The Winners!
RENDER CHALLENGE
First Prize Winners
Jiaman Xu, Ruiheng Zeng & Xiaoxin Wang
China
We are architecture students. Based on our passion for architecture, we chose architecture as our major in college. Now we are preparing for the postgraduate application.
What is your design philosophy?
The building is a conceptual, a concept that came into being when we were discussing whether buildings can play a rescue role in natural disasters when we thought of forest fires. In recent years, more and more natural disasters have occurred, so we want to explore whether there is an opportunity to reduce some of the losses caused by disasters by combining our major. In the case of large and severe forest fires, it is difficult to guarantee the lives of animals. Countless wild animals die in the fires or are displaced, which has aroused people's concern. Therefore, we wanted to provide them with a temporary shelter, which could provide shelter and habitat for the animals when the disaster occurred and the forest was restored after the disaster. Based on this idea, we designed the animal protection building.
What was your feeling when the winners were announced?
It is a great honor to win the first prize of Archiol's Render Challenge 2021, and it is the first time for us to win such a contest. We are very happy and excited. When we received the email, we even thought it was a scam email, and couldn't believe it was true. I really appreciate the organizer's recognition and appreciation of our drawings. Although we are all ordinary students, we really did it! The arrival of this award gives us a great surprise, and also makes us more confident that we can go further in the field of architecture in the future!
Can you briefly explain the rendering process, source of ideas and, your understanding of the topic?
For this contest, we all agreed that design is more important than technology. Good rendering performance is based on a complete design. As mentioned above, the idea of animal rescue came into being when we were discussing the functions of buildings in the event of natural disasters. We were thinking about how to shelter animals in such a large forest when a fire broke out. It was unrealistic for a huge building to cover the whole forest. So we came up with the idea of attracting animals to create a relatively cool place when a fire occurs. A circle is a shape that can cover the most area, so it can create the largest cold zone. Similarly, the taller the building, the larger the area we affect. So we set the tone for the building. And then we went further and we got this building. And then how to present the building, even if you have a good design concept, if you don't know how to express it, it's still a fatal problem. Therefore, we thought of the way of expression from the close shot to the distant view, which can not only show the interior details of the large building but also show the overlooking effect of the whole building in the forest, making the whole composition look rich and magnificent.
When and how you were first introduced to Architecture?
XU: I studied science in high school, but I am a person who loves art and painting. Therefore, when I applied for a university major, I chose architecture that combines rationality and sensibility, technology and art.
WANG: This is the first time I learned about architecture when I applied to college in 2017. I learned about architecture as a major.
ZENG: I learned about this profession when I was in high school, and then I was attracted by it, so I decided to work in the construction industry in the future.
Second Prize Winners
Antonella Marzi, Chiara Marzi & Marta Dituri
Italy
Antonella Marzi  _Architect, Phd
Antonella Marzi is a Senior Architect, PhD and author of several articles on public place design and urban planning. She graduated in architecture at Politecnico di Milano and lectured on architecture and urban planning in different universities and events. In 2008, she co-founded the architectural firm RECS ARCHITECTS becoming the CEO of RECS ARCHITECTS Brazil until 2018. During her time in Brazil, she developed the urban project of Social Smart City for Planet group. She then joined the technical board Instituto Smart City Business America (SCBA), operating in the development of smart cities in Latin America. In 2018, she co-founded, with four colleagues, GATE ARCHITECTS studio, which is a firm focused on urban design and architecture in smart concept.
Chiara Marzi  _Architect
Chiara Marzi is a senior architect specialized in BIM procedures and management. She graduated in ‘Preservation and Restoration’’ at Politecnico di Milano. Afterwards, she cooperated with several Italian and international architectural studios, such as Gaetano Lisciandra architectural firm, a relevant figure in Milan urban planning. In 2012 she took part in the Home Staging workshop at Karisma Home Staging in Milan. In 2015 Chiara Marzi started cooperation with Anafyo, a service company operating in the field of Architecture, Engineering and Construction, to teach and implement BIM design in various studios and firms. In 2017 she co-founded MOOD, a Milan-based architecture and design studio, while in 2018 she decided to expand her activity internationally, becoming a co-founder of GATE ARCHITECTS group.
Marta Dituri _Architect
Marta Dituri is a senior architect specialized in multiscale design, from city to building projects. She proved excellence in high rising building design and led projects worldwide, ranging from concept to construction. Marta Dituri is also a BIM expert on the Revit platform. Starting from 2010, she worked as a senior architect and office coordinator for an international firm based in Milan and Doha, where she began developing her global expertise. In 2015 she was nominated technical director of RECS ARCHITECTS Brazil, managing all South America’s projects. She subsequently enriched her international experience taking part in projects in UAE, China, and Iran. In 2018, she became a co-founder of GATE ARCHITECTS group.
What is your design philosophy?
The experience of each member and the sharing of ideas represents the strength of the team. We are motivated by a passion for an innovative and cosmopolitan conception of architecture. We are animated by the desire to conceive and design smart and integrated spaces. Our projects show, through their design, a specific visual identity. Our creations reveal a unique sensitivity in understanding and adapting to the life flowing within them.
What was your feeling when the winners were announced?
Certainly, the announcement made us really surprised and satisfied. It is through concept art that we express our architectural ideas.
Can you briefly explain the rendering process, source of ideas and, your understanding of the topic?
One render is not just an image, is an expression of a concept that reaches the end of a process. Our projects are often inspired by natural elements which, through a process of decomposition and recomposition, generate our first design idea. The challenge along the development of the architectural project is then to avoid losing the main strength of this first step during the subsequent design phases, which are necessarily more technical and analytical.
When and how you were first introduced to Architecture?
Almost all co-founders are from Italian Architecture Universities and subsequent Master’s Degree and Ph.D. Joined the experience of the two schools of Italian architecture, the Milanese and the Roman ones, from whose synthesis we seek to generate a wide and articulated architectural syntax.
Third Prize Winners
MiroslavNaskov
United Kingdom
I am a design architect, a visionary and the founder of Mind Design. I pursued my Master of Architecture in Architecture and Urbanism (Design Research Laboratory) at the Architectural Association School of Architecture, London. I have a computational design background and specialize in Parametric and High End Design.
What is your design philosophy?
As a designer, I believe we have the ability to improve the way humans interact with one another as well as with the space they occupy. This can be achieved efficiently through the use of cutting edge technology and innovative solutions. Through my work at Mind Design, I promote this idea through collaborative thinking and by bringing minds together to form a multiple input network and outputs of innovative solutions and designs.
What was your feeling when the winners were announced?
It felt nice to know I had won, I felt excited.
Can you briefly explain the rendering process, source of ideas and, your understanding of the topic?
Renders are a designer’s canvas to communicate his/her vision. I believe it is a powerful means of presenting work and is a crucial part of successful designs. Through my renders, I try to impart an artistic sense to the image.
When and how you were first introduced to Architecture?
At school, I was an ambitious creative mind and aspired to develop this further into a professional career. I chose to pursue architecture as I find delight in the idea of inventing and exploring new possibilities through creative expression.
Special mention
Honorable mention
Niu Yifan
Zhixiang Xia
Tim Chen
Niu Yifan
Zhixiang Xia
Tim Chen
