Architecture Competition Kurgi Observation Tower Honorable mention – Frank Gibase and Grey Peterson

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to one of our Honorable mention winners for our “Kurgi Observation Tower” competition – Frank Gibase and Grey Peterson from the United States!

Frank Gibase and Grey Peterson from the United States

Both of us met and studied together at the Georgia Institute of Technology School of Architecture. We went our separate ways for both graduate school (Frank to University of Michigan, Grey to Rice University) and professional work, but have remained close friends ever since. Currently, Frank works in Chicago and Grey in Atlanta, both for larger design firms which work on projects at a multitude of scales and programs. Our personal architectural interests vary, but we both share an affinity for the generic – how overlooked or unconsciously accepted norms may be teased out of design thinking and brought to the forefront.

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?

As younger designers, we've fortunately had the opportunity to work on many different scales of projects – from a small retail bank to a tower. We work to involve ourselves with differing programs. It's fun, and gives us the opportunity to bring new ideas into separate program types. 

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

Architecture, for us, has always fundamentally been about problem understanding and solving. Our role as architects is to listen, observe, and study the problems and desires of the individuals, communities, and environments we design with, for, and within. For us, it's important that the architect sets aside predetermined notions of what a space should be and works with people to create truly bottom-up, program-driven, eco-social solutions.

Why do you participate in architecture vision competitions?

Being that both of us are recent graduates who are starting our professional careers, we both struggle at times to gain the level of authority desired in design projects at work. We see architecture vision competitions as frameworks for us to structure and explore ideas, while simultaneously creating a platform for us to advance our skill sets and hone our design sensibilities.

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

Every designer has a unique set of interests, ideas, and experiences. As mentioned earlier, architecture vision competitions can create the framework to explore ideas. While the breadth of competitions available in the digital age can be overwhelming, there is also abundant opportunity. Depending on the individual’s view of the framework, architecture vision competitions can be used to explore new topics through design or expand and question their predetermined understanding. We see architecture vision competitions as an opportunity to learn and explore, and that shouldn’t be a struggle. Use the privilege of opportunity and access to find a project with values and ideas that align or challenge yours and use that as a kickstart into design.