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Unearthing Calm Through Gray Concrete and Rammed Earth in Urban Environments

Authors:
Coral Canedo, Ricardo Lichtle
Unearthing Calm Through Gray Concrete and Rammed Earth in Urban Environments
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Gray concrete and rammed earth create a contemplative pavilion that enhances urban living by providing a tranquil space for meditation and connection with nature.
5 key facts about this project
01
Gray concrete creates a stark contrast with the rammed earth, highlighting the transition between urban and natural elements.
02
The pavilion features a labyrinthine layout, guiding visitors toward a center for reflection and meditation.
03
Uneven walls of rammed earth evoke a sense of wild nature, enhancing user engagement with the space.
04
A carefully designed pathway fosters introspection, encouraging visitors to reflect while navigating through the structure.
05
The project emphasizes sustainability by integrating natural elements within an urban landscape to promote environmental awareness.

ITERRARIA is a pavilion designed to blend human experiences with nature in an urban setting. It serves as a small enclosure for selected plants and occasionally small animals. The design draws inspiration from labyrinths, guiding visitors from the noise of city life to moments of calm and reflection, offering a unique spatial experience.

Materials

The project employs concrete and rammed earth as its primary materials. Concrete provides a sturdy, durable base that reflects the character of urban environments. In contrast, rammed earth adds a softer, more tactile element, connecting users to the natural world. Together, these materials highlight the relationship between constructed spaces and their natural surroundings, reinforcing the pavilion's theme of coexistence.

Pathway Design

At the heart of ITERRARIA is a carefully designed pathway that encourages meditation. As visitors move through the space, they experience a sense of unease created by uneven rammed earth walls. This design choice evokes the wildness of nature and prompts reflection. As users follow the path, they are guided toward the center, deepening their contemplation along the way.

User Engagement

The pavilion aims to foster a strong connection with nature. Walking through ITERRARIA reveals a contrast between the hard surfaces of the city and the natural elements within the space. This transition invites visitors to think about the role of nature in their lives. Interactive moments throughout the journey not only engage the senses but also prompt personal reflection.

Light filters through the structure, creating shifting patterns on the surfaces. This changing interplay enhances engagement with the space, subtly inviting users to contemplate their relationship with nature amid the complexities of modern life. Each visit provides a different experience, as the environment adapts with the passage of time.

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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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