Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025 competition Honorable mention winner - Polina Korolkova

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce the Honorable Mention winner of Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025 competition – Polina Korolkova from Cyprus!

Polina Korolkova

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 emerging architect with an academic and professional background shaped by international experience. Recently, I completed my Master of Architecture at Washington University in St. Louis, where this research and project were developed.

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?

Throughout my career, I have worked across multiple scales: from apartment renovations to mixed-use buildings, housing projects, and research-based work. Each project is significant to me, as together they form a continuous learning path that reveals how broad and layered the architectural profession truly is.

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

Architecture means everything to me, as it does to many creative and dedicated people in this field. It is a way of thinking, observing, and responding to the world. The role of an architect is to advocate for people through space: to create environments that are intuitive, inclusive, and adaptable, while responding responsibly to social, cultural, and environmental contexts. Architecture should not only function well but also support emotional connection and a sense of belonging.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

Architecture competitions are a great opportunity to balance the routine tasks the profession often requires with pure creation. They allow space for experimentation and ideas to emerge freely.

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

I often remind myself that you have to be brave enough to share a piece of your soul with a jury. But every time you do, you grow not only as a designer, but also as a professional.