an atmosphere that invites tranquility and reflection. The project aims to blend living space with a professional clinic, emphasizing the role of natural light in improving psychological well-being. The overall concept focuses on a garden house that fosters a strong connection between the indoor and outdoor environments, supporting a calming atmosphere for its occupants.

Design Concept

Central to the idea is the relationship between nature and architecture. The home incorporates a garden that enhances views and adds to the mental health benefits of living in this space. The design combines living areas with a clinical setting in a flexible manner, allowing the couple to easily shift between personal and professional uses of the space. This thoughtful configuration caters to their daily lives while prioritizing comfort.

Spatial Organization

The "Passage of Sense" is a key feature, serving as both a corridor and an aesthetically pleasing element. By day, it functions as a shadow screen, using the garden's silhouettes to create patterns of light indoors. At night, it becomes an assistive guide, incorporating tactile elements such as linen curtains and Korean paper screens. These features make it easier to navigate the home after dark while enhancing the overall sensory experience.

Light and Materiality

Natural light plays an important role in how the interior spaces are experienced. Light pillars are used to channel this illumination into private areas. One pillar offers soft lighting in the master bedroom and bathroom; the other ensures that underground spaces receive sunlight during the day. A bonfire adds warmth and comfort at night. Materials selected for the project contribute to its overall goals. Turquoise linen and sky blue Korean paper enhance the feel of the interior, while concrete flooring and plaster columns create a simple environment that promotes calmness.

Final Design Detail

The combination of these design elements creates a space that effectively meets the needs of its inhabitants. The thoughtful use of light and texture supports the idea of a nurturing environment. The home balances the demands of a clinical setting with the comfort of a residential space. This careful approach highlights the connection between architecture and mental health, presenting a design that encourages both personal well-being and professional practice.

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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
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