Howard Waterfall Retreat Student Award winners - Matěj Čech and Filip Ježdík

We’d like to take this opportunity to introduce you to the Student Award winners of our Howard Waterfall Retreat Competition – Matěj Čech and Filip Ježdík from the Czech Republic!

Matěj Čech and Filip Ježdík 

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 a year ago during our first year at university. At the time of the competition, we were still students in our second year of the Architecture program at CTU in Prague, and we decided to participate in the competition in our free time. Both of us are fascinated by the field of architecture, and we hope to one day establish a studio with the experience we gain now in the academic field.

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?

As second-year students, most of our experience so far comes from academic projects across a range of scales, from single-family houses to residential buildings. In addition, we have already taken part in two similar competitions in our free time, and both of us are gaining practical experience through internships at architecture studios in Prague during the academic year and summer breaks.

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

We believe that an architect should act in the public interest, creating designs that can endure and remain relevant for generations to come. Architecture shapes the everyday lives of those who inhabit or move through a space, and therefore requires thoughtful, creative, and context-sensitive thinking in every project. The best architects should set aside personal bias in the design process, focusing instead on what truly serves the place, environment, and society as a whole.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

For us, architecture competitions are an opportunity to grow both professionally and personally. They provide a chance to explore diverse topics, take on new challenges, and stay creative beyond academic work. Competitions also allow us to connect with the wider architectural community while giving us the joy of designing and creating something new and meaningful.

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

We believe that if someone has goals and visions they want to pursue, competitions are one of the best places to start. Unlike client-based projects, they remove the stress of constant requirements and allow participants to work in their own time and space. This creates the freedom to fully express one’s potential and ideas.