The Winners!
RETREAT CENTER 2023
First Prize Winners
Mu Qu Jennifer Liu, Natalie Cole Bajet & Nikki Elim Ng
Canada
Introduction
• I'm Natalie Cole Bajet, a Filipino living and studying in Canada. I'm currently a first-year Master in Architecture student at the University of Manitoba. In my design process, I often begin by writing sensorial narratives about the site, using them as a foundation to spark creative design ideas. I enjoy designing moments and experiences, then weaving them together to form a cohesive architectural plan. I frequently shift between various scales during the design process to ensure that my buildings harmonize with the broader context of the site.
• I’m Jennifer, currently pursuing my Master in Architecture at Carleton University. My passion lies in exploring the multifaceted dimensions of architecture, particularly its textures and experiential qualities. To bring my creative visions to life, I frequently employ the art of collage and intricate models. Through these mediums, I experiment with a myriad of innovative ideas and design concepts, aiming to craft spaces that not only serve their functional purpose but also resonate with the emotions and senses of those who interact with them.
• My name is Nikki, and I am a first-year student in the Architecture Masters program at the University of Manitoba. Though originally from Hong Kong, I moved to Canada when I was 10 years old. Ever since I was young, I have been captivated by sketching and design. What truly fascinates me about drawing is the ability to bring imagination to life in a tangible form. With my hands as the conduit, ideas are curated onto paper or transformed into three-dimensional spaces.
We participated in the Retreat Center Design Competition with the intention of pushing our boundaries and applying the knowledge and skills we acquired during our Bachelor's degree in environmental design. This project serves as a culminating endeavor, allowing us to demonstrate our proficiency in a competition context as we near the completion of our undergraduate studies.
Design Concept
• Pause Chaos is a retreat center nestled along the banks of the Tamsui River in the vibrant city of New Taipei, Taiwan. The project aims to offer a haven of rejuvenation and solace to those seeking respite from the relentless pace of urban living.
• Pause Chaos places a strong emphasis on integrating natural elements, including ample natural light and lush greenery, to establish a tranquil and balanced atmosphere. Through the use of natural materials and textures, it aims to evoke a profound connection to the beauty of the natural world within our built space.
• The group had a particular interest in the concept of chaos within cities and how the project could introduce the idea of taking a pause in the form of a retreat center. The initial challenge was selecting a suitable location. It was recognized that city dwellers often lead fast-paced lives, and not everyone can afford to take extended breaks from work. So, rather than opting for a peaceful site like a beach or a forest, which are typically found outside of urban areas, a city location was deliberately chosen. This decision led the project to choose a site close to the city's chaos while remaining connected to the natural world. Given these unique site conditions, creating a completely serene atmosphere for a retreat center was a challenge. Therefore, the project decided to nestle the center within a mangrove forest along the river, where the soothing sounds of flowing water, rustling leaves, and distant birdsong create a calming environment amidst the urban hustle and bustle.
Healing Architecture
• The retreat center is like a calm oasis in a busy city. It welcomes anyone looking for a break from the hectic pace of urban life. Here, you can let your creativity flow, find peaceful moments for self-reflection, practice meditation, and enjoy meaningful conversations with others.
• Materials such as bamboo, dried grass, and linen cloths are intentionally left to naturally decay and weather. This deliberate approach to the passage of time fosters an atmosphere that seamlessly integrates the design with its surrounding environment.
• Interaction with Space
• One distinctive feature that we have integrated into our retreat center is the concept of "Pathway Experiences," which fosters a collection of walking encounters to harmonize the mind. Each pathway possesses its own unique characteristics that not only cultivate a serene ambiance but also inspire individuals to contemplate their surroundings.
• We believe that the inclusion of a reflection pond makes it an adaptable addition to various types of retreats. It serves as an intriguing focal point that encourages visitors to engage in contemplation. By gazing into the waters and observing our own reflections, we become more mindful of our presence and our connection with nature.
Design Evolution
• The group initiated this project with the core concept of enabling people to pause amidst the chaos of city life. The group crafted a narrative as the cornerstone of the project, using it as a creative canvas to explore and draw inspiration from. This narrative enabled us to infuse our design with a rich tapestry of immersive and meaningful experiences. Each team member was then given the task of reflecting on what 'pausing' means to them personally. For every member, 'pausing' encapsulates the chance to indulge in creative play, express themselves through art, partake in yoga, experience moments of meditation, embark on peaceful walks, connect with nature, engage in enriching interactions with others, and listen to the diverse narratives of people. This is the foundation for the project's division into four distinct parts, each tailored to specific activities that align with these meaningful interpretations of 'pause.'
• The selection of materials plays a pivotal role in shaping this project. How does it feel when you run your fingers along its surface? Does its scent trigger familiar memories? How does it dance in the wind, and what melodies does it create? How does it respond to the play of light, and what transformations occur as it weathers over time? It is from these distinctive material qualities that the form of the retreat center emerges.
Community and Environmental Impact
• In envisioning the retreat center design, our goal was to create a harmonious space that benefits both visitors and the surrounding ecosystem. We aimed to foster a sympoietic relationship between human and non-human species, achieved through a careful selection of materials that allows them to seamlessly integrate with its natural surroundings, offering visitors an immersive connection with nature. The retreat center will be thoughtfully designed to provide a tranquil and rejuvenating experience for visitors. Serene, natural light-filled spaces will encourage self-reflection, meditation, and connection with others. Landscaped outdoor areas and amenities will further enhance the guest experience, offering opportunities for outdoor activities, relaxation, and environmental education. By fostering a sense of well-being, promoting nature-consciousness and appreciation, the retreat center will leave a lasting positive impact on both the human and non-human world, creating a space where personal growth and environmental stewardship coexist harmoniously.
• Pause Chaos places a significant emphasis on limiting the extent of construction on site. This approach not only reduces environmental impact but also ensures that the natural beauty and integrity of the surroundings are preserved. It prioritizes the use of locally-sourced materials to support the local economy and minimizes the carbon footprint associated with transportation. By harnessing materials readily available in the region, the retreat center fosters a sense of connection with the surrounding community. Furthermore, the use of lightweight foundation systems requires fewer resources for construction but also has a reduced impact on the underlying ecosystem.
Guidance for Aspiring Designers
• We believe that empathy is a fundamental quality for designers, one that should extend beyond the human realm to encompass the more than human world. As designers, we have a responsibility to acknowledge that our actions impact not only ourselves but the environment and its ecosystems. The retreat center represents more than a space for human healing; it serves as a sanctuary for the environment and its inhabitants, mending the wounds inflicted by human desires and actions. It is a manifestation of our commitment to being mindful stewards of the planet, demonstrating that our designs can promote healing and balance not only for ourselves but for the entire interconnected web of life.
• Rather than fixating solely on the technical aspects of the architecture, the group chose to paint a vivid picture of the experiential qualities that the retreat center offers. Rather than describing the center by its construction methods, the group focuses on how the materials evoke feelings, how the light filters through the roof and walls to create an ambiance, and how the gentle breeze and mist both cool and mystically engage your senses. The design prioritizes crafting a collective experience that will hopefully serve as a sanctuary for rejuvenating the mind, enriching the soul, and fostering memorable experiences.
Reflections on Winning
• We are incredibly thankful for the recognition our work has received. Receiving the results on Thanksgiving Day made it an exceptionally memorable occasion for us. Our heartfelt gratitude goes out to our past instructors, whose guidance and influence have significantly shaped our design process. Looking ahead, we are enthusiastic about participating in more competitions in the future.
• To all those who share a passion for creating spaces that nurture well-being and renewal, remember that your work has the power to make a profound impact on individuals and the world around us. Design with empathy, not only for people but also for the more than human world. Consider the stories your spaces can tell, the experiences they can offer, and the healing they can provide.
Second Prize Winners
Yu Li
China
Introduction
Hello, everyone, I am an architect and have been working for five years since graduation. During these five years, I have completed some practical projects, but at the same time, I am also very interested in concept design, so I would do some interesting research and competitions in my spare time. The reason why I joined this competition is related to my personal experience. As we all know, the pace of life in China's big cities like is really fast, so young people like me who work in these cities are usually under a lot of pressure. Sometimes these people may question their own choices, and think about what they really want, and it is hard for them to find the space to concentrate on their minds. So I have been thinking for a long time, whether I can create a space for young people to escape from this kind of life. Space is not only focusing on the relaxation of the body but also loosing up their spirits. This kind of experience and feelings prompted me to take part in this competition.
Design Concept
In my opinion, the retreat centre I designed is a building that can interact with nature. I want to introduce natural subjects like the sun, the water, the trees and so on into the building, and give the subjects different experiences. Not just watching them, people can use their bodies to smell, hear and touch them. Therefore, I want to translate these behaviours into my space to enrich the visitor's experiences.In terms of how I created the healing space, I was inspired by some ancient paintings. In my design, I want to introduce the natural subjects like the sun, the water, the trees and so on into the building, and give the subjects different experience. You know, not just watching them, people can use their bodies to smell, hear and touch them. At the same time, I want to transform some healing behaviours like meditation and mindfulness into my spaces to enrich guests’ experience. After determining the design direction combined with nature, the murals in the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, China inspired me more. These murals record the life of ancient Chinese people for thousands of years. They are great works of the combination of ancient Chinese history and art. The murals in Cave 172 record sixteen activities that helped the ancients to introspect, also known as sixteen views. After studying the sixteen views, I found six views including the sun, flowing water, the earth, the tree, the pool, and the tower can be introduced into my design. The retreat centre is located on a ridge within the National Forest Park in Chongqing, China. Its surrounding conditions are very interesting, first of all, there are 5 maple trees on the site, which have beautiful views, and at the same time, the site is surrounded by horsetail pine forest and there is a reservoir on the back. For me, how to organically combine natural subjects with architectural space is a unique challenge.
Healing Architecture
In my design, I want to make full use of the five senses to perceive nature. For example, people can hear the water dripping onto the stones in the dark room, and touch the moss spreading into the building. These spaces form a sequence as terrain descends, and people would be attracted by these spaces and willing to explore them. The feelings of different spaces and the interactions with natural subjects can help people to achieve inner peace and self-acceptance from multiple angles.When it comes to specific elements in architecture，I think the most unique spatial element in my design is water. The water creates two distinct Spaces, the pond-watching hall and the dark room. In the pond-watching hall, people can see water flowing down the eaves constantly, while in the dark room, people can hear the sound of water dripping onto the stones. Therefore, different ways of interacting with nature form different kinds of spaces and the final architectural image. What‘s more, the main materials of my building are fair-faced concrete and wood. In my opinion, concrete, although cold, can create a pure and clean space, while wood can add warm feelings to the building.
Interaction with Space
I use contrast techniques to shape and strengthen the interaction between space and people. Firstly, contrast is used inside each space. Take the Ground View Room as an example, this room introduces the sloping ground with moss into the building, and the roof of the building is gradually lowered, leaving only a line of sky light between the slope and the roof, and people will gradually change from standing posture to sitting posture due to the reduction of the building height. The lowering roof leads the eye to the slope in front of the people, not only to see the color of the moss, but also to touch the texture of it. The contrast between different senses gives people a different way of thinking about nature. Secondly, I also use contrast techniques between different Spaces. For example, the Lecture Centre and Meditation Centre are both designed with maple trees as the center. The difference is that one space is open and the other is closed, so people's behaviors and experiences in the space are also different. Since ancient times, the relationship between Chinese people and nature has been very close, and nature brings people spiritual comfort and helps people reduce psychological pressure. Therefore, I believe that the design concept combined with natural subjects can be adapted to various types of self-renewal.
Design Evolution
At the beginning of the design, I have confirmed the design direction of combining with nature, but the breakthrough point of the design is not so easy to find. At first, I looked for answers in traditional Chinese culture. I analyzed classical Chinese gardens and found that the sequence of Spaces in classical gardens can give visitors different emotional experiences. In addition, in an exhibition, I learned about the sixteen views in Dunhuang murals. I think this way of meditating on nature not only brought peace to the ancients themselves, but also brought the direction of inner exploration to contemporary citizens. Therefore, I combined spatial sequence with sixteen views to carry out my design. At the end of my design, I named it 观（Guan）. Because in Chinese context, Guan is not only a verb means watching or reading something, but also a noun means a pure place for meditation.
Community and Environmental Impact
In the design, I tried to minimize the impact on the surrounding ecosystem and hoped that the existing environment would have a positive effect on visitors. For example, I retained the five maple trees that originally existed on the site and used them as an exclusive meditation subject of the building. In the interaction with maple trees, visitors can not only gain an awareness of themselves, but also obtain an awareness and respect for nature.
Guidance for Aspiring Designers
In my opinion, there is no the most perfect answer to an architectural design, and every architect is searching for the best design solution constantly that matches the site and concept. For the healing buildings, the first stage of health care is the healing of the body, and the next stage is the healing of the mind and spirit. People in different cultures may have different ways of healings and self-renewal, which requires architects to take more consideration according to the reality. In this case, I believe that a successful design project is not only a thought of single aspects, it includes multi-angles considerations about history, culture, environment and human beings.
Reflections on Winning
I am really pleasant and honored to be recognized by the jury members. This winning experience will inspire me to explore more design possibilities. Thank you!
Third Prize Winners
Firdevs Aydın, Hakan Koç, Tuğçe Sena Özdemir & Mert Tunay
Turkey
Special mention
Chuchu Chen
U.S.
My name is Chuchu Chen. I graduated with a master's degree from the Rhode Island School of Design this year, and I completed my undergraduate studies at the China Academy of Art. I am currently working as an architectural designer in Los Angeles. I have a cross-disciplinary background in landscape, interior, and architecture, and I firmly believe that there should be no boundaries among these three disciplines. Furthermore, I am highly sensitive to the relationship between architecture and the environment. I believe that architecture is an integral part of the environment, rather than a means to disconnect people from their surroundings.
Honorable mention
Mingda Yang, Jiahao Zhang, Yi Shen
Julius Bykowski
Hanzhuo Liang, Zhanpeng Lei, Danqing Wang
Alyssia Wong, Britney Krebs,, Vivan Pham, Rico del Moral
Mingda Yang, Jiahao Zhang, Yi Shen
China
Julius Bykowski
Germany
Hanzhuo Liang, Zhanpeng Lei, Danqing Wang
China
Alyssia Wong, Britney Krebs,, Vivan Pham, Rico del Moral
U.S.
