MICROHOME Kingspan competition 3rd Prize winner - Valentí Soler

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the 3rd prize winner of our "MICROHOME competition" – Valentí Soler from Spain!

Valentí Soler

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.

My background is in Interior Architecture and Design, which I like to approach both from academic and applied perspectives. The focus of my work is a combination of concept development and material innovation, which to me find common ground when applied to the human scale and experience.

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?

I like to be involved in projects at multiple scales, but most often with common values: enhancing the act of inhabiting and community development.

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

In my opinion, the role of architects in today's context is to combine creative innovation with traditional knowledge and local resources, in order to develop sustainable and long-lasting solutions while building onto the cultural identity of different locations.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

I think the goal of architecture competitions is to test innovative ideas and showcase the creative potential of young designers and architects. I like to take part in these competitions to challenge myself and my creative thinking, and to improve my project management skills for the future.

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

Participating in competitions can be most fruitful when you believe a specific brief aligns with your principles and the identity you wish to develop as a creative. Luckily, as of today there is a very wide range of competition options, so I would encourage anyone with a spirit of self-improvement to find those which fit them best, and use them to their creative advantage, both during the competition stages and afterwards.