Architecture Competition Milan Navigli Canal Challenge 1st prize winners – Shuangyun Chen, Stefano Agliati, Raul Martinez Medina

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the 1st prize winners of our "Milan Navigli Canal Challenge" competition – Shuangyun Chen, Stefano Agliati, Raul Martinez Medina from Netherlands!

1st prize winners from Netherlands

We are a team with mixed backgrounds, three friends from Delft University of Technology, all passionate in the cohesive urban transformation of our cities.

Shuangyun Chen (B.Arch, M.LA, M.Sc Urbanism) practices as a landscape architect and urban designer in the Netherlands. Grown up in Beijing, a historical city, she has special interests in the historical city transformation with landscape identities.

Stefano Agliati (B.Arch, M.Sc Urbanism) practices as an urban planner in the Netherlands. Grown up in Italy, he is dedicated to design and plan healthy and sustainable environments, for the well-being of people and planet.

Raul Martinez (B.Arch, M.Sc Urbanism) practiced urban design in the Netherlands and now he runs his own studio RAMM arquitectos in Mexico, a studio dedicated to architecture, urban design, and city planning in order to enhance the quality of life of people.

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?

Due to our backgrounds our practice goes across-scales involving architecture, urban design and planning and landscape architecture. The projects vary from streetscape regenerations, masterplans, and spatial frameworks for neighbourhoods and sub-districts to mixed use buildings and regional strategic planning.

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

Architecture, urbanism and landscape are creating, transforming, and developing spaces for people, regardless of the scale of intervention. It has grown to an extend where health overall is influenced by it, how people move and how they develop their daily lives. Just make a 360 turn and look around, what do you see? It is all architecture.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

We participate in competitions to get out of the comfort zone. Competitions are always good opportunities to learn about other places and to extend our knowledge. They are challenging ourselves with contemporary issues and new ideas all over the world.

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

If the competition speaks to you in a way just don’t overthink about it. Do it, it’s fun.