Denver Single-Stair Housing Challenge competition Honorable mention winners - Zihao Wang, Xueer Ma and Yanyan Zhang

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the Honorable mention winners of our "Denver Single-Stair Housing Challenge" competition – Zihao Wang, Xueer Ma and Yanyan Zhang from United States!

Zihao Wang, Xueer Ma and Yanyan Zhang

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 are a group of young designers who graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, currently practicing architecture in the United States.

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?

We are intrigued by the relationship between architecture, nature and human beings, and we deeply value architecture’s ability to enrich and elevate human experiences.

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

A significant part of an architect’s daily work involves balancing the diverse needs of clients, structural systems, and building services, often making the role feel reactive. However, architecture goes beyond solving functional challenges—great architecture actively fosters open dialogues that inspire people to reflect on the built environment and its relationship with society.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

We participate in this architecture competition as young architects eager to engage with thought-provoking challenges, contribute our ideas to the industry, and continuously rethink the role of architecture. Competitions push us to explore innovative solutions, refine our design approach, and stay actively involved in the broader architectural discourse.

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

We believe that it is important to choose competition themes that truly interest us, without overthinking the outcomes or results. Instead, we focus on enjoying the process of collaboration and design.