Architecture Competition Tiny Kiwi Meditation Cabin Honorable mention – Gabriel Foulquier-Gazagnes

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to one of our Honorable mention winner for our “Tiny Kiwi Meditation Cabin” competition – Gabriel Foulquier-Gazagnes from France!

Gabriel Foulquier-Gazagnes from France

I graduated from the «Ecole nationale supérieure d’architecture de Paris-Malaquais» (ENSAPM) – which used to be the Fine Arts School of Paris – In 2015. I received my diploma from the Parsons School of Design and Architecture in New York City, and in Malaquais. I received honors and congratulations from the jury and won the first prize with special mention «cogedim» from «Arc-en-rêve», the Bordeaux architecture exhibition.


After my diploma, I worked for 2 years in the Manuelle Gautrand agency, a world-renowned architectural firm based in Paris. This first professional experience was decisive for me, the architecture that Manuelle Gautrand proposes being particularly sensitive and thoughtful. It was a real pleasure to work alongside her on magnificent projects, such as museums, housing, and installations.


Then, I started to work for Brenac & Gonzalez & Associés, a big Parisian architecture agency – where I still work – which gave me a very professional approach to architectural projects by giving me a real independence in the project’s creation.


I have been a project manager in this agency for 4 years now, and even though I love working in this great company – which became almost a second family – I am thinking more and more about creating my own architecture firm.


Brenac & Gonzalez & Associés gave me the opportunity to lead two housing projects with wood structures; this experience was very important for me, and I’m thinking about specializing in wooden architecture.

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?

Manuelle Gautrand Architecture 

I worked on several project of different scales in the Manuelle Gautrand agency, such as:

The Fine Arts Museum competition in Bayonne, 6000 m2;
  
The Galeries Lafayette mall in Annecy, 20 000 m2;
  
A housing block (wood structure) of 25 flats in Paris called «Edison Lite», 2000 m2.

Brenac & Gonzalez & Associés

I worked on:
 
A restaurant in wooden structure in Toulouse, 1950 m2;
 
A housing block (wood structure) in Issy-les-Moulineaux, 10 350 m2.

In my name


A private residence in Aubrac, next to Nasbinal (on a beautiful plateau in the center of France), made of 200 m2 in wooden structure with the ancient Japanese technique of «Shou Sugi Ban», which consists of superficially burning the wooden pillars and beams.

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

In my opinion, architecture is about light, context, and ambiance.
Ambiance is maybe the most important notion in creating architecture, because it can include several notions, which cannot be explained by words, but must be felt; creating an ambiance by playing with materials, volumes, and light forces the architect to be humble and delicate. A forest, a city, a suburb – each contain its own poetry, its own magic. The architect must feel and integrate it.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions? 

Participating in a competition allows me to question myself again and again, and to not forget that architecture cannot have the same answer everywhere to the same questions. It allows me to re-think my positions, to connect with different contexts and learn about them. Architectural competitions are a way to keep learning about our world, and about architecture.

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

I could repeat what I just wrote and add that architecture competitions give you the opportunity to express yourself totally, and never lose faith in your practice, in your ideas, and in your imagination.

Open architecture competitions

  • Closest Deadline first
  • Project competitions first
    Selected winning projects have the potential to be constructed
  • Ideas competitions first
    Experimental competitions with the focus on pushing the boundaries of creativity
ideas COMPETITION
Beyond Isolation: Senior Housing
Senior living. Edition#2

Reimagine senior living spaces

Prize: MONETARY AWARD
Eligibility: OPEN TO ALL

registration deadlines

Remind me
Jun 08
Sep 08
Nov 02
project COMPETITION
The Legendary Highway 14 Tower

Design an iconic tower for De Smet, South Dakota, USA

Prize: MONETARY AWARD + CONSTRUCTION
Eligibility: OPEN TO ALL

registration deadlines

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Jun 09
Sep 12
Nov 03
project COMPETITION
Iceland Beer Spa

Design a beer spa in Iceland's captivating landscape

Prize: MONETARY AWARD + CONSTRUCTION
Eligibility: OPEN TO ALL

registration deadlines

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Jun 14
Sep 14
Nov 08
ideas COMPETITION
The Architect's Chair
Edition #1

Take a seat and make a statement!

Prize: MONETARY AWARD
Eligibility: OPEN TO ALL

registration deadlines

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Jun 06
Sep 06
Nov 01

Reccuring architecture competitions

ideas COMPETITION
MICROHOME
Small living, huge impact! Edition #6

Design a new concept of small-scale home

Prize: MONETARY AWARD + PUBLICATION IN MAGAZINE
Eligibility: OPEN TO ALL

registration deadlines

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Feb 16
Apr 18
Jun 16
ideas COMPETITION
Silent contest
For this competition, NO DESCRIPTION TEXT is allowed. The architecture ideas must be communicated strictly with visuals.
The Last Nuclear Bomb Memorial
Edition #3

Design a memorial that speaks to the cause of ending all nuclear weapons programs

Prize: MONETARY AWARD
Eligibility: OPEN TO ALL

registration deadlines

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Jun 26
Sep 03
Nov 05
ideas COMPETITION
Silent contest
For this competition, NO DESCRIPTION TEXT is allowed. The architecture ideas must be communicated strictly with visuals.
Museum of Emotions
Edition #3

Use architecture to create different emotional states

Prize: MONETARY AWARD
Eligibility: OPEN TO ALL

registration deadlines

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Mar 17
May 19
Jul 21
Run repeatedly
Virtual Home
Edition #2

Shape the future of digital living environments

Prize: MONETARY AWARD
Eligibility: OPEN TO ALL

registration deadlines

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May 02
Jul 04
Sep 06
Register now
Run repeatedly
Pavilion Of Humanity: First Contact
Edition #2

How would you represent the best that humanity has to offer through architecture?

Prize: MONETARY AWARD
Eligibility: OPEN TO ALL

registration deadlines

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Mar 27
May 25
Jul 24
Register now
Run repeatedly
Silent contest
For this competition, NO DESCRIPTION TEXT is allowed. The architecture ideas must be communicated strictly with visuals.
Architectural Visualization Award
Edition #2

Present your best work and submit your favorite architectural visualization

Prize: MONETARY AWARD
Eligibility: OPEN TO ALL

registration deadlines

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Mar 23
May 25
Jul 27
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Run repeatedly
Los Angeles Affordable Housing Challenge
Affordable Housing Series #16

Design affordable housing solutions in Los Angeles

Prize: MONETARY AWARD
Eligibility: OPEN TO ALL

registration deadlines

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Jun 07
Sep 07
Nov 01
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Creativity gym Short term competitions for you to exercise your creativity

T-SHIRT DRAWING COMPETITION
The Architect's T-shirt
Edition #19

Design THE architect's t-shirt!

Prize: 3,000 €
Eligibility: open to all

registration deadlines

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May 31
Jun 30
Jul 31
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ARCHITECTURE PORTFOLIO COMPETITION
THE BUILDNER'S ARCHITECTURE PORTFOLIO COMPETITION
Edition #4

Submit your online portfolio!

Prize: 5,000 €
Eligibility: open to all

registration deadlines

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Jun 30
Jul 31
Aug 31
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Competition results

Hong Kong 
Pixel Homes

Hong Kong Pixel Homes

Affordable Housing Series #2
MICROHOME

MICROHOME

Small living, huge impact! Edition #4

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