Museum of Emotions competition winners respond to text-free brief with inspiring results

Buildner has published the results from the fifth edition of the popular Museum of Emotions competition. By pairing architectural concepts with the inner dimensions of human life and the psyche, the competition offers a unique challenge to designers to create a museum space used to express and examine the forces guiding our daily lives.

J. MAYER H.'s founder Jürgen Mayer H and his seven fellow jury members were asked to select winners whose submitted designs were ommunicated solely through visuals, forgoing any text descriptions, captions, or annotations. 

Its organizers describe: "This annual event invites participants to explore how architecture can evoke emotions, challenging them to design a museum with two contrasting exhibition halls: one inducing positive emotions and the other evoking negative ones. Participants had complete freedom to choose the site—real or imagined—and scale of their project, as well as their interpretation of emotional dichotomies such as fear and love or happiness and anxiety."

The deadline to register for the competition's sixth edition is March 27th, 2025. 

1st Prize Winner + Buildner Student Award - 'Beautifully Cruel' by Minseok Choi and Jang Doyeong of Sangmyung University (South Korea)

Jury feedback summary: "This project contrasts two very different environments to explore the relationship between architecture, nature, and human experience. The exterior blends with the surrounding landscape, featuring a floral envelope that changes with the seasons, emphasizing time and connection to nature. In contrast, the interior is dark, static, and introspective, creating a stark spatial and emotional divide. By integrating plant life into the structure, the project exposes hidden ecological systems and challenges conventional architectural boundaries. Using minimal materials and natural light, it balances openness and seclusion, offering a reflective space while addressing sustainability and the integration of natural elements in design."

You can read the full interview with 1st Prize Winner + Buildner Student Award winners here.

2nd Prize - 'BORDERLINE' by Hongyang Deng, 蔡 映雪, and Jianing Guo (China)

Jury feedback summary: "This project uses a curvilinear form to create a strong connection between the landscape and the shoreline, guiding visitors along a path that evokes a progression of emotional and spatial experiences. The wavy design gestures both soften and emphasize the dramatic boundary of the cliff, directing views alternately towards the land and the sea. This careful integration respects the natural context while offering a protected space for reflection and play. The design captures the duality of its site—the joy of a verdant landscape alongside the stark edge of the shoreline—offering a thoughtful exploration of topography and human interaction with nature."

You can read the full interview with the 2nd Prize winners here.

3rd Prize - WITH (IN) by Thomas Santiago and Tovar Lozano of Florida International University (United States)

Jury feedback summary: "This project explores the interplay between architecture and nature to offer a tranquil, atmospheric space that straddles the boundary between interior and exterior. The design features a cave-like enclosure and a cantilevered platform, creating contrasting yet complementary experiences. These elements harmonize with the natural setting, enhancing a sense of simplicity and elegance. The project’s transitions, such as the pathway and thresholds, are carefully designed to guide visitors through a journey that balances enclosure and openness. While its monochromatic presentation emphasizes universality, the design’s nuanced approach to space and context creates a unique architectural expression rooted in contrasts and continuity."

You can read the full interview with 3rd Prize winners here.