Hospice - Home for the Terminally ill / Edition #4 competition Honorable mention winners - Calin-Daniel Barut, Stefan Cotetiu and Adrian George Fulger

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the Honorable mention winners of our Hospice - Home for the Terminally ill / Edition #4 competition – Calin-Daniel Barut, Stefan Cotetiu and Adrian George Fulger from Romania!

Calin-Daniel Barut, Stefan Cotetiu and Adrian George Fulger

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 met during our first year of university while living in neighboring rooms at the student dormitory. This setting naturally encouraged both personal and professional interaction, allowing us to collaborate on studio projects as well as several other competitions. Although we later moved into separate accommodations, we continued to meet regularly and exchange ideas - one of which was the decision to take part in this competition. We are graduates of the "Ion Mincu" University of Architecture and Urbanism in Bucharest, with over 3 years of experience in architectural design. Our approach is grounded in the pursuit of functional architecture that seamlessly merges aesthetic intention with practical, well-founded design solutions. We believe that strong architectural concepts must go beyond visual expression—they must respond to real constraints, serve their users effectively, and be sustainable and buildable in every sense.

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?

This competition marks our first collaboration in this formula, and it reflects our joint ambition to create architecture driven by shared values, complementary skills, and a collective desire to grow through meaningful challenges.

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

For us, architecture means responsibility. It is more than designing buildings - it is an act of culture, memory, and vision, a language through which a society expresses its values, needs, and aspirations. In Romania, architecture is often a struggle between past and future, between heritage and development, between community needs and economic pressure. In this context, the architect becomes a mediator, a translator between dream and reality, between the individual and the collective, between nature and the city. The role of the architect in Romanian society is to build with meaning, not just with concrete. An architect must think sustainably, understand the context, respect history, and propose spaces that foster well-being - not only in an aesthetic sense, but also socially and environmentally. Architecture can educate. A well-designed city cultivates responsible citizens. A high-quality public space builds community. A healthy home leads to a better life. That is why we believe the architect has a civic mission: to design not only for clients, but for people; not only for the present, but for future generations as well.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

As this was our first attempt at collaborating in a full team format, we wanted to test both our creative abilities and teamwork dynamics. We felt that the nature of this competition would serve as a strong starting point for our exploration, as it offered greater technical flexibility. Additionally, the requirement to choose a site within our home country proved to be a valuable advantage—it allowed us to work within a familiar context that we already understood well. This familiarity enabled us to delve more deeply into the site's implications, not only from a constructive standpoint but especially from a social perspective.

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

A firm "yes" to participating in competitions. First and foremost, there is nothing to lose - only to gain. Above all, it's about gaining experience and revisiting ideas by viewing them in a new light once they're put on paper or screen. The only thing you invest is your time, but it’s time well spent. That said, it’s important to choose competitions that hold meaning for you - ones you can connect with on a deeper level. This connection allows you to truly grow through the process, rather than simply participating out of habit, without genuine involvement