Kinderspace #3 competition Honorable mention winners - Yuhong Li and Jianing Li

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the Honorable mention winners of our Kinderspace #3 competition – Yuhong Li and Jianing Li from China!

Yuhong Li and Jianing Li

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.

Yuhong Li is an architect currently based in New York City and a graduate of Columbia GSAPP. Jianing Li is a doctor candidate in curriculum and teaching at Fordham University in New York City.

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?

Yuhong Li has experience in healthcare and higher education projects throughout the New York City area, from early design phases through construction. Jianing Li’s research and teaching experience focuses on early childhood classrooms, where she aims to create equitable, inclusive, and culturally diverse educational environments.

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

Architecture sets the tone for how people live and move through their day. It is more than walls and roofs; it creates the setting where life happens. In many ways, architecture is like a stage—it gives people a place to act, work, heal, learn, and reach their goals within a space designed to support them.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

We participate in architecture competitions because they provide a unique platform for collaboration. Competitions allow us—an architect and an educational researcher —to engage with each other’s expertise, exploring ideas that bridge theory and practice, and developing concept-driven designs, such as those for early childhood educational environments, that might not emerge in everyday practice.

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

If there is a concept or building type that truly interests you, a competition gives you the space to fully express your own ideas. It allows you to complete your design statement in your own voice. Participating in competitions is like organizing your own understanding of the world through architecture. Without the usual interruptions and constraints, you can focus clearly on your intention. It becomes a strong mental design exercise that sharpens your thinking and helps you grow into a better designer.