Architecture Competition Columbarium – The Chamber of Memories Honorable mention - ETSAB Barcelona School of Architecture — UPC

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to one of our Honorable mention winners for our "Columbarium – The Chamber of Memories" competition – Javier Roig Iglesias from Spain!

Javier Roig Iglesias from Spain

I’m an architecture student from the school of architecture of Barcelona (ETSAB). I’ve been involved in other architecture competitions.

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?

Actually, I’ve worked with all scales, there’s no specific scale or project, the main idea is to change and always try different projects so I can learn while I’m making them.

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

Architecture means a way of thinking, a way of understanding how things were, are, and can be in a near or even a distant future. In my opinion, an architect should always create respecting these three states, being respectful to the past, observer of the present and cautious to the future.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

Making a project is just like making a puzzle with infinite solutions in the eyes of everyone, but just a few solutions in your eyes. A competition is also that, a puzzle to be solved, but it’s even more enjoyable because at the end you can see all those infinite answers that you dismissed or didn’t think about. Why do I participate in architecture competitions? To challenge myself and to learn from others.

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

If you can, don’t think about it anymore, just do it. Even if you don’t win, you’ll always have the experience, therefore you’ll have the knowledge.