MICROHOME Kingspan competition 2nd Prize winners - Giorgio Maria Martellono, Luca Quadro, Chang Liu and Jacopo Leccia

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the 2nd prize winners of our "MICROHOME competition" – Giorgio Maria Martellono, Luca Quadro, Chang Liu and Jacopo Leccia from Italy!

Giorgio Maria Martellono, Luca Quadro, Chang Liu and Jacopo Leccia

Please tell us about your company (when it was founded, where it is based, how many employees, etc) Alternatively, if you do not have a company, please give us some insights on your own professional/academia background.

We are a group of young architects, graduated from Politecnico di Milano after various experiences studying and working abroad. Each of us currently collaborates with established architectural firms in Italy, working on various scale projects spanning from urban development to interior design. We met in different stages of our academic and professional lives, and we decided to work together because of the strong common interests that we share in architecture. More specifically towards issues such as historical architecture and its reuse, the language of vernacular architecture and its contemporary reinterpretation and lastly how contemporary hybrid architecture can respond to new and ever changing uses and needs.

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?

Chang collaborates with an international firm in Milan, where he is actively involved in designing and developing projects encompassing public buildings, residential and commercial buildings, public spaces, and master plans. Luca follows various projects from residential to cultural buildings ranging between refurbishment and new constructions. He is passionate about understanding both architectural and structural systems. Jacopo collaborates with an emerging architectural firm based in Milan. So far, he worked on many projects facing a wide range of architectural scales and topics, building a multifaceted approach, often oriented towards innovative uses of public spaces. Giorgio works on projects dealing with the built heritage and its conservation. He collaborates with an international firm in Milan and founded his own office “Atelier Ambiente” in 2019.

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

We like to think about architecture as a multifaceted discipline. Its practice demands a strong sense of responsibility towards society, along with an open-minded approach to achieve a transdisciplinary and holistic perspective across various scales, giving importance to every form and decision. While the role of the architect is commonly viewed as a specialized profession today, we prefer to see it as a true humanist, capable of combining scientific knowledge, technical innovation, along with a deep understanding of space and its qualities. Embracing all the inherent paradigms and contradictions in this pursuit is essential for a fruitful and impactful architectural practice.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

We participate in architecture competitions as we believe they provide a platform to exchange our opinion about the discipline. It is also a chance to confront ourselves with individuals from diverse cultural and academic backgrounds, thereby facilitating a cross-pollination of unique perspectives. This collaborative process not only yields positive outcomes but also nurtures our growth as professionals and humanists.

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

If you think you have matured a strong opinion about architecture and form, a competition with high visibility and an inspiring topic can be a great way to express your vision and share it with everybody.