Architecture competition "Irish Cult Music Venue" 3rd prize winners - Lisa Mullikin and Kevin Stevens

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the winners of the 3rd prize of our “Irish Cult Music Venue” competition - Lisa Mullikin and Kevin Stevens from United States!

Lisa Mullikin and Kevin Stevens from United States

Mullikin + Stevens is a partnership that began in 1992 when we entered our first competition. We are currently based in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA where we run a small practice and both teach at the University of Tennessee.

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?

Our primary involvement has been with students and their projects, where we focus on urban design, interior and exterior spatial relationships, historic preservation and sustainability. Our work in our firm is primarily residential but encompasses many of the same priorities. Teaching and practice overlap and are constantly informing each other.

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

The architectural response is primarily about the relationship we have with our environment. The architect can bring an awareness that we are all a part of this environment, not separate. This is a primitive awareness and is sometimes buried by how we have become conditioned to view ourselves as separate entities. The education, experience and perception of the architect will help this be a successful relationship.

Why do you participate in architecture vision competitions?

Most of the time we are working with so many demands; it can be a wonderfully collaborative experience, but it can pull us away from our original intentions as architects. Competitions are an opportunity to step away from external demands and rediscover what is important to us. Ideally this resonates with others, and we see how others responded to the exact same parameters.

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

Do them for the pleasure of the process and what you will learn about yourself and your partners. Try not to think about what is expected and what a jury might think, otherwise you've lost the reason to do it.