Near Figure Ilé Ìkóhun-ìṣẹ̀ǹbáyé-sí by Meng Zhao is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award in Àpẹẹrẹ Ìkọ́lé, Ilé àti Ètò Competition Category.
IdẹÌkọ́lé· 2026
Near Figure Ilé Ìkóhun-ìṣẹ̀ǹbáyé-sí
by Meng Zhao
Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award Winner in Ìkọ́lé Category
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About Near Figure Ilé Ìkóhun-ìṣẹ̀ǹbáyé-sí
Near Figure jẹ́ ilé ìkóhun-ìṣẹ̀ǹbáyé-sí tí a ṣe àgbékalẹ̀ rẹ̀ fún ìlú Helsinki, ní orílẹ̀-èdè Finland. Ilé náà ṣàwárí ipò tí ó wà láàárín àwọn ìrísí tí a lè dá mọ̀ àti èyí tí a kò lè dá mọ̀. Àwọn ìrísí náà ń fi èrò ìdí kan hàn ṣùgbọ́n wọ́n ṣì wà láìní ìyanjú pátápátá, nítorí náà ìmọ̀yé ń farahàn díẹ̀díẹ̀ bí àwọn àlejò ṣe ń rìn kọjá àwọn ààyè náà. Ọ̀nà ìrìnkiri ọ̀tọ̀ọ̀tọ̀ méjì ni a hun papọ̀ nípasẹ̀ àwọn ìyípadà nínú ìrísí iṣẹ́ ilé-kíkọ́ náà. Ilé ìkóhun-ìṣẹ̀ǹbáyé-sí náà ní àwọn gbọ̀ngàn àfihàn iṣẹ́-ọnà tí ó ṣí sílẹ̀, àwọn gbọ̀ngàn ìfihàn, ilé kọfí kan, àwọn pèpéle ìta gbangba àti àwọn ààyè fún ìgbòkègbodò. Kọ́ńkírítì aláwọ̀ ewé àti igi tí a tún lò ń mú ìdáàbòbò ooru dára sí i, wọ́n sì ń dín ìtújáde èròjà carbon kù. Àpapọ̀ ìwọ̀n ilẹ̀ ilé náà jẹ́ ẹgbàá mẹ́ta ó lé irínwó (6400) mítà onígun mẹ́rin.
The Recognition
About the Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award
Near Figure Ilé Ìkóhun-ìṣẹ̀ǹbáyé-sí jẹ́ olùborí Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award, ìdánimọ̀ olókìkí gan-an tí a fún àwọn àwòṣe tó tayọ tí wọ́n yàtọ̀ nípasẹ̀ ìṣẹ̀dá, àrékérekè àti ọgbọ́n inú. Àwọn olùborí Idẹ jẹ́ àwọn ohun èlò tó ní ìjáfáfá gan-an tí wọ́n sì ní ìṣẹ̀dá tó yani lẹ́nu tí wọ́n ń ṣe ẹ̀rí ìrírí gbígbòòrò, ìrònú àti ọgbọ́n àwọn olùṣàwòṣe wọn. A retí pé Near Figure Ilé Ìkóhun-ìṣẹ̀ǹbáyé-sí yóò jẹ́ ohun tí a kà sí gidigidi, tí a gbóríyìn fún tí a sì nífẹ̀ẹ́, tó jẹ́ ti ọ̀jáfáfá lọ́nà tó ṣe pàtàkì tó sì ní ìmúṣẹ̀dá tuntun. Àwòṣe tó borí Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award yìí ń kó àwọn ọ̀nà tó dára jùlọ nínú iṣẹ́ ọnà, sáyẹ́ǹsì, àwòṣe àti ìmọ̀-ẹ̀rọ jọ, ó sì tayọ nítorí àfiyèsí rẹ̀ sí àwọn àlàyé kékeré. Near Figure Ilé Ìkóhun-ìṣẹ̀ǹbáyé-sí ń tẹ́ àwọn ohun tí a nílò lọ́rùn lọ́nà àgbàyanu, ó ń fọwọ́ kan àwọn ìfẹ́ inú, ó ń gbà ọkàn ó sì ń fa ìfẹ́ láti mọ̀ mọ́ra.
Behind the Design
Press Kit
Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.
- Unique Properties
- The Museum in Finland explores the concept of "Near Figure" in architecture, an idea that engages with the critical state between identifiable and unidentifiable forms. This project delves into the tension of architectural progression, capturing a transitional phase where space and form exist in a state of both static and dynamic potential. Through this exploration, the museum represents an evolving symbol of the future of architectural trends.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Gross floor area: 6400 square meters Project type: Museum, Exhibits, Pavilions
- Tags
- Museum, Near Figure, Exhibition, Helsinki, Finland, monumental building, city landmark, public space
- Production Technology
- The material choice of concrete plays a central role. Its malleability offers the flexibility to express the tension between clarity and abstraction, making it an ideal medium to embody the critical state of architectural form. Concrete allows for the fluidity of shape transitions, highlighting the project's exploration of thresholds and the notion of purpose in design. The combination of recycled wood with green concrete improve the building's insulation and effectively reduces carbon emissions
- Design Challenge
- The biggest challenge is exploring the meaning in Architecture. The project invested the big shape/form/figure with an air of purposefulness and will. Since modernism as a global hegemonic attitude was shaken and then definitively overcome by the forces of pomo and decon and the digital revolution, there has been a crisis in the belief that questions such as: How does architecture communicate? What is legible? The notion that meaning is possible or desirable in architecture has been challenged.
- Research
- The punchline to the project is something called a "near figure." Something with a shape, form or figure that conveys an uncanny sense of purpose, but is unable to be satisfactorily resolved into anything identifiable that could become singular and ultimately repressive. Trying to catch the sense of Progressiveness from mathematic geometry-cube. A series of transformation help to discover the threshold of Progressiveness of Legibility. Figure out the minimal and maximum transition of near figure
- Inspiration
- The "Near Figure" concept, where shapes and forms convey a sense of purpose but are deliberately left in a state that resists complete resolution. This ambiguity allows for a new type of legibility-one that emerges gradually as the viewer engages with the structure. Through the concept, the museum pushes the boundaries of contemporary architecture. It symbolizes a shift in architectural thinking towards a more conceptual, evolving expressions of purpose and identity in architecture.
- Project Duration
- The project located in Helsinki Finland
- Operation Flow
- Two independent and directionally distinct circulation paths are interwoven through the transformation of the architectural form. The building's primary functions include open galleries, exhibition halls, cafe, exterior platforms, and activity areas. Within the public spaces, formal variations and deformations create enclosed functional zones such as offices, kitchen, private dining rooms, lounges, and intimate exhibition rooms.
- Image Credits
- Designer: Meng Zhao Graphic: Meng Zhao
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