MICROHOME #10 competition Student Award winner - University of Arkansas

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce the Student Award winner of MICROHOME #10 competition – Joseph Macglashan Iv Hill from United States!

Joseph Macglashan Iv Hill

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.

I’m a fifth-year architecture student at the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design in Fayetteville, Arkansas. I come from a German and English background and first became interested in architecture during time I spent in Munich as a child. My work focuses on designing for people, how they move, interact, and form community, while also exploring how local materials and site-specific strategies can support more grounded, innovative ways of living. 

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?

In my third year, I worked on an affordable housing proposal for Los Angeles that remains especially meaningful to me. The project focused on small-scale residential units inserted into underutilized open spaces within commercial housing lots. It served as a commentary on conventional property lines, intentionally blurring them to form micro-communities in shared backyards. Through this, the proposal explored how architecture could challenge traditional notions of ownership and reshape the way we think about living together. I believe designing for communities reveals a side of architecture that is accessible to everyone. Good design shouldn’t be reserved for those who can afford it, it should create new possibilities for inclusive, collective living.

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

To me, architecture carries a tremendous responsibility. Buildings have always reflected the values and priorities of the societies that create them. As architects, we have both the privilege and the duty to engage with people’s daily lives. Design holds the power to shift perceptions, shape experiences, and suggest new ways of living. The role of the architect is not just to solve problems, but to ask questions: What can design teach us? How can we imagine and propose a better future?

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

I participate in architecture competitions as an opportunity to learn, to identify meaningful problems and offer thoughtful, beautiful solutions. More than that, I’m curious about how my ideas can contribute to the broader architectural dialogue. What perspectives do I bring? What can I create that serves others? These challenges help me uncover my values as a designer and push me to grow.

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

My advice: take the shot. Winning is a bonus, but it shouldn’t be the goal. Every project is a chance to grow, personally and technically. Competing globally pushes you to elevate your design thinking and see how your ideas stand in a broader context.