House of the Future 2024/25 competition 1st Prize winners - Hamzeh Ahmad Hasan Al-Thweib and Luzia Magdalena Stallmann

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the 1st Prize winners of our House of the Future 2024/25 competition – Hamzeh Ahmad Hasan Al-Thweib and Luzia Magdalena Stallmann from Germany!

Hamzeh Ahmad Hasan Al-Thweib and Luzia Magdalena Stallmann from Germany

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 an international team with a broad interest in challenges within the field of architecture. Hamzeh Al-Thweib is an architect from Amman, Jordan. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Architecture from the University of Jordan and a Master's degree in Media Architecture from Bauhaus University in Germany. He has worked as an architect in Amman for Dar Al Omran, Dr. Rasem Badran, and DAR Dubai. Currently, he is based in Germany, working in the fields of visualization and software development. Alongside his professional work, he regularly participates in design and architecture competitions.

Luzia Stallmann is a candidate architect from Berlin, Germany. She studied architecture at Bauhaus University and is currently completing her Master’s degree in Urban Futures, focusing on sustainable building and innovative energy supply concepts. She has gained professional experience working with Jaeger Koechlin Architekten in Switzerland, as well as with Büro Voigt and eZeit in Germany. Her current research focuses on life cycle assessment and energy supply strategies for sustainable renovation.

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 is our first cooperation as a team. Our work combines experience from both design competitions and practical implementation. Luzia has worked on small-and big-scale projects, focusing on renovation, design and sustainable energy concepts. Hamzeh has been involved in high-rise, residential buildings and large-scale developments in Amman and is currently working in implementing the automation in the architectural design process and architectural visualization. Together, we bring a broad range of skills across different project scales, uniting technical expertise with conceptual thinking. We believe that this interdisciplinary and international approach is essential for addressing the challenges of the future.

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

From Hamzehs perspective, born and raised in Jordan, architecture is about integrating the cultural and historical values of society into design, while also considering fast-paced construction methods and the demands of modern life. Architecture is not a privilege—it's a fundamental need that shapes our daily lives. It provides comfort and creates durable, livable spaces. From Luzias perspective, architecture is a reflection of society. It shapes public space and often remains for decades. The goal of design and architecture should be to create high-quality, durable spaces that support the lives of their users. Architecture is strongly influenced by culture. In Germany, technical aspects are especially important—due to the climate, people value natural light and high-quality construction that protects against winter cold and increasing summer heat. In this competition, it was particularly interesting to explore these cultural and climatic differences and to work together in a new context.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

We participate in architecture competitions to learn, explore new ideas, and challenge ourselves beyond the boundaries of everyday practice. These competitions provide us with the freedom to experiment and grow as designers. In this particular case, we saw it as a valuable opportunity to collaborate for the first time and to combine our perspectives and skills in a shared creative process.

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

It depends on your goals. If you're curious to explore new ideas, push your creative boundaries, and connect with others in the field, competitions can be a great opportunity. They help you stay sharp and inspired. However, it’s important to be realistic—competitions involve time and resources, and there’s no guarantee of winning.