Architecture Competition Iceland Volcano Lookout Point Honorable mention - BUDAPEST UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY AND ECONOMICS

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to one of our Honorable mention winners for our "Iceland Volcano Lookout Point" competition – Réka Szvath, Barnabás Rácz-Szabó and Nikolett Szemelveisz from Hungary!

Barnabás Rácz-Szabó, Nikolett Szemelveisz and Réka Szvath from Hungary

Our group of three formed from a university design collaboration. We were on the same design subject, in which we planned our designs in a way that our houses resonated with each other, and soon found out we have a good dynamic between us. More than just planning together at the university, we decided to try out the world of architectural competitions.

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 mainly did university projects and are still figuring out which scale stands the closest to us. However, we feel like each and every project got its own essence, starting from small and simple installations, to large and complex architectural tasks.

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

As they are forming the environment around us, shaping the small elements which together create complete cities, architects have great responsibilities. Understanding the real needs of people and providing fitting solutions to them is the greatest challenge, but that is also the beauty of it.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

Competing in architecture competitions grants freedom which would not be possible in other ways. It urges you to really try to find the strongest ideas that are stimulated by the site and the environment. There are many other competitors, and it is necessary to find something unique, which is worthy to base the design upon. For us, the thrill of this procedure is what made us compete in our first nationwide architecture competition.

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

Nothing is easy at first, but we think that, if you feel moved by a site or architectural program and have the required time for it, it's worth a shot to try out yourself. As our first competition, it was hard to fit it to our timeframe, but overall, we are really happy that we took part.