2020 Bee Breeders Competition Entry

Group Members: Jerry Yang, Jerry Zhang, Max Chen

The concept heavily draws inspiration from Elisabeth Kubler-Ross’s book On Death and Dying, where our design translates The Stages of Grief into spaces that portray the dynamism and interconnectedness of each stage. The design creates a sense of freedom of movement, a milieu for strolling, a mood that has less to do with directing people than seducing them. A space where one could stay and not just pass through; A voyage of discovery.

The site is located near a cliff overlooking the ocean on the west side of UBC’s campus in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. A small path separates the project from the busy urban environment, creating a place of quiet contemplation and repose. The view of the ocean symbolizes the origin of life, while the horizon beyond symbolizes humanity’s infinite possibilites and dreams.

We placed emphasis on the horizontality of the design by using locally sourced rammed earth for the outer walls. Its solidity hints upon a return to earth, while the patterns resemble the flow of time and the waves of the ocean. The concaved roof represents delicacy and lightness. The wood induces a sense of calmness. The chapel symbolizes the fifth stage of grief, acceptance. According to Kubler-Ross, acceptance involves being in quietude, at rest, void of feeling, and fading interests, as opposed to a profound celebratory rationalization. Thus, the chapel operates more as a complimentary place of solitude instead of being the apex of the design.