The Winners!
INTO THE RABBIT HOLE
First Prize Winners
Miriam Loescher, Elizaveta Karpacheva, Sharon Sarfati
Austria
Coming from different backgrounds Miriam Löscher (Slovakia), Elizaveta Karpacheva (Russia) and Sharon Sarfati (Israel), now we are pursuing master architecture studies at the die Angewandte [University of Applied Arts Vienna] in studio Hani Rashid.
When and how were you first introduced to architecture?
[Elizaveta Karpacheva] My first introduction to architecture happened on the first day of the architecture bachelor studies. Coming from a family of doctors, I did not have anyone connected to an architecture circle to talk about design and architecture in general. So it was all pretty new to me when I started. But the general interest for quality of spaces and city planning got me curious to explore the field and all the possibilities that it can lead to.
[Miriam Löscher]
Same for me. I have not thought of it too much before, maybe because the connection of the public towards architecture is rather shallow, but when I got to understand what it takes and what it strives for, I think it is a very exciting and vast discipline where one can have multiple sub-interests interpreted.
[Sharon Sarfati]
In fact, also for me, my first introduction to this profession occurred during my Bachelor's studies. It has never been a dream, but as I started my journey to become an Architect, it indeed developed into something that fascinates me, and something that I would like to peruse and could make a change and an impact on people’s daily life.
What is your design philosophy?
As humans on this planet we are surrounded all the time and have a huge impact over everydays decisions, everydays scenarios that we may or may not encounter depending on the set-up.
Therefore we think that the design should pay attention to the human's mind and natural behavioural process and accommodate both physical and mental needs. We as humans and designers think that the aim of human-centric design is to alter the outer environment in a way that we can benefit from it even more.
What does architecture mean to you?
[Elizaveta Karpacheva] For me, architecture can be many things, buildings and cityscapes, the material research and technological advances, theoretical works. But if we talk about the built environment, it is a link between all living things- humans, flora and fauna, integrated into a natural world. We interact with it every day and it is important what it does to a human being, does it support the mental wellbeing or suppresses it?
[Miriam Löscher] For me, architecture is all man-made around us, therefore being an architect means the possibility to affect everyday life of many people, animals and nature in a pleasing way, both functionally and aesthetically.
[Sharon Sarfati] For me Architecture is a field of research and design implications, aiming at understanding the living. Also, I see it as a field of optimism on a planet full of opportunities. The ability to have an impact on the perception and the memory of someone is a sensitive subject, that the act of the architect has a responsibility to perform.
Briefly explain your design process and your perspective on the role of architecture in healing the human mind.
Depends on every project in particular, and this one was very different. As much as possible we were trying to take the scientific research on one hand, and on the other hand there was plain will for objective architectural interpretation. If we take the data and make it a space, in this case it is crucial to be obvious what the data was (ed how shape of room affects brain waves when sound introduced, etc).
For the beginning we took the platonic objects with proven qualities and tweaked them by different design strategies. Because the whole process needed to be strictly controlled and well thought-through, we decided it was easier to perform each operation manually.
Overall, this was extremely hard, because a. we did not clearly know what the result would be, b. every artistic decision is partly subjective and to separate one from another was not easy, as one is not used to needing to do this. Each architectural decision had to be thought through and afterwards well evaluated and if it was not compelling to the main goal, it was diminished.
Our surroundings have immediate and long-lasting effects on our both physical and mental health. Therefore, we think that it is inevitable to pay much needed attention to the question of what affects us in which particular way and if it results as being negative, then what we can do so it has a positive impact instead. If we can provide a calming and relaxing environment for every human being in everyday life, we believe that it can be very helpful in reduction of the accumulated stress hormones and thereby negative emotions.
Second Prize Winners
Yufeng Liao, Lanting Jing, Fan Zhan
China
Yufeng Liao
Hello, everyone! My name is Yufeng Liao, from China. I am a junior in the Department of Environmental Art and Design, Academy of Fine Arts, Tsinghua University. Environmental Art Design is an interdisciplinary major in China. We study architecture, landscape, interior, furniture and other types of design, with no distinction of specific directions, which enables us to express our design concepts in a variety of ways. In the future, I hope to continue my studies and contribute to the research in this field.
Lanting Jing
Hello everyone, my name is Jing Lanting. I was born in Sichuan Province, China. Currently, I'm studying in the Department of environmental art and design, School of fine arts, Tsinghua University. The environmental art design department of the Academy of fine arts of Tsinghua University is the first teaching unit to set up the environmental design specialty in China. From interior design, it has developed into a comprehensive discipline integrating urban and rural landscape, garden, interior and exterior space design of buildings, furniture, facilities, furnishings and other comprehensive design. Architecture is a major that I am very interested in. In the future, I will also study and try landscape, furniture, garden and other disciplines. For me, there are many possibilities in the future.
Fan Zhan
Hello everyone, my name is Zhang Fan, from China. I am a junior in the Department of Environmental Art and Design, Academy of Fine Arts, Tsinghua University. Environmental art design is an interdisciplinary major in China. We study architecture, landscape, interior, furniture and other types of design, I am very interested in space design and hope to make contributions in this field in the future.
When and how were you first introduced to architecture?
Yufeng Liao
I was born in Xianyang, the most ancient capital of China, which has enabled me to appreciate the charm of ancient Chinese architecture since childhood. After I went to high school, the school invited a senior from the architecture major of the Central Academy of Fine Arts to introduce us to architectural design, which was my first exposure to the discipline in terms of its main content.
Lanting Jing
Before the University, I had some travel experience. Many historical ancient buildings in Beijing have been well preserved, which moved me very much; At the same time, I also like many modern buildings in China, many of which not only implement the green energy-saving goal of sustainable development, but also are full of humanistic feelings. forunately, I entered this major by chance and began to understand Architecture and learn architecture. Hope to bring more architectural design works in the future.
Fan Zhan
I was born in Beijing. When I was young, I came into contact with the Forbidden City, the temple of heaven, the summer palace, the Old Summer Palace and other places of interest. After entering the environmental design major in the University, I had a deeper understanding of architecture.
What is your design philosophy?
Yufeng Liao
We believe that the body is the interface that connects the inner spiritual world and the outer world. We want to indulge children’s curiosity in physical experience through the playfulness of space—the characteristics of space that stimulates the participation of the body, so as to encourage children complete daily transportation, communication, sports, leisure, learning and other activities in an extraordinary physical way, and gain an unforgettable spatial perceptive experience and spiritual satisfaction.
Our design goal aims at designing an active mental health space, so as to achieve spiritual healing for left-behind children through rich physical experiences and various sensory experiences.
Bunnies in Burrowland is a subterranean healing building modeled on a rabbit hole. Its overall spatial relationship from top to bottom takes the form of being open to being semi-open and being private. The space is filled with plenty of play room for children to immerse and discover themselves. The purpose is to guide the children by gradually opening themselves up through the playfulness of the space. Bunnies in Burrowland has three thematic flow lines that address the many issues confronted by “left-behind” children, namely Family Affection Flow Line, Education Flow Line, Self-Cognition Flow Line, providing multifaceted support for children’s growth. I designed the Education Flow Line. The educational theme flowline is set up to learn knowledge through games, so as to discover children’s talents and guide them to make future career planning.
Lanting Jing
What I strongly hold is that architecture should be a subject combining science and art. The most important thing is the humanistic value and artistic value of architecture. Caring for people is the core of a building. Finding problems, solving problems, and bringing people better, more unique experiences. Buildings often reflect the social problems and social needs of an era. For example, Corbusier's Domino system reflects the social problems of the shortage of housing resources in industrial society. While Wright more forward-looking expressed his Reflection on industrialization. Our architecture should also focus more on contemporary social problems and possible problems in the future to plan for human development. A building without humanistic care is just an empty shell, but at the same time, we should also pay attention to the designer's personal artistic expression, and bring aesthetic standard into the building through various methods, materials and technologies.
Fan Zhan
I think that architecture is the accommodation of human activities and gives people a humanistic environment. Therefore, the motivation of architecture creation should be based on human needs and human spirit. I think the language of architecture is the spatial order. Space can stimulate people's feelings and affect people's consciousness. The buildings we design should be consistent with the people we serve and the emotional spirit we need to express.Just like Frank Lloyd Wright said, architecture should be organically developed and grown from the internal space, from the inside out and from the essence, just like the growth of natural animals and plants. I think that only in this way can we break the traditional square box architecture to achieve the freedom of external form.
What does architecture mean to you?
Yufeng Liao
Architecture for me is a means of expressing myself and responding to society as a whole. Owing to the considerable number of children in my family, my parents’ home in the city cannot accommodate three children at the same time. As the youngest child in my family, I lived left-behind during my childhood with my grandmother for a period of time. Therefore, at that time, I had vague memories of my parents. As I grow up, I have more concern and sympathy for the left-behind children, and I hope to do something for them within my ability.
In this era of change, a variety of problems are arising in our society. In recent years, China, Japan, South Korea and some other countries have experienced serious aging problems, and China's birth population has fallen off a cliff, which is due to the huge social pressure and the exceedingly high cost of birth as well as upbringing. This entails our society needing to make some policies and take corresponding measures to cope with the increasingly serious population problem. I hope that this model of socially assisted parenting will not only be offered to left-behind children, but will also be developed into a popularized approach for the general public in the future. Architecture is a direct means by which I think over contemporary issues, respond to social appeals, and shoulder the responsibilities of our times.
Lanting Jing
For my perspective, architecture is a very romantic art. It is not only a living space, but also a means for designers to express their understanding of society, beauty and humanity. Through architecture, I can understand this society from another perspective and respond to personal and social needs with architecture.
Fan Zhan
I think architecture for us is a work expressed in the language of space, just as artists use painting to express their spirit. I think architecture is a concrete form that combines our thoughts and aesthetics with abstract things such as society, humanity and the spirit of the times.
Briefly explain your design process and your perspective on the role of architecture in healing the human mind.
Yufeng Liao
Faced with the problem of left-behind children in China, we focus on Sichuan province. Through field research and extensive literature review in Sichuan, we deeply understand the local situation and the problems confronted by left-behind children, and give our feedback.
Architecture is the place where we live, and its space, light, color, material and other aspects affect us all the time. With the development of the times, our society pays more and more attention to people’s mental health. Healing architecture has become a significant architectural design theme in the new era. We hope to put forward different solutions in response to different groups of people in time yet to come.
Lanting Jing
When I saw the theme of the competition, I first felt that it was a game space with magical colors. It seemed that the stories of both the rabbit and Alice were very suitable for making a building for children. Moreover, in our place, the Bunny was also a nickname for children, so I had the initial idea of making a space for children who needed psychological treatment. Left- behind children, especially those aged 5 to 12, have a rapid development of their self-awareness during this period. They lack parental care and a healthy living and learning environment, and are prone to psychological problems such as loneliness, timidity, depression, anxiety and phobia. My hometown is one of the provinces with the largest number of left behind children in China. When I was a child, I also met with some left - behind children. In fact, such children can be easily distinguished from the crowd. Because of family, economic and other reasons, most of them are prone to develop self-confidence, introversion and sensitivity. We can't give them the love from their parents, so we can make up for the lack of family affection and release the inner pressure of children from other aspects. Our Work is a space for left-behind children to release themselves. Here, children can do things that are not allowed to do at ordinary times or things that they want to do but dare not do at ordinary times.In order to take into account all aspects of children's life as much as possible, we have set up three theme lines. I am responsible for exploring my own theme line, which is mainly composed of two themes: sand table games and painting. Through the sand table, the scene of traumatic events is slowly introduced. And adopt the deduction and reproduction of the scene, the children are helped to realize that "he can cure himself". Through the painting tools, the suppressed feelings and conflicts in the subconscious are presented. Tu sum up the two activities lead the children to release pressure, obtain happiness and a sense of achievement in different forms, and get spiritual satisfaction.
Fan Zhan
In order to take into account all aspects of children's life as much as possible, we have set up three theme lines. The family theme line in my charge is divided into two parts, one is a warm shelter space and the other is a functional behavior space. The first three small spaces imitate the form of nests, and through the extrusion of space and soft materials, give children a hug, create a sense of security for children, and make up for the instability caused by the lack of family affection. The second half of the behavioral space aims to gradually guide children through external means, and then gradually guide children to face up to their feelings and explore the correct development direction of family affection.
I think that architecture, as the accommodation of human activities, has a great impact on people's behavior, emotion and even spirit. Excellent architecture can heal people's hearts. I think that a series of elements such as light, material, scale, shape, spatial relationship, and activities carried by buildings play an important role in healing people's hearts. At the same time, some memories and feelings of love and warmth in our life, sheltered cubs in nature and warm nests can also become our inspiration for architecture to heal people's hearts.
Third Prize Winners
Mange Zou, Bingkun Liu, Miaoyan Ge
United States
We are currently completing our master degree in architectural design at the Southern California institution of Architecture, which is also known as SCI-Arc.
When and how you were first introduced to architecture?
[Benk]
My own family is not an architect family, but because of what I just said, I have witnessed the prosperity and development of the city, and many new ideas and new buildings have appeared around me, so I feel that my first contact with architecture is very natural. And there is no time point. But I have a building that has a very profound influence and that I think may have a subtle influence on me, the terminal 3 of Shenzhen Airport, which was designed by Fuksas. I feel that although it is a traffic building, the experience in it is completely unparalleled. So that building should be regarded as a node of my understanding of architecture.
[Maggie]
When I was an undergraduate, I majored in urban and rural planning. In China, this major belongs to architecture college. It is very interesting to watch students of architecture major draw pictures and make models every day, so I was deeply attracted by this major and transferred to architecture major during my postgraduate study.
What is your design philosophy?
[Benk]
I was born in a rapidly developing city. I am one of the lucky young people who can witness the rapid development of a medium-sized city into a megacity. Every day my city presents its new inhabitants with a completely different look. The driving force behind this is of course the development of the country, and these new buildings themselves are also a part of economic development. This is naturally beneficial in circle of economic development, but if the building is simply regarded as a tool of capital, the building has completely become a glass box that pursues interests. So I hope that I can break through the boundaries of the building itself, and create some spaces that make people experience completely different, rather than buildings that make people feel the same, without the temperament of the space itself.
[Maggie]
I think architectural design should first meet its practical and rational needs. The most important thing for human beings to create the ancient subject of architecture is that it can meet the functional needs of life. Secondly, on the basis of meeting basic needs, people will have an improved demand for space comfort. After the basic needs are met, people will ask for the spiritual civilization created by the architectural space. For example, creating beauty, comforting the soul and creating atmosphere. The philosophy of this competition design is mainly aimed at the third level, that is, the part of spiritual comfort.
What does architecture mean to you?
[Benk]
Architecture is a hobby for me at first, now it is a profession, and it may be life in the future. The multiplicity of architecture, its contradictions and problems are all in itself, so for me he may be a challenge that will interest me.
[Maggie]
Architecture is different from many subjects, which gives consideration to practicality and aesthetics. So it is very challenging, and architecture is a very interesting challenge for me.
Can you briefly explain your understanding of the topic and the source of ideas?
Since human beings became conscious, their pursuit of spiritual civilization has never stopped. We can see the location of temples and altars from ancient city sites. With the development of human beings, religious architecture was born. However, with the globalization, people of different races and backgrounds are constantly merging, and the way religious buildings heal the human mind has certain limitations. Therefore, we are looking for more essential emotions to produce new architectural forms, hoping to produce a new architectural space that heals the soul in this way.
Special mention
Honorable mention
King Yin Preston Chui & Man Hei Siu
Zihan Fan & Qiyue Fu
Jia Min wong, Chaer Shean Lee, Ker Neng Peh
King Yin Preston Chui & Man Hei Siu
Zihan Fan & Qiyue Fu
Jia Min wong, Chaer Shean Lee, Ker Neng Peh
