Architecture Competition MICROHOME/ Edition 3 (2021) BB Green award winner – Politecnico di Milano

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the BB Green award winners of our "MICROHOME/ Edition 3 (2021)" competition – Aleksandra Zhuikova, Sofia Velichanskaia and Elizaveta Gradusova from Italy!

BB Green award winners from Italy

We are three Russian students currently living and studying in Mantova, Italy. Even though we come from different cities (Elizaveta is from Ufa, Aleksandra is from Ekaterinburg, and Sofia – from Moscow), we became great friends. That inspired us to participate in a competition together.

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 are all getting a master’s degree in Architectural Design and History at Politecnico di Milano; this course focuses largely on heritage preservation and enhancement. As we all aspire to work with architectural monuments in the future, we are actively looking for opportunities to practice working on different projects in this field.

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

Spatial environment is a huge part of every person’s identity; therefore, we feel it is very important for an architect to focus on history and preserved memory, especially in the contemporary world.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

For us, this is an opportunity to challenge ourselves. It is a way to express some ideas you are insecure about; it is easier to let go and create without holding back. This is not always possible in your work or study projects.

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

As students, we enjoy designing in a stress-free environment; working on a project for our own benefit is a refreshing experience. It truly allows you to look at your design process from a different perspective.