Kinderspace competition Honorable mention winner - Jacopo Camboni

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the Honorable mention winner of our "Kinderspace" competition – Jacopo Camboni from Italy!

Jacopo Camboni

Please tell us about your company (when it was founded, where it is based, how many employees, etc) Alternatively, if you do not have a company, please give us some insights on your own professional/academia background.

Hello everyone! I am Jacopo Camboni, a Junior Licensed Architect from northern Italy. I began studying architecture in 2017 with a Bachelor's Degree in Architectural Design at Politecnico di Milano, followed by a Master's Degree in Building Architecture. During my academic journey, I had the opportunity to design architectural projects on various themes, but my favorite ones involve public and educational spaces. After earning my Master’s Degree, I decided to obtain my architecture license by taking the Italian state certification exam in 2023, while working as an Intern Architect at Flaviano Capriotti Architetti in Milan.

Once I became a licensed architect, I started working as a Junior Architect at Cristofori Santi Architetti, a small architecture practice based in Milan. The studio focuses on hospitality and retail interior architecture projects in collaboration with other architecture and urban planning firms. Although working in an architecture studio can be demanding, I enjoy taking part in architecture competitions as a solo candidate in my free time, as it allows me to explore new, fascinating, and challenging architectural themes and fields.

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?

Both during my academic journey and my early experience as a licensed architect, I have been involved in large-scale projects. By this, I mean that I have often worked on projects that impact significant portions of their surrounding context, always paying close attention to architectural aspects, structural composition, and interior design details. This preference developed during my academic years, thanks to the guidance of professors and mentors I had the opportunity to learn from. In fact, all the projects I have worked on originated from large-scale challenges within the existing urban context, while still maintaining a strong focus on building details. I see this approach to architecture as a valuable exercise in critical thinking: it is essential to always keep in mind that every decision made at an urban scale has direct consequences on the executive design details.

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

Architecture means a lot to me: it is art, movement, and technical wisdom. But above all, I associate architecture with the feeling of safety that each one of us unconsciously seeks every day. That is why, in my opinion, every designed building should be preceded by in-depth research on the people who will live in it—and that is exactly what I try to do, in my own small way. The role of architects in our society is to oversee the design process of interiors, buildings, or urban projects. However, I believe that as architects, we do much more than just this: we constantly question how human life and emotions can be supported and shaped within a structured system of materials. For this reason, despite the fact that architects today are assisted by software to handle many of their responsibilities, I believe that our role has become even more demanding in recent years. A deeper awareness of the significance of a profession inevitably results in a greater burden on those who practice it.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

I participate in architecture competitions because they allow me to explore new, challenging, and fascinating architectural themes and fields. I truly enjoy the emotions I experience while working on a competition—excitement, curiosity, and even self-criticism. I chose to enter this competition because, during university, I always wanted to design a kindergarten but never had the chance, despite working on many other challenging and interesting projects. I usually participate as a solo candidate because, since I pursue this in my spare time, I appreciate having the freedom to reflect on the project without the pressure of the "as soon as possible" deadlines typical of professional environments. Moreover, I believe working alone can sometimes be beneficial for understanding both my objectives and weaknesses in design. Being aware of what I can achieve and what I still need to improve is crucial in defining my personal goals in architecture. I see architecture competitions as a "second chance" for a licensed architect to "dream," just like during university years. At the same time, I strongly believe they serve as a way to better understand oneself as an architect. When working on real projects, we sometimes lose sight of what architecture truly means to us. Competitions have the power to reawaken our inner thoughts and emotions about architectural composition.

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

If someone were struggling to decide whether participating in an architecture competition would be a good idea for them, I would probably tell them to try at least once to get a clearer idea of what it means to them. I believe that taking part in an architecture competition should never be considered a waste of time or money — the most important part of the experience is the process, not the result — since it allows you to better understand yourself as an architect. For example, someone might be drawn to the idea of designing a certain type of building, but once they actually try to plan and design it, they may realize it’s not their cup of tea. I see this as a step forward in anyone’s journey as an architect. One piece of advice I would definitely give is this: the most meaningful part of the experience is the process and how you feel along the way, not just the final outcome. I say this because people have often asked me, 'Why do you spend so much of your own time on projects you’re not even sure you’ll win?' I always remind them that I do this for personal enjoyment and professional growth, not to get something in return. I take pleasure in dreaming and learning.