Architecture Competition The Last Genocide Memorial Honorable mention - Sara Maria Camagni

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to one of our Honorable mention winners for our "The Last Genocide Memorial" competition – Sara Maria Camagni from Norway!

Sara Maria Camagni from Norway

Postgraduate student in MSc Sustainable Environmental Design at Architectural Association School of Architecture (London).

Sara is an Italian architect focusing on sustainability in urban development and architectural design. Before joining the Architectural Association in London, where she is attending the postgraduate course in Sustainable Environmental Design, Sara worked for some years in renowned architectural offices such as 3XN/GXN in Copenhagen, Nordic Office of Architecture in Oslo, and BIG in London. Sara has gained experience in early design stages and competitions across various scales.

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

First and foremost, architecture is contamination: anything from art to culture, history, or applied science can inspire, inform, and support the creativity and execution of architecture. Therefore, being an architect means having the sensibility to perceive all these inputs, and the skills to translate them into space and matter. It's quite an exciting combination.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

I cannot avoid feeling the pull to participate when a particularly challenging brief stimulates my interest and triggers the design process. Architecture competitions give me the chance to express my personal point of view regarding a specific topic, to challenge my creativity and technical skills without hard boundaries, strict budgets, or by having to get down to compromise; all situations that often recur during work life. It is a liberating process that helps me to get in touch with myself.

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

Try not to overthink what the outcome of the competition could be or dwell on the deadline date; enjoy the creative process as a way to understand yourself as a designer.