Architecture Competition MICROHOME / Edition #5 Honorable mention winners – Amaury Hernandez Ochoa, Javier Alejandro Cuadra Aruca, Mariangel Pérez Acosta and Anabel Morales Villar

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to one of our Honorable mention winners for our "MICROHOME / Edition #5" competition – Amaury Hernandez Ochoa, Javier Alejandro Cuadra Aruca, Mariangel Pérez Acosta and  Anabel Morales Villar from Cuba!

Honorable mention winners from Cuba

Amaury and Anabel, architects graduated from the Faculty of Architecture at the Technological University of Havana “José Antonio Echeverría” (CUJAE), in 2019 and 2022 respectively. Javier Alejandro and Mariangel, industrial designers graduated from the Higher Institute of Industrial Design (ISDI) at the University of Havana (UH), in 2015 and 2021 respectively.

We are a group of good friends who have previously met in different jobs. We agree in the conceptualization, planning and execution of architecture and design projects at any of their scales.

Brief information about the project that you/your company have been involve with. For instance, what scale have you focused on/preferred, any significant projects where the company/ individuals have been involved?

In our professional practice we have focused on carrying out local development projects that cover the urban, architectural, and interior and furniture design scales. Such interventions have been marked mostly by heritage rescue strategies, rehabilitation or new interventions materialized through viable execution plans, progressive concepts and environmental sustainability, always with an economic approach and in line with the context in which the proposals take place. We feel strongly motivated by the resolution of community projects focused on social and cultural issues.

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

We see architecture and design as a mean to humanize spaces and objects, finding inspiration in nature, history, art and knowledge. Its good exercise and application contributes to improve the well-being of people.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

It is an opportunity to evaluate the creative and problem-solving abilities of our team, which go through the confrontation of our ideas with the rest of the contestants based on the objectives set. It is a pleasure for us to be able to be involved in events of this type, where important personalities from the field of architecture and design evaluate the solutions.

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

Any opportunity for architects and designers to elaborate project solutions in response to a stated need which will be evaluated by a jury of qualified professionals is highly valuable for their professional practice. It is an opportunity to develop creative and innovative work outside of everyday work. From our perception, the contest is an opportunity for the validation of ideas, the publication of our work and international recognition.