Architecture Competition MICROHOME/ Edition 3 (2021) 1st and ARCHHIVE Student prize winners – Poznań University of Technology

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the 1st and ARCHHIVE Student prize winners of our "MICROHOME/ Edition 3 (2021)" competition – Michalina Linkowska, Wiktoria Ciszak and Karolina Kozłowska from Poland!

1st and ARCHHIVE Student prize winners from Poland  

We are architecture students at the Poznań University of Technology. This is the last semester of studies we have ahead of us.

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? 

We work together as a team very often. While studying, we can choose the projects we want to design. We are really interested in different cultures and use any opportunity to take up a project and learn about foreign cultures. Drawing inspiration from it, we are up to realize it at any scale. We always try to introduce into the building as many elements that make it self- sufficient and innovative as possible. We took up the Microhome competition to analyse basic human needs and explore the problem of inhabiting and living together.

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

Space is the crucial value that affects everyone's life and well-being. Architecture for us is the art of taking care of it in a responsible and meaningful way. Often it is also about reviving it by giving it new functions. An architect should put people first, be innovative, curious, and aware of details. 

Why do you participate in architecture competitions? 

Architecture competitions give us a lot of adrenaline. We can face our weaknesses and love sharing our time together, taking up ambitious activities. After the deadline we always have a feeling that we could explore the issue more, which leaves us even more motivated and curious. 

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

Do not think too much and try to put yourself in at least one competition. We had to try a few times before getting recognition. In the end, we came to the conclusion that no matter if we won something or not, we had a great, fun time together, designing and learning from each other a lot.