Denver Single-Stair Housing Challenge competition Honorable mention winners - Xuanyu Wei and Leyuan Li

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the Honorable mention winners of our "Denver Single-Stair Housing Challenge" competition – Xuanyu Wei and Leyuan Li from United States!

Xuanyu Wei and Leyuan Li

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.

We collaborate informally alongside our own practices and firms. Wei works at a design firm in NYC, while Li teaches at the University of Colorado Denver and is the founder of his own practice, Office for Roundtable. We met in graduate school at Rice University in Houston.

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?

Our practice has been fortunate to work on a variety of projects—from museums and housing to single-family homes and installations. We particularly love projects that are closer to the human scale, whether they involve housing or individual homes. These projects offer the best opportunity to collaborate with user groups and closely examine our societies.

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

Architecture can take many different forms. It can either inspire people or function as a machine that supports everyday life. We like to see architecture as just buildings, its essence is to provide shelter for people. Amid the current global housing crisis, architecture should focus on addressing the most basic humanitarian needs.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

We love to challenge ourselves, as well as challenging the architectural norm. It provides a platform where we imagine what the architecture can be and what it should be.

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

Don’t think, just do it. It is always the first step that preventing us from practicing. But once you are in it, it will be fruitful journey.