Hospice - Home for the Terminally ill / Edition #4 competition 2nd Prize winners - Xiaojin Huang, Gerald Yi En Low and Melissa Chong

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the 2nd Prize winners of our Hospice - Home for the Terminally ill / Edition #4 competition – Xiaojin Huang, Gerald Yi En Low and Melissa Chong from Australia!

Melissa Chong, Xiaojin Huang and Gerald Yi En Low 

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 three friends who studied architecture together at the University of Melbourne and graduated not long ago. Having shared many classes, conversations, and ideas throughout our studies, we formed a strong connection and mutual respect for each other’s work. After several post-graduation catch-ups, we decided to collaborate and enter a competition together as a way to continue designing and thinking beyond the academic setting.

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?

Individually, we’ve each contributed to a wide range of projects across different scales, from single and multi-residential architecture to public, commercial, and infrastructure-based work. A common thread in our experiences is an interest in socially responsible, sustainable, and community-centred design. Some of us have found particular meaning in more intimate, small-scale projects where architecture can directly impact people's lives and daily routines.

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

To us, architecture is both a social and spatial practice. It’s about being empathetic and creating spaces that shape how people live, gather, and connect with each other and with their environments. Architects have a responsibility not only to solve problems but to ask critical questions about how we build, what we value, and what kind of futures we imagine. In that sense, architecture is never neutral; it’s deeply embedded in culture, community, and care.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

We see architecture competitions as an opportunity to explore ideas beyond the constraints of client-driven projects. They give us the freedom to question, speculate, and engage with topics we care about. As young professionals, competitions also allow us to sharpen our skills, test collaborative approaches, and develop a voice for the kind of architecture we want to pursue. They are also a chance for us to work with one another, and with others who share similar values and interests in design.

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

You’ll only know if it’s beneficial once you give it a try. Competitions aren’t for everyone, but they can be an incredibly rewarding way to experiment, grow, and reflect on your practice. Even if you don’t win, the process itself can be meaningful, especially when you enter with people you trust and enjoy working with.