Architecture Competition Caramel Shore Traveler Rooms ARCHHIVE Student prize winners – RWTH AACHEN UNIVERSITY

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the Student prize winners of our "Caramel Shore Traveler Rooms" competition – Fabian Gottfried and Yihao Ni from Germany!

Student prize winners from Germany

We are both students studying in the sixth semester of the bachelor’s degree of architecture at RWTH University in Aachen, Germany. Fabian is interested in structural engineering while Yihao has been focusing on detailed construction. We have completed several projects together throughout our study period.

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?

Studying in university has exposed us to a variety of project scales, both in terms of building size, as well as team size, working individually or in groups of up to 6. We both have also completed several internships in and around the field of architecture, focusing primarily on housing.

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

We have been taught the importance of the love for detail and the principles of the overarching systems that constrict our designs. Additionally, there is great value put on teaching the entire process of architecture, with the end of the design phase being far from the end of the project. The emphasis on construction techniques and good communication between architects and different trades is a key part of our curriculum.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

Architecture competitions allow us the freedom to experiment with new ideas and techniques outside a scholastic setting. This removes any pressure from what the result ends up being, as well as allows us to improve our own ability to iterate and refine our designs. It helps us build critical thinking skills and better our time management. Additionally, it is a good way to exchange design philosophies with fellow students and broaden your own horizon.

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

Architecture competitions are a great way to try something new and outside of the regular university curriculum. It’s especially interesting to complete a project without the familiar input from professors or teaching assistants, requiring a lot more constructive feedback within the team.