Architecture Competition Humble Architecture: Everest Challenge Honorable mention - DARMSTADT UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to one of our Honorable mention winners for our "Humble Architecture: Everest Challenge" competition –  Xian Zhu from Germany!

Xian Zhu from Germany

I am a 3rd-semester postgraduate student from the University of Applied Science in Darmstadt, Germany. However, I have 4,5 years of practical experience in L&W Architekten, led by my professor, and experience with approximately 20 competitions. Now I also have the role of an assistant lecturer in two courses about digitization in the Uni.

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?

As far as the office, I have been involved in a wide variety of practical projects with different scales, such as residential, fire stations, office buildings, commercial complexes, etc., ranging from high-rise to reconstruction. Individually I usually participate in competitions which are interesting and difficult to come across in work or study. Since I’d like to create more concepts within less time, small or medium-scale competitions are my preference.

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

At least for me, architecture is contemporary, dynamic, and interdisciplinary. Exploring its boundary is much more meaningful than the doctrinairism. If architecture has to be isolated from other novelties by a closed-loop, then I must be the one dancing on the loop.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

I do enjoy remixing the knowledge of interactive disciplines within my design: construction, mathematics, mechanics, computers, shipbuilding, science fiction, literature, etc. Based on this, the process from conception to completion of a proposal could be so fascinating.

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 have some impulse to design at this moment, fire it up!