Kinderspace / Edition #2 competition Sustainability Award winners - Margaret Graham Brandow and Abraham Cordell Silvers

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the Sustainability Award winners of our Kinderspace / Edition #2 competition – Margaret Graham Brandow and Abraham Cordell Silvers from United States!

 Abraham Cordell Silvers and Margaret Graham Brandow

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.

Margaret “Pearl” Brandow and Abraham Silvers are architecture students currently studying at Northeastern University in Boston, MA. While not yet a formal practice, we have participated in multiple competitions since early 2024 under the pen name Audeamus, a Latin phrase translating to “let us dare.” Audeamus is a platform through which we challenge ourselves to explore new ideas, engage in design competitions, and seek out thoughtful responses to problems pertinent to the moment. At the core of our philosophy is a desire to help others and to design with humility. The academic work and collaborative projects created under Audeamus reflect a shared commitment to architecture as a tool for meaningful impact.

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?

Throughout our academic careers, we have worked across a wide range of project scales, from single-family homes to large-scale urban master plans. This versatility has been essential to our growth as young designers, enabling us to approach each project with an open-minded perspective and a nuanced understanding of the context in which architecture operates. Whether designing intimate residential spaces or exploring the complexities of urban systems, we value the opportunity to test ideas across scales.

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

To us, architecture is a way of shaping the world with care and intention. It’s not just about buildings, but about creating spaces that support how people live, interact, grieve, celebrate, and grow. Architecture holds the power to respond to both individual needs and collective challenges. In our society, the role of the architect is to listen first and design second. Architects have the responsibility to understand the nuances of place, culture, and community, and to use their skills to create environments that serve all. A priority of ours is to focus on the contexts and issues which we have been affected by, in order to most sensitively respond. Ultimately, we believe architects are stewards, not only of the built environment, but of the values we choose to build into it.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

We participate in architecture competitions because they offer a unique outlet to express our ideas with fewer limitations than academic or professional settings. This quality is both an opportunity and a challenge. By removing the often provided guidelines, we as students must draw our own boundaries, as architects do in the professional setting. Each and every competition becomes an opportunity to push the limits of our graphic and conceptual abilities, ensuring that every project we submit represents the best version of what we can create at that moment. Competitions push us to think critically, experiment boldly, and grow as designers. The process itself and what we learn along the way often proves more valuable than the outcome.

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

Our advice is to think of architecture competitions not as a measure of success, but as a chance to grow. Competitions are not about winning, they're about taking the extra time and effort to challenge yourself, whether through exploring ideas you care about or pushing your skills to the next level. By entering, you give yourself the freedom to experiment and take risks. Every competition becomes a moment to refine your process, improve your techniques, and better understand the kind of architect you are. When you approach competitions as opportunities for exploration rather than perfection, they can be deeply enriching experiences.