Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025 competition Honorable mention winner - Edwin Orlando Lozano Sanchez

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce the Honorable Mention winner of Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025 competition – Edwin Orlando Lozano Sanchez from Peru!

Edwin Orlando Lozano Sanchez

Please tell us about your company (when it was founded, where it is based, how many employees, etc) Alternatively, if you do not have a company, please give us some insights on your own professional/academia background.

I am an architect in the process of building my professional career. My training and practice have developed mainly through participation in national and international architecture competitions, which have allowed me to explore proposals related to sustainability, environmental regeneration, and the cultural identity of communities. My work is characterized by a sensitive approach to territory, landscape, and social context, understanding architecture as a tool for transformation.

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?

So far, I have developed small-scale projects, primarily single-family housing and residential renovations, which have allowed me to gain hands-on experience in both design and execution. I am currently in the process of initiating a medium- scale project scheduled to begin in early 2026, representing an important step in the growth of my professional practice.

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

For me, architecture is a discipline that goes beyond aesthetics. While it has an artistic dimension, its true value lies in its social responsibility. Architecture has the ability to propose new ways of living, coexisting, and relating to the environment, fostering more just and sustainable forms of development. In this sense, the architect’s role must be sensitive and conscious, always seeking a balance between the tangible—the built work—and the intangible, such as memory, culture, and landscape.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

I participate in architecture competitions because they offer a space for creative freedom and critical reflection. They allow me to address social, environmental, and urban challenges from new perspectives, beyond the constraints of conventional commissions. Competitions also encourage research, continuous learning, and the exchange of ideas at a global scale.

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

I would encourage them to see competitions as a valuable opportunity for professional and personal growth. Beyond awards or recognition, competitions strengthen critical thinking, conceptual clarity, and design skills. They function as laboratories for ideas, allowing architects to learn, experiment, and develop a personal vision over time.