Architecture Competition Modular Home Design Challenge 2021 3rd prize winners – Carnegie Mellon University

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the 3rd prize winners of our “Modular Home Design Challenge 2021” competition – Jerry Zhang and Tory Tan from Canada!

In terms of our academia background, Jerry and I are both third-year B-Arch students, studying at Carnegie Mellon University. Our current classes include a variety of different architectural subjects and techniques, such as urban planning and development, digital fabrication, environmental design, and formal explorations with texture-mapping software. Aside from our program, Jerry and I both have a subsidiary interest in drawing and creating concept art in our free time. I guess our love for visual and graphic design explains the extra effort that was put into representation and the visual aspects of our project.

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?

This modular housing competition was actually the first project that we worked on together as a team, but I am sure there will be more collaborations in the future between us. Modular housing has been an interesting subject for both of us for quite some time, as we are both fascinated by the amount of creativity and flexibility small/residential scale architecture can offer.

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

In our current state of technological development, the role and the discipline of architecture has become increasingly diverse and complex. From the role of digital fabrication and the introduction of complex design algorithms to creating renewable construction materials and environmentally friendly buildings, architecture has become the nexus of the many overlapping sub-disciplines we see today. Ultimately, we think that there is an increasing need for the reintroduction of the role of the “master architect” whose skilfulness and mastery in the many diverse areas of architecture can lead to holistic and well-rounded projects that take into consideration the social, environmental, political, and the aesthetic impacts buildings can have on our built environment.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

The biggest reason for our participation is probably the fruitful learning experiences competitions are able to offer us. During the duration of this competition, we were not only able to improve our conceptual development and our representational/graphic sensibilities, but also our collective communicational skills and teamwork capabilities. Towards the end of the competition, there was a noticeable improvement in the coordination of our workloads and our ability to rely on each other’s strength.

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

Pay the registration fee before you start so that you feel an obligation to complete your competition :)