Architecture Competition MICROHOME 2020 2nd prize winners – Andrew Kurniawan, Georgia Huang and Leonardo Vincent

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the 2nd prize winners of our “MICROHOME 2020” competition – Andrew Kurniawan, Georgia Huang and Leonardo Vincent from Australia!

2nd prize winners from Australia

We are architecture students from Melbourne, Australia, currently beginning our second year of master's studies at the University of Melbourne. This is the first project that we have worked on as a team. One of us comes from China and the other two come from Indonesia, which gives us a distinct and diverse background in addition to the Australian architecture education that we receive here.

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?

Other than the projects that revolved around the brief given to us in our studies as architecture students, our focus has been creating architecture that involves itself in a dialogue with the socio-political problems of a respective underdeveloped context, as that is where we mostly are from. We believe in architecture's ability to respond and acknowledge existing issues and become an advocate for a better (well-thought) solution(s).

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

The role of the architect is a rather vast and interesting one, as it is an epitomical median between arts and the reality. Our focuses within the field may differ, however, as mentioned, we believe agency within architecture is critical. We know there is an overwhelming issue of various environmental and societal concerns that surround us, and though we may not be able to solve everything, we can focus on finding solutions through creativity and rigorous investigation.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

We participate in competitions to seek more opportunities to learn about the world of architecture. We see it as a chance to refine and practice the skills we have and through this find our purpose and identity in the way we think and design.

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

Competitions can be a fun and exciting way to learn more about how you work and think as a designer in a relatively "professional" setting, as it is no longer about grades or tutors. Plus, it can also be an opportunity to collaborate with your peers and make new friends, enhancing teamwork skills that will definitely be crucial when we enter the industry after graduating.