Architecture Competition MICROHOME 2020 Honorable mention – Tommy Nam and Eujean Cheong

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to one of our Honorable mention winners for our “MICROHOME 2020” competition – Tommy Nam and Eujean Cheong from United States!

Eujean Cheong and Tommy Nam from United States

Tommy Kyung-Tae Nam is a designer who is interested in work consisting of data collection, relationships between information and space, and networks of forces that expand architecture and object design. Nam is currently a designer at Skidmore Owings & Merrill, based in Chicago. He has received his bachelor's degree in Architectural Studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a Master of Architecture at the University of Michigan.


Eujean Cheong is a designer who is interested in implementing materiality in different scales of architecture and creating space that engages people's movement and environment. Cheong is currently a technical designer at Skidmore Owings & Merrill, based in Chicago. She has received her bachelor's degree in Architecture at Syracuse University and a Master of Architecture at Cornell University.

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?

Tommy Nam has worked on a wide range of projects at the firm, from high-end residential projects and new workplace offices to luxury hotels and storefront retail projects. Outside the confines of the office, he focuses on user-sensitive and multi-sensory projects.


Eujean Cheong has worked on a multitude of landmark super-tall buildings at the firm, but in her personal portfolio focuses on smaller scale projects, such as houses and furniture design.

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

Architecture is found in all facets of life. It is a framework of various systems and elements. It is a collection of things, both static and dynamic. As architects, we are interested in creating and communicating the space between these forces. Playing with scale is important as an architect. We are interested in the cross-section of scales and how it impacts user-oriented design.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

We participate in architecture competitions in hopes of pushing the boundaries of design. These competitions are a canvas for new opportunities. In these briefs, there are no right or wrong answers.

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

These briefs allow one to take a step back from a problem or a question. It is also a great opportunity to develop one's interests, design ethos, and methodologies of approach.