Architecture competition "Iceland Northern Lights Rooms" 1st prize winners - Kamila Szatanowska and Paulina Rogalska

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the winners of the 1st prize of our “Iceland Northern Lights Rooms” competition - Kamila Szatanowska and Paulina Rogalska from Poland!

Kamila Szatanowska and Paulina Rogalska from Poland

Our collective is working and living in our beloved city of Gdansk, Poland. Currently, we are architectural freelancers, but soon we will merge to form FALA Studio.

We graduated in Architecture and Urban Planning from Gdansk University of Technology.

On a daily basis, we work on public facilities designs, gaining experience in both large-scale architecture and interior design. Recently, we have discovered that we derive great satisfaction from the design of small architectural objects embedded in the context of nature, in harmony with it, and at the same time using interesting ecological materials and technologies.

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’ve gained our experience working in architectural offices. So far, we've worked on projects such as museum, railway stations, interior design, residential, service and office spaces. Currently, as a team, we are extremely happy to work on a prototype project for a forest cabin whose major function is to intensify experiencing nature and activating the dormant human senses.

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

Architecture is a combination of material and non-material components, structures and emotions and sensations that it evokes, and at the same time the everyday environment of every human being which should be both ergonomic and convenient. Architecture design is not only about structuring buildings and solving technical problems, it is also, and perhaps above all, giving shape to human life, creating a background and narration for everyday events, and, at the same time, it takes enormous responsibility to form emotions, impressions and experiences. The architect's role is to be extremely attentive to the world around him, deriving the maximum amount of information and knowledge about human functioning in space and using it for creation.

Why do you participate in architecture vision competitions?

For us, taking part in architectural vision competitions is a big chance for experimentation with space and structure, an opportunity to celebrate the design process and to face unusual topics.

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

Regardless of winning the competition, taking up new challenges is an important element of every architect's professional development. The effect of our competition design work is important and can be highly motivating, but the most important thing is to celebrate the design process that leads us to the goal.