Hospice - Home for the Terminally ill #5 competition Honorable mention winners - Qiyang Xu and Haolan Luo

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the Honorable mention winners of our Hospice - Home for the Terminally ill #5 competition –  Qiyang Xu and Haolan Luo from United States!

Haolan Luo and Qiyang Xu

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.

Haolan Luo: I graduated from Columbia University, where my studies shaped my view of architecture as a practical tool for addressing real social and environmental needs, while also investigating the early role of AI in supporting architectural design.

Qiyang Xu: My work focuses on healthcare architecture, ranging from small interior renovations to large hospital campus projects. Through academic training and professional practice, I have developed a strong interest in how architecture can support healing environments and improve quality of care. Working across different project scales has strengthened my understanding of how design decisions—from overall planning strategies to detailed interior elements—can shape patient experience, staff workflow, and the overall performance of healthcare environments.

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?

Haolan Luo: The firm’s work ranges from humanitarian projects to cultural and institutional buildings. My experience includes residential, educational, and religious projects.

Qiyang Xu: I enjoy engaging in projects at different scales. Working within specific requirements and constraints, I like to explore how spatial design can influence the way people experience and interact with a space. For me, limitations are not obstacles but opportunities to rethink how architecture can respond to users’ needs and create meaningful spatial experiences.

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

Architecture used to feel like a “grand image” to us—something through which we hoped to accomplish great things. But over time, we’ve come to see architecture more as a tool, and architects more as servants or helpers who play an essential role in society. Instead of placing ourselves in a grand narrative, we prefer to think of ourselves as a tool that helps people solve real problems.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

We met in graduate school and hit it off right away. We both want to continue refining our skills, and more importantly, to keep our thinking fresh. Participating in competitions is a good way for us to stay aware of what is happening around the world and to understand the issues people care about and the problems that still need to be solved.

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

It may sound cliché, but try not to think too much about winning. Competitions often bring much more than that—opportunities for teamwork, practical thinking, and other experiences that matter in real life.