Architecture Competition Melbourne Affordable Housing Challenge Green prize winner – Matthieu
 Bégoghina

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the Green prize winner of our “Melbourne Affordable Housing Challenge” competition – Matthieu
 Bégoghina from Australia!

Matthieu
 Bégoghina from Australia

I am a qualified French architect with more than seven years of international experience. I studied and worked in France and Canada before moving to the Philippines where I lived for 4 years. I am now based in Melbourne, Australia, where I’ve worked in few local offices and tutored at the University of Melbourne.

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?

I have worked on various typologies and scales of project, as well as many competitions. Some of the most notable projects I have worked on were an 9Ha outdoor mall in the Philippines; Journey by the Bay, a competition entry (finalist) that envisions the future of Manila as a decentralized city; Courtyard City, competition entry (finalist) that reimagines the traditional Hutongs and Siheyuans of Beijing as the community spaces of tomorrow; social housing for families that are victims of domestic violence here in Melbourne; and lately, a housing model that can reconfigure “itself.”

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

Architecture is a process that constantly redefines our environment. Anything we design today will eventually become part of people’s lives a few years from now and even for decades after. It is our duty to push the boundaries of design, to understand how people use spaces today, and to develop projects that will still be relevant in an unknown future. We, people, are the foundation of every design and we need to always remember that we are not alone on this planet, we are part of a system bigger than we can fathom, and we need to develop new ways of living on this planet in symbiosis with our built and natural environments.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

Architecture competitions are the right medium to challenge our preconceptions of what is around us and push us to imagine the future we want to live in. Competitions are a great way to develop our thinking and ideas, creating a starting point to make these visions become a reality.

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

Competitions are always a challenging and stressful undertaking only because they force us to push our boundaries and requires our uttermost dedication and commitment as we develop a unique and forward-thinking proposal. Find a theme or a problem that interests you and show the world all the possibilities that are still hidden to most, and you’ll learn so much more, whatever the outcome will be.