The Winners!
EXPERIENTIAL ARCHITECTURE
First Prize Winners
Yichen Wang
China
Hi everyone, my name is Yichen Wang. I come from China, and I’ve just graduated from my Bachelor of Design studies in University of Melbourne. I’ll be attending its Master of Architecture program shortly.
During my undergraduate career, I’ve been developing my architectural interests and targets in both research and practice fields. I’m especially interested in the history-culture related projects, so that’s the main reason I chose Suzhou Gardens as my essay topic. My design projects have been selected in our school exhibitions for several times, and I’ve also participated in various architecture and graphic design competitions. While this is my first time to become a prize winner, so it is a great pleasure to share my thoughts of the following questions.
What is your design philosophy?
I think my design philosophy, or a core concept that I persist in, is to concern about the spirit and humanity of architecture in this fast-growing world. During my design process, I always consider the target in 2 groups, not only the users, but also the local background and environment. I believe a building should always carry the value of the place it belongs.
Can you briefly explain your understanding of the topic and the source of ideas?
Can you briefly explain your understanding of the topic and the source of ideas?
When and how you were first introduced to architecture?
I’ve started to be keen on global culture since my childhood, so my parents always took me to travel around the world. And my early perception on architecture was accumulated from those trips – to Italy, Singapore, Cambodia, and so on. I remember after each trip, I always spent time sketching a lot, combining those tour sites with my own imaginations. I kind of “designed” my first architectural project at the age of 14, it was a religious museum.
What does architecture mean to you?
For me, I think architecture is far more than designing the tangible structure itself. Like what I explored in “Experiential Architecture”, it is kind of a “conversation” between architects and the locality, the people and the time – from past to future. So as a potential designer, I believe every design project is a precious process, to start from learning, absorbing the value of a place, then generate and finally produce something that celebrates and influences that value.
Second Prize Winners
Sidra Khokhar
Pakistan
Sidra is an aspiring architect, content writer and an educator who is working towards unravelling the academic potential which the field of Art, Design and Architecture hold in Pakistan. Having a minor in Landscape Architecture, she is passionate about exploring its depths within Architectural Design primarily as literary works of art and as an actual design response as well.
What is your design philosophy?
My design philosophy is still in a developmental process! I strongly believe that I am on a journey of self-discovery that is reflected in my work and the way I perceive built environment, landscape, and especially literary works about architecture. However, I am deeply fascinated by the potential which Landscape Architecture has with Architectural design and consciously try to embody that in my own design process if ever I get the opportunity to design something.
Can you briefly explain your understanding of the topic and the source of ideas?
Experiential architecture for me, as a resident of Pakistan was meant to highlight the cultural heritage that my country brings and how it is being perceived by us today in the 21st century. The sheer monumentality of the structure paired with its materiality and unique location inspired me to pen down its beauty and share it on an international platform.
When and how you were first introduced to architecture?
I was first introduced to architecture and what it may possibly entail when I frequently used to visit a local park named the Fatima Jinnah Park next to my house in Islamabad. The manner in which a huge expanse of land incorporated green spaces with built forms inspired me to search for more answers about what architecture really is!
What does architecture mean to you?
Architecture for me is a dialogue between space and time. It is a means of invoking a sense of belonging within everyone and their everyday mundane routines. Architecture has the capability to develop a deep sense of identity due to its intangible nature and this is something I wish to further explore as an academic and writer in the field of architecture.
Third Prize Winners
Mariam Baindurashvili
Georgia
My name is Mariam,I am an architect, now I am working as an urbanist. I graduated bachelor’s degree in architecture in Georgian Technical University. I have participated in several workshops and projects and as I like new challenges, this competition was my new goal in my career.
What is your design philosophy?
I think architecture is not only about physical and visual structure, for me every building is living creature connecting human relations, that’s why my main philosophy is to feel the architecture, feel it’s soul and emotions.
Can you briefly explain your understanding of the topic and the source of ideas?
I tried to explore and analyse Experiential Architecture deeper and I found that architecture can create some kind of opportunities that force us for the experience, and that teaches us how to communicate and be more tolerant. The main subject of observations was Tbilisian architecture (capital of Georgia), known for its authentic structure of houses with courtyard and wooded balconies, representing not only design elements, but they also form path and spaces that force people of various religions live together. In this case architecture plays a major aspect in shaping the community system and I think it makes this part of Tbilisi so cosmopolitan, here you can find Orthodox, Catholic, Muslim, and Jewish churches. I think this is great example of architecture’s positive influence on social relationships.
What does architecture mean to you?
For me architecture is not only physical structure, I strongly believe that every building and city has soul and emotions. The image of the city can reflect social mentality.
Special mention
Honorable mention
Yu Zhou
Veronika Zapiantceva
Mario Notaro
Yu Zhou
Veronika Zapiantceva
Mario Notaro
Australia
