International Architecture Competition

Children's
Hospice

Home for the Terminally ill / Edition #2

Results

Foreword

Competition organisers

Children's 
Hospice

Buildner is pleased to announce the results of its Children's Hospice - Home for the Terminally Ill competition!

The competition sought conceptual ideas exploring health design innovation. It offered a chance for participants to explore how architecture can be used as a tool to help people, and demonstrate how architecture can offer psychological relief to those who are suffering.

While this was an architecture ideas competition, the brief requested a few key functions for the conceptual hospice, including a common area with a gathering room, a games or play room, a small library, a Chapel, a kitchen and dining room, as well as a private area which could function as a nurse’s room and therapy room for psychological support. There was no defined location chosen for this competition and participants were requested to select a theoretical site from their home country.

Buildner collaborated with an excellent international jury whose project experiences included similar briefs: Alan Dunlop of Alan Dunlop Architects is an architect with a portfolio of award winning buildings including the internationally renowned Hazelwood School for children and young people who are dual sensory impaired: blind and deaf; Rubén García Rubio is an architect and co-founder of studioVRA based in Zaragoza, Spain; Arturo Mc Clean is Communications Manager and Architect at Barcelona-based Miralles Tagliabue EMBT which has completed such projects as Kálida Sant Pau Centre in Barcelona - a space of emotional, social and practical support for cancer patients, and part of the Maggie’s Centre Network; Dr Nirit Pilosof is an architect and researcher exploring the intersection of Healthcare, Technology, and Architecture, and the Head of Research in Innovation and Transformation at Sheba Medical Centre in Israel, and a Faculty Member at the Coller School of Management at Tel Aviv University; Rion Philbin is the founder and Creative Director of Berlin-based No So Studio and his projects include the Casa-mac project, a  home in Italy for a blind woman; Susanne Siepl-Coates was a member of the architecture faculty at Kansas State University for over thirty years, where her teaching focused on the exploration of the relationships between the built environment and human health/well-being; Sonsoles Vela Navarro is an architect and co-founder of studioVRA based in Zaragoza, Spain, with 15 years of experience working alongside private clients and builders to develop architectural designs on residential, commercial and healthcare projects; Steven Wright is a Principal at Perkins Eastman and a specialist in its healthcare practice; and Dr Johan van der Zwart is a researcher at the department of Science, Technology and Policy Studies of the University of Twente and an assistant professor of architecture and health at the NTNU Norwegian University of Science and Technology whose research focuses on the interaction between technology, people, process and place.

Buildner and its jury panel congratulate the winners of the competition and thank each of the participants for their design submissions!

1st Prize Winner +
Buildner Student Award

Project name

Symbiosis

Authors

Miku Yashiki
Yuta Sugasawa

University

Waseda university
+172 points Buildner University Rankings!

Japan

Why do you enter architecture
competitions?

We strongly believe that contests are the most effective means of acquiring knowledge. While working in a design firm is valuable for honing professional skills, it often restricts creative freedom. Design competitions, on the other hand, foster idea generation and provide creative suggestions. Moreover, we firmly hold the belief that architecture is not merely the product of an individual, but rather a creation that considers the needs of others. The current competition entails designing a hospice for terminally ill children. In our view, architecture should facilitate a harmonious connection between humans and the natural environment that surrounds them. By prioritizing physical sensations such as wind, sound, scent, and tactile experiences, we strive to design architecture that embraces the influence of "others" — including materials, traditions, users, and unexpected encounters. Our aim is to imbue our designs with a sense of attachment and love.

Jury feedback summary

Symbiosis is a proposal for a hospice sited on Lake Sayama, a landmark accessible by car from central Tokyo. Surrounded by forests in a natural park, the building is meant for users to enjoy beautiful scenery that changes with each of the four seasons, and which offers views of Mount Fuji. According to the authors, the project aims to create a space without boundaries among humans, animals and plant life – all coexist as equal living beings with connections to the forest. The spaces are designed to be fluid and continuous, featuring volumes which differ in scale according to use. The architecture is defined as a roof floating on a forest of pillars that mimic the surrounding trees.

 

Dr Nirit Pilosof / Buildner guest jury Head of Research in Innovation and Transformation at Sheba Medical Centre Israel
The proposal blurs the boundaries between the built environment and nature. The design illustrates the unique concept of the proposal aiming to create a space beyond species boundaries where humans, animals, and plants coexist to experience the cycle of life.
Susanne Siepl-Coates / Buildner guest jury member of the architecture faculty at Kansas State University USA
This submission convinces due to its conceptual strength. Drawings suggest a variety of interior and exterior spaces, although it remains unclear what exactly is inside and outside.
Steven Wright / Buildner guest jury Principal at Perkins Eastman USA
A beautiful simple parti with illustrations that strongly support the concept. Wild animal integration is perhaps unrealistic, but a poetic idea.

Buildner's architectural communication techniques review

Have a presentation for us to review? Order your review here!
  • 8/10
    Linework
  • 10/10
    Quality of drawings
  • 9/10
    Balance of color
  • 8/10
    Layout
  • 9/10
    Hierarchy
  • 7/10
    Annotation
  • 8/10
    Text
  • 8/10
    Clarity of story
  • 9/10
    Clarity of diagrams
  • 9/10
    Quality of overall presentation

Buildner's commentary and recommendations

The project makes use of two primary renderings which communicate the project’s overall form at an aerial level, as well as from a user perspective. The text would benefit from being broken into shorter paragraphs highlighting the three main points: site information, the importance of nature, and the architectural solution for connections with nature. The line drawings, while complex and elegant, are quite monotone and it is thus difficult for a reader to differentiate the various information contained within them. It is recommended that the author use more varied line weights and colors. The presentation would also greatly benefit from additional annotation on the renderings and site section.

 

2nd Prize Winner

Project name

Huitzilin - a home in the jungle

Authors

Antonio García de la Mora
Sebastian Tellez Solís
Pablo Navarro Rubio
Montserrat Sanchez Villaseñor

University

Universidad anahuac queretaro (universidad anáhuac querétaro)
+92 points Buildner University Rankings!

Mexico

Why do you enter architecture
competitions?

We perceive architectural competitions as an opportunity to enhance our design skills, enabling us to create functional projects that resonate with our own identity and propel us into the future. We firmly believe that it is a tremendous opportunity for young architects, like ourselves, to engage in healthy international competition, providing us with the chance to learn from other architects as well.

Jury feedback summary

Huitzilin is a proposal for a project sited on the banks of the Grijalva River in the city of Tuxtia Gutierrez, Chiapas. The project aims to provide a nurturing and peaceful environment for children undergoing treatment for cancer, with a focus on promoting healing and wellbeing. The site is located in an area of abundant vegetation and river views, chosen for its tranquil environment and connections with nature to alleviate stress and anxiety, as well as for its opportunity for recreational activities that might be beneficial for users’ mental and physical health. The plan is organized by a series of parallel rammed earth walls, designed to blend with nature and provide natural lighting from two sides, as well as through clerestories and openings in the roof above.

 

Susanne Siepl-Coates / Buildner guest jury member of the architecture faculty at Kansas State University USA
The clearly organized plan accommodates the program in a believable manner. Perspectives illustrate biophilic design principles, including rammed earth walls. Unfortunately, the section lacks the level of consideration given to the other drawings.
Arturo Mc Clean / Buildner guest jury Architect at Barcelona based Miralles Tagliabue EMBT Spain
The proposal meets commendably the brief's requirements. It includes a great plan and spatial conception, and an excellent use of vegetation.
Dr Nirit Pilosof / Buildner guest jury Head of Research in Innovation and Transformation at Sheba Medical Centre Israel
The design integrates interior spaces with outdoor nature and creates a flow between functions. It demonstrates control of natural light and thoughtful use of materials.

Buildner's architectural communication techniques review

Have a presentation for us to review? Order your review here!
  • 8/10
    Linework
  • 0/10
    Quality of drawings
  • 8/10
    Balance of color
  • 8/10
    Layout
  • 9/10
    Hierarchy
  • 7/10
    Annotation
  • 7/10
    Text
  • 9/10
    Clarity of story
  • 9/10
    Clarity of diagrams
  • 9/10
    Quality of overall presentation

Buildner's commentary and recommendations

The submission’s layout is divided in two halves, with the right side consisting of a series of rendered images expressing the design intent of the interior and exterior spaces, and the left side holding text and line drawings. It is never simple to include all aspects of a project’s design on a single-sheet submission, though this project is successful at transmitting a great amount of information without being ‘overloaded’. The images are especially convincing for their ability to describe natural materiality and connections with nature. The submission would benefit from a detailed sectional drawing to better describe the intended construction and spatial experience. It is recommended that the author reduce the number of repetitive overall sections to include a more informative, larger-scale section. 

 

3rd Prize Winner

Project name

Pallio

Authors

Iaroslava Komissarova
Ivan Beketov

Denmark

Why do you enter architecture
competitions?

The interdisciplinary nature of architecture is one of its most attractive aspects. Architecture competitions embrace this aspect by not confining us to a single medium. Texts, diagrams, drawings, renders - these are the instruments that represent architecture, but they cannot fully capture its essence. Striking the right balance of these tools in a competition becomes a fascinating challenge. Participating in architecture competitions offers us a platform where our creativity knows no bounds and where opportunities abound, beyond the limitations of traditional design work. It allows us to imagine the unimaginable, delve into complex themes, and question the obvious, creating an exhilarating architectural journey. Collaborating with others further enriches the tapestry of architectural narratives.

Jury feedback summary

Pallio is a proposal for a hospice that functions as a piece of urban infrastructure that accounts for the needs of both its users and neighbors. It is sited near to the Copenhagen Central Hospital and an existing cultural building, strategically placed to make it visible and affordable for its users. The design of the hospice is intended to be humane and inclusive. Its dynamic form integrates a central courtyard, and a mix of public and private spaces connected to the city. Drawing from the term ‘palliative’ which in Latin derives from a word meaning ‘to cloak’, the building’s many spaces are enveloped with a delicate roof system, symbolizing a consistent form of protection for its users. 

Sonsoles Vela Navarro / Buildner guest jury co-founder of studioVRA Spain
An evocative massing well-inserted into the urban context. Including nature within the city makes the proposal very suitable.
Steven Wright / Buildner guest jury Principal at Perkins Eastman USA
Interesting form-making. The roof shapes shelter the occupants. The interior of the library is compelling but is missing views to the interior of the chapel.
Rion Philbin / Buildner guest jury No So Germany
A great design and presentation

Buildner's architectural communication techniques review

Have a presentation for us to review? Order your review here!
  • 10/10
    Linework
  • 10/10
    Quality of drawings
  • 10/10
    Balance of color
  • 9/10
    Layout
  • 9/10
    Hierarchy
  • 8/10
    Annotation
  • 9/10
    Text
  • 0/10
    Clarity of story
  • 10/10
    Clarity of diagrams
  • 10/10
    Quality of overall presentation

Buildner's commentary and recommendations

The presentation is especially effective at communicating a playful and comforting environment, making use of a palette of cream colors and natural materials to do so. The renderings and drawings are excellent and diagrammatically clear. The project is also unique for its ability to communicate the building’s integration within the city, both in plan and section. While there is limited space on a single-sheet submission to include all aspects of a project, a view into the central exterior courtyard would have been especially convincing in support of the design’s intent to connect with nature. 

Buildner Sustainability Award

Project name

The Meadow

Authors

André Dupont
Agata Tyburska
Nisanur Akkaya

University

Aalborg universitet
+72 points Buildner University Rankings!

Denmark

Jury feedback summary

The Meadow is designed to perform as a temporary home full of life, relief and play for children and their families. It is a proposal for a hospice located near to the city of Holstebro, Denmark for urban connectivity, yet in a suburban area where it is surrounded by trees and a lake. The project is divided into four functional zones – residential, staff, treatment and common spaces – and organized according to a plan that is simple and easy to navigate. The external facades of the building are designed to emphasize modularity and use natural, honest materials. Its authors point to considerations of carbon footprint as well as design for disassembly: the design makes use of a wooden modular construction system of factory-made construction boards that are not cut to size, in an effort to reduce waste and increase reusability.  

 

Rubén García Rubio / Buildner guest jury co-founder of studioVRA Spain
An intelligent organization around a courtyard with different program wings. Its clever and sustainable construction helps to reduce the carbon footprint of the building in the present and future.
Sonsoles Vela Navarro / Buildner guest jury co-founder of studioVRA Spain
A robust distribution around a central common open space.
Susanne Siepl-Coates / Buildner guest jury member of the architecture faculty at Kansas State University USA
While a realizable proposal with an expanded program and a well-organized plan, the section lacks development. This submission is commended for proposing a building system of renewable materials that can be disassembled and reused to reduce global warming.

Buildner's architectural communication techniques review

Have a presentation for us to review? Order your review here!
  • 7/10
    Linework
  • 8/10
    Quality of drawings
  • 8/10
    Balance of color
  • 8/10
    Layout
  • 9/10
    Hierarchy
  • 7/10
    Annotation
  • 6/10
    Text
  • 8/10
    Clarity of story
  • 8/10
    Clarity of diagrams
  • 7/10
    Quality of overall presentation

Buildner's commentary and recommendations

The primary criticism for this presentation is its extensive use of text. The specific materials used, as well as the programmatic organization of the project, is not annotated on the drawings and so can only be communicated to reviewers who read the text in full. It is recommended that the author reduce the text, and place the information instead directly onto the plans, sections, and renderings, in the forms of labels and notes. 

 

Honorable mentions

VIEWclose HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Project Name

TREE HOUSES

University

Wroclaw university of science and technology (politechnika wrocławska)
+72 points Buildner University Rankings!

Country

Poland

Project authors

Anna Stawiska

Project Name

Erasing Boundary

University

Korea university

Country

South Korea

Project authors

Sangheon Yi
Dasol Kang
Jongin Choi

Project Name

A Wishful Way

University

Wuhan university of technology
+72 points Buildner University Rankings!

Country

China

Project authors

Ziqi Huang
Zhirui Xiong
Jinghan Yang

Project Name

Lily Pads Children's Hospice

Country

Australia

Project authors

Feifei Feng
Ye Wang

Project Name

ISLAND OF REUNION

University

University of edinburgh

Country

United Kingdom

Project authors

Meihan Liu
Jiayi Liu

Project Name

Under the Cap

University

Wroclaw university of science and technology (politechnika wrocławska)

Country

Poland

Project authors

Nina Miłosławska

Shortlisted projects

VIEWclose Shortlisted projects

Mexico

Universidad Anahuac Queretaro (Universidad Anáhuac Querétaro)

+92 points Buildner University Rankings!
antonio garcía de la mora
sebastian tellez solís
pablo navarro rubio
montserrat sanchez villaseñor

Mexico

Universidad Anahuac Queretaro (Universidad Anáhuac Querétaro)

+22 points Buildner University Rankings!
andrea lomeli ruiz
salma orozco orozco
aldo daniel rivera reza

Mexico

Universidad Anahuac Queretaro (Universidad Anáhuac Querétaro)

+22 points Buildner University Rankings!
axel josua nogales bernal
cecilia pardo delgado
alejandra mejia alvarez
diana estefania martinez correa

Canada

Carleton University, Canada's Capital University

+22 points Buildner University Rankings!
bryan ye

United States

Behold

valentin kogan
valeria vikarchuk
alexei oleynik
anya varankina

United Kingdom

Ata architecture ltd

jemima dabell
luke bird
ashley thompson

Australia

feifei feng
ye wang

Poland

Wroclaw university of science and technology (politechnika wrocławska)

nina miłosławska

Netherlands

Rotterdam Academy of Architecture and Urban Design, Rotterdamse Academie van Bouwkunst

+22 points Buildner University Rankings!
saeed jarrous

China

Wuhan University of Technology

+72 points Buildner University Rankings!
ziqi huang
zhirui xiong
jinghan yang

Liechtenstein

University of liechtenstein

kam yui lau

Canada

University of Waterloo

+22 points Buildner University Rankings!
isaac duong
ben cheah

South Korea

Korea university

sangheon yi
dasol kang
jongin choi

Japan

Waseda University Art and Architecture school

+172 points Buildner University Rankings!
miku yashiki
yuta sugasawa

New Zealand

University of Auckland

+22 points Buildner University Rankings!
yujie weng
mengmeng bu

Brazil

UFBA - Federal University of Bahia Ondina Campus (Universidade Federal da Bahia Campus Ondina)

+22 points Buildner University Rankings!
pedro macêdo

South Korea

Konkuk University

+22 points Buildner University Rankings!
jihye lee
gahye song
yejin jeong

United States

ron boozer
katherine scott
marygrayson roberts
krista walters

China

Tianjin University

+22 points Buildner University Rankings!
明锦 李
xu yijia
tang qiyue
liang yunting

South Korea

Seoul National University of Science and Technology, SEOULTECH

+22 points Buildner University Rankings!
jiyeon ryu

United Kingdom

toby walters
maria poveda
rosemary lopez
hon nip

United Kingdom

University of edinburgh

meihan liu
jiayi liu

Finland

Tampere University

+22 points Buildner University Rankings!
tova finel

Lithuania

Cardiff University

+22 points Buildner University Rankings!
algimante daugelaite
tai yan na

Croatia

Faculty of Architecture, University of Zagreb

+22 points Buildner University Rankings!
blaž boras
alojzije Ćaleta

Denmark

Aalborg Universitet

+72 points Buildner University Rankings!
andré dupont
agata tyburska
nisanur akkaya

France

thibault mazevet

France

margot parein
margaux prouvé

Poland

Wroclaw University of Science and Technology (Politechnika Wrocławska)

+72 points Buildner University Rankings!
anna stawiska

South Korea

Pusan national university

seonggyeong kim
cheolwon yeom

China

yanyun wang

Poland

Wroclaw University of Science and Technology (Politechnika Wrocławska)

+22 points Buildner University Rankings!
dominika bednarek
aleksandra tarnowska

Hungary

patrik simon
lilla balajthy
dalma rottenbacher
boróka bán

Malaysia

chin min zhe
loh zi ling

Sweden

haowen li

Italy

debora manarin
nikolas fascendini

Iran

Shahid Rajaee Teacher Training University

+22 points Buildner University Rankings!
muhammad hoseyn zali
muhammad hoseyn hashemi
ali bahrami

South Korea

Sejong University, 세종대학교

+22 points Buildner University Rankings!
sungyoon bae
yeokyeong kim
jinyoung park

Denmark

iaroslava komissarova
ivan beketov

United States

jeremy iannucci
 

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Competition results

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