The Winners!
DESIGN DEVELOPMENT
First Prize Winners
Hanwen Liang
China
Foshan University, Architecture (5-year Program), Bachelor of Architecture
What is your design philosophy?
I think architectural design is a reflection of people's understanding of the world, so the great thing about architectural design is that it seems that it can base on everything, every aspects in the world or it can just base on one simple dwelling.
Can you briefly explain your understanding of the topic and the source of ideas?
I think human beings can create anything if they have enough philosophical understanding, so human products are a direct reflection of our philosophical view of the world. So form reflects truth. Such understanding comes from the ancient Eastern philosophy. Ancient books usually discuss the phenomena and changes of things. For example, the book of changes is an extremely profound but simple book, in which all the phenomena and changes of events in the world are explained clearly with a very clever set of laws. So people who could really understand the book of changes in ancient times were usually great and could usually predict the future, but in modern times it is very rare.
When and how you were first introduced to architecture?
I was introduced to architecture when I was a junior in high school. At that time, our teacher asked us to write down our ideal majors in the future on a small piece of paper and paste them all on the blackboard in the classroom for everyone to browse. At that time, I saw a classmate wrote architecture, I didn't know that there have architecture major before, so at that moment I had a mysterious sense of mission that I want to be engaged in architecture, because I was interested in art and science all the time, but I didn’t know what major was the combination of art and science, until I know architecture.
What does architecture mean to you?
Architecture is more of a tool for me to express my inner understanding.
Also I think architecture can be understood as creation of anything.
Second Prize Winners
Sayam Mulani
India
Hi, I am Sayam Mulani and am currently studying in IES College of Architecture, Mumbai. Along with the regular curriculum I participate in several competitions both national and international in order to build up my exposure and experience as a designer. Besides these I keep myself engaged by looking to other forms of design in order to keep my creative juices flowing, some of which are writing, understanding places, people and culture through visual media, digital art as well as hand done sketches/painting.
What is your design philosophy?
I believe that design and architecture, much like people, are an outcome or response of the environment they are placed in. Therefore, in order to design appropriately for the people of any given circumstance it is imperative that one has a thorough understanding of the context in which one is designing. I believe that each place is rich in culture with its own unique social fabric. My architecture looks to reflect the same instead of looking outward in order with a strong focus on Cultural Modernity.
Can you briefly explain your understanding of the topic and the source of ideas?
My design philosophy is rooted in the context and it is the story of this context or the narrative that binds the people and context together is of prime focus to my architectural and design processes.
When and how you were first introduced to architecture?
Architecture is all around us, whether we realise it or not. Since I was a kid I always indulged in building and creating whether it was a pillow fort, a sand castle or even a pyramid out of playing cards and before I knew it, this interest in creating turned into a passion for design and architecture.
What does architecture mean to you?
Architecture to me is essentially a means to grow and learn about people and places. It is a means to understand finer details of why a particular seat in our local café can become our own comfort spot as well as how a national monument can become a symbol of pride in the collective memory of whole communities. Architecture to me is no longer a profession but rather a part of me and in a way, it is my lens to see the world.
Third Prize Winners
Ting ting Liu, Zhì yǐng Wei & Jìng yì Cheng
Special mention
Honorable mention
Wenli Wei, Veldesen Yaputra & Ke Tang
Lee Cheng Wei
Wenli Wei, Veldesen Yaputra & Ke Tang
Lee Cheng Wei
