Architecture Competition Modular Home #2 3rd and Sustainability prize winners – Dana Liepinsh and Lorena Del Moral Navero

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the 3rd and Sustainability award winners of our Modular Home / Edition #2 competition – Dana Liepinsh and Lorena Del Moral Navero from Spain!

3rd and Sustainability award winners from Spain

Lorena and I work as independent spatial designers, but both of us felt something was missing in our projects. So we decided to found casafelisa, not only a design studio but a creative lab, where we investigate, discover and test our hypothesis focusing on people and their real needs. We are learning non-stop, observing every aspect of our wellbeing, collecting and sharing insights, collaborating with architects, designers, psychologists, anthropologists, investigators, engineers, developers, and suppliers. We believe, people should have access to new ways of living, fostering a new more harmonious relationship between place, self, community, and nature.

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?

casafelisa creates flexible & versatile spaces, to explore, connect and enjoy living in the present moment. We focus on small scale residential, wellness and hospitality projects with wellbeing, sustainability, and self-sufficiency at the heart. Currently, we are working on the mixed-use micro-community which combines private and shared spaces, offering flexible acquisition options from ownership to membership. Our aim is not only to design contemporary housing units, but also flexible ways of living.

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

We see architecture as a tool to reconcile the relationship between ourselves and nature. Architecture should enrich our sensory experience, emphasize our sense of belonging in time and space, embrace our memories and dreams, harbor our feelings and give us an opportunity to become a better human being. We believe being an architect means to understand what makes people feel good and to try to transform this world into a happier and more humane place, leaving your ego behind. Our goal is to make sustainable living easier, giving proven design solutions as well as encouraging people to take actions, searching for better balance in life.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

We believe we are still on time to change things by making conscious decisions. So we take architectural competitions as a chance to make a statement, to show and tell our story and share our philosophy. We want to promote our vision of sustainable housing as a manifest for joy, nature, crafts, aesthetics, community and future resilience.

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

Sometimes it is difficult for young architects and designers to earn professional recognition and stand out from the crowd. Architectural competition is an excellent opportunity to spread the word and show your creative skills. It offers you a chance to think differently, take responsibility and be your own strictest judge. It is a priceless experience for any architect looking to create a meaningful and authentic project. So if you want to challenge yourself, and make something outstanding, we definitely recommend it!