MICROHOME #10 competition Kingspan Compliments winner- Louis Gregory Peiser

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce the Kingspan Compliments winner of MICROHOME #10 competition –  Louis Gregory Peiser from United States!

Louis Gregory Peiser

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 am a solo Architect in the city of Seattle in the United States. My career has been focused on a deep connection between architecture and landscape. The land around Seattle has some of the most beautiful mountains, water, and trees in the world and I take inspiration from spaces that are able to focus the human experience around these natural surroundings, and I am proud of buildings that can positively affect the ecosystems in which they are built.

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?

Much of my career so far has been focused on adaptive reuse. The least impact we can have on the planet's resources begins with utilizing the buildings that already exist. One such project was an office tower in Alaska which was at the end of its useful life. Our team renovated the structural systems and the building facade to transform this old building into a contemporary tower, with the project's design concept being inspired by the beautiful natural surroundings of glacial ice.

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

Architecture to me is an exploration of spaces that can go beyond just function, to transform the emotional experience of the people who use them. It is very easy to design and build a structure that functions as it needs to. The role of architects is to harness our understanding of human experience and shape the built world to enhance every moment of someone's life. For me, the wonders of the natural world are the most inspiration force that can exist. I attempt to create architecture that focuses our experience on the beauty of nature.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

I participate in architecture competitions as a setting to follow a design idea to its most extreme end.

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

Creating a great idea is one of the most amazing feelings in our work. For young architects, we do not have many moments in our careers where these ideas can incubate and bloom. Architecture competitions provide a setting for great ideas to be explored and to bring energy to your creative mind.