Architecture Competition Iceland Lake Myvatn Community House Honorable mention – Thomas Fell and Victor Alegria

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to one of our Honorable mention winners for our "Iceland Lake Myvatn Community House" competition – Thomas Fell and Victor Alegria from Netherlands!

Thomas Fell and Victor Alegria from Netherlands

Both were trained as architects in Chile. Thomas holds a Msc in Architecture from TUDelft and is currently working in the Netherlands. He has strong experience in housing design projects, ranging at various scales.

Victor has a Master of Urban Design from the University of Melbourne and he is currently involved in many research projects, mainly related with urban morphology, informal settlements and green infrastructure.

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 work at various scales, developing strategies to mediate different levels that rates from the general landscape to the building detail. We are interested in developing innovative ideas for collective spaces, community engagement, housing, and public space. We seek to understand new ways of living and create innovative assemblages of program, context, and form. There is a search for solving complex problems with simple and clear geometries. This is always linked with a material and spatial exploration.

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

Architecture is a way to connect to the current complexities of the built and unbuilt environment. We use it as a lens to look at issues such as public space, rapid urbanization, and collective housing. We strongly believe that the architect’s role is a continuous search for spatial quality through simplicity, efficiency, and unique user experiences.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

We have been participating in architecture competitions since we were studying at the architecture school. Architecture competitions are a unique opportunity to test and explore unconventional ideas. We like to develop new methodologies while addressing complex issues related with housing, collective spaces, and urban design. They are also an excuse to have fun making team with old and new friends within the architecture journey.

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 are a great way to test your ideas and develop new skills. Although, there is important to be strategic in choosing the right competition. You need to consider the interest and expertise of the team, and the time and resources available. The most important thing is to find a competition that raises a topic or issue that really motivates you.