Architecture Competition Humble Architecture: Everest Challenge Honorable mention - Mingshan Fang

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to one of our Honorable mention winners for our "Humble Architecture: Everest Challenge" competition –  Mingshan Fang from the United States!

Mingshan Fang from the United States

I am a registered architect in Illinois, United States, and a project design team member in Corgan. Born and raised in Fuzhou, China, I earned my Master of Architecture from the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, US, and Bachelor of Science, Architecture from TKK College of Xiamen University in Xiamen, China.

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?

I work on large-scale civic projects, applying my professional specialty in interior design, space planning, and building information modelling that I have amassed during my experience in previous projects. I have been involved in several civic projects, including the Chicago Midway Airport Security Check Bridge Expansion, Chicago Culture Center Master planning, and DFW Airport Holdroom Competition. I’m currently working on O’Hare Global Terminal as a member of the joint venture office Studio ORD.

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

I love designing. It opens my horizons and makes me forget about time. I enjoy the struggle in the problem solving and feeling the satisfaction when I work them out with style. I think in today’s world, the role of an architect is not only designing the physical space for the function of human living, but also forming the architecture to reflect the culture of society.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

It’s an opportunity for me to set aside my day-to-day routine and try out new thoughts that I didn’t get a chance to explore. And I believe that, as architects, besides providing our professional service to the client, we have a social responsibility as designers to create environments that are not just aesthetic but beyond that.

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

I think the key is finding the topic you are interested in or want to learn about. Treating it as a project for fun goes a long way for me. If you are not keen on that topic, there is no way you will enjoy the journey.