Architecture competition "Kemeri National Park Observation Tower" The Accessible Tower award winners - Angelo Ancarola, Antonio Mastria, Salvatore Possidente Del Monte and Luigi Simone

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the winners of the Accessible Tower award of our “Kemeri National Park Observation Tower” competition - Angelo Ancarola, Antonio Mastria, Salvatore Possidente Del Monte and Luigi Simone from Italy!

Angelo Ancarola and Antonio Mastria

Salvatore Possidente Del Monte and Luigi Simone

The group is composed of four architects, who knew each other during their academic studies at the University of Basilicata in Matera. The group, after numerous experiences abroad (Sweden, Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, Brazil), decided to join together for the development of common interests and projects in the field of 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 company/ individuals have been involved?

Although living in different places around the world (Matera, Rome, Nuremberg and Ancona), the group, along with other colleagues, has created and launched the platform “Sostenibile.io”, whose goal is to raise awareness on the topic of sustainable architecture and to spread the benefits that derive from it.

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

We believe that architecture is almost everything. It is where we spend most of our lives. It represents our home, our work, our church, and our free time. We can definitely say that architecture is the great container of our lives. It is an art, so delicate to directly influence our lives, making them better or worse. These are some of the reasons that lead us to think that in today's society the architect plays a strategic and fundamental role. Ultimately, the architect's role is to make our world a better place.

Why do you participate in architecture vision competitions?

Participating in an architectural competition is an excellent exercise in conception and imagination capacities. It is an opportunity for personal growth. It allows you to compare yourself with new topics and, regardless of the results, it gives you the opportunity to compare your work with the work done by other people, offering you excellent food for thought and self-criticism cues. And last, but not least, an important reason that pushes us to participate in architecture competitions is that it allows us to meet and keep in touch despite the distance.

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

An architecture competition is the perfect place for trying to go beyond your limits, to increase your culture and to give free rein to your imagination. In brief, an architecture competition is the perfect gym to become an architect.