Architecture competition "Irish Cult Music Venue" 2nd prize winners - KGA Architecture

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the winners of the 2nd prize of our “Irish Cult Music Venue” competition - KGA Architecture from United States!

Kga Architecture from United States

KGA is a U.S.-based architecture and interiors firm with locations in Las Vegas and Austin. We were founded in 1975 but are focused on the future. We are a passionate community of about 45 professionals who believe in design excellence and honest collaboration. We are excited to continue expanding our horizons including work internationally, so the location and sense of history were two of the many exciting aspects that drew us to the Irish Cult Music Venue competition.

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 company/ individuals have been involved?

We work in a broad spectrum of project types, including hospitality, healthcare, educational, civic and commercial. Our design approach is centered around a specific appreciation for the needs of our clients. Just as no two people or places are alike, we believe that no two projects are alike. The diversity of our portfolio reflects our respect for, and understanding of, our clients’ needs, while demonstrating the imagination and fresh perspective we bring to each design solution.

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

We endeavor to make the world better and enhance people’s lives through the environments we create. We believe that the role of the architect is to find every opportunity to create spaces that perpetuate health, happiness, well-being and imagination. We also see ourselves as problem-solvers – we help our clients achieve their objectives and improve their own lives as well as those of the end users of a project. 

Why do you participate in architecture vision competitions?

In our project work, we always strive to surprise with new, unexpected ideas while meeting the functional needs of the project. Participating in architecture design competitions affords the opportunity to keep our creative minds fresh by temporarily removing some of the constraints of day-to-day work and reminding us to keep our imaginations fresh. We also love the team-building aspect of architecture design competitions – bringing together a small group within the office, different for each competition, builds connections between team members and fosters a team spirit and enthusiasm that spills over into other projects.

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

Committing time and resources to a project that we may never be commissioned to design or see come to fruition can be a challenging business decision – but in measured quantities it is a highly worthwhile investment in our own creative life and team culture. Plus, because we gravitate towards projects that are potentially real rather than purely theoretical, the possibility of being able to help bring the design solution to life does exist, which is something we are very excited about.