Architecture Competition Home For The Blind Honorable mention - Mafalda Mota, Mariana Simões and Henrique Andrade

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to one of our Honorable mention winners for our "Home For The Blind" competition – Mafalda Mota, Mariana Simões and Henrique Andrade from Portugal!

Honorable mention winners from Portugal

Our paths crossed on our first year of university as colleagues and we soon discoverd several traits and passions that we shared. We instantly became friends and since then, we have been together both on our personal and professional lives. We believe our visions of architecture and things that inspire us complement themselves, and although we work in diferent companies we have been developing projects together that not only expand our knowledge but also deepen our bond as friends.

Brief information about the projects that you/your company have been
involved with. For instance, what scale have you focused on/preferred,
any significant projects where the company/ individuals have been
involved?


Along with the projects that we were involved in during our academic journey that went through all scales, from urban scale to detail, we have been working together in architecture competitions with special focus on human and social issues.

What does architecture mean to you and what is the role of an architect
in your society?


In our opinion, architecture addresses specific problems and needs of our society, with the ultimate goal of fostering the collective well-being. Considering society's continuous changes and evolution, architecture can't be a definitive solution, but an opportunity window to reflect on how we relate with different built environments. To be an architect is to serve the society carrying the responsibility of the direct influence that our work has on people's lives.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?


Within such  a competitive field as architecture, engaging in competitions, challenges us at a professional and individual level. It is an opportunity to test new concepts and ideas and to foster our creativity. On one hand, it gives us the ability to learn from our mistakes and on the other hand to gain confidence with the several challenges we overcome.

What advice would you give to individuals who struggle to decide
whether it would be beneficial for them to participate in architecture
competitions?


Our advice to other participants is that architecture competitions can be a way to improve their creative and design skills, as well as learning to work in a team and meet deadlines.