Architecture Competition Cambodia Remote Hideout Huts 3rd and Student prize winners – Washington University in St. Louis.

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the 3rd and Student prize winners of our “Cambodia Remote Hideout Huts” competition – Josephine Simon and Anne Whitsel from United States!

Josephine Simon and Anne Whitsel from United States

Josephine Simon and Anne Whitsel are fourth-year undergraduate students at Washington University in St. Louis. They will both graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts. Simon is minoring in Environmental Studies and Urban Design, and Whitsel is minoring in Environmental Engineering Science.

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?

The Washington University in St. Louis undergraduate architecture program provides numerous opportunities to engage actual sites and tackle complex social, cultural, and environmental challenges both in the St. Louis community and beyond. The program is centred around the design studio, which emphasizes craft and making. We work collaboratively with our peers on design projects, exploring a wide array of media and techniques, including freehand drawing, and computer-aided design. The studios are a place for creative development where we learn by doing.

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

Architecture is a beautiful, innovative, and sustainable solution to both anthropogenic and environmental problems. As architects, we must understand the impact our field has on people and the environment. Then we must leverage that knowledge to design spaces that enhance human comfort while achieving maximum energy efficiency.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

This competition led our team through an exciting and rigorous design exercise. Architecture competitions are conducive to remote learning and helped us remain engaged during the Covid-19 pandemic. Furthermore, we explored design problems outside of the traditional architectural setting and within a unique cultural context.

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

Participating in architecture competitions is a great way to test your skills and gain experience in fast-paced design problem-solving. Do not pass up the opportunity to share your ideas with an international audience. You can leverage your success in architecture competitions into an unexpected career path!