Iceland Ski Snow Cabin competition 2nd prize winners - Artemis Samartzi, Marco Conte, Gianmarco Bambini, Brit Cuypers

 We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the 2nd prize winners of our "Iceland Ski Snow Cabin" competition – Artemis Samartzi, Marco Conte, Gianmarco Bambini, Brit Cuypers from Finland!

Artemis Samartzi, Marco Conte, Gianmarco Bambini, Brit Cuypers from Finland

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.

Our team consists of three recent Master of Architecture graduates and one Bachelor of Architecture student. We met coincidentally through our first internship at the same company abroad. While the three graduates are now working in studios in their respective countries, the student is just finishing up her degree.

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?

We have all worked on multiple scales through university projects. From single housing to adaptive reuse, we have addressed a broad spectrum of topics. The one notable project we were able to work on together during our internship was the “Museum of History and FutureTurku” competition. Although we didn’t qualify for a prize, it made us realize we wanted to work together privately.

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

Architects have the incredible privilege of shaping not only their own surroundings but also those of the community. This leaves us with the task of creating interventions that respond to individuals, history, nature, and much more. Although most people only perceive architecture subconsciously, it is our role to create spaces that are useful, environmentally forward, and aesthetically pleasing.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

Architecture competitions are an incredible way to broaden one’s mind and elaborate on knowledge. This first competition for all of us also meant working together with people we held in high regard. It was a way of actively choosing who to work with and learning to be productive despite having multiple things going on in our lives and being far away from each other.

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

Architecture competitions give the distinct advantage of choice. That means, choosing your collaborators freely and also choosing a topic that you are actually interested in. We believe that the best way to acquire knowledge and experience is by concerning yourself with projects that give you excitement. Architecture competitions do exactly that- while taking away the burden of pressure and only focusing on personal gain, win or lose.