Morocco Oasis Retreat competition 1st Prize winners - Ondřej Chudy and Petr Kousal

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the 1st prize winners of our "Morocco Oasis Retreat" competition – Ondřej Chudy and Petr Kousal from TMD, United Kingdom!

Ondřej Chudy and Petr Kousal

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.

TMD (TMD STUDIO Ltd & TMD STUDIO s.r.o.) was founded in 2016 and is based in London and Brno. Our studio operates at the intersection of architecture and visualisation, allowing us to engage with projects from both a design and storytelling perspective. Unlike traditional visualisation studios, our team comprises professionals with architectural backgrounds, ensuring a deep understanding of spatial composition, materiality, and conceptual intent. Our work is divided between architectural projects and high-end visualisation, helping fellow architects communicate their vision through compelling imagery and animations. Whether designing our own projects or supporting others in competitions and stakeholder presentations, our focus remains on crafting narratives that elevate the impact of design.

Founding Partners Ondrej Chudy /Managing Director & Founding Partner/ Ondrej holds a Master’s degree in Architecture and Civil Engineering from CTU in Prague (2007–2015). Primarily based in London since 2015, he also spent 1.5 years in New York. In 2015, he collaborated on projects in Saudi Arabia before founding TMD in 2016. Ondrej has worked with renowned international studios, contributing to projects across Europe, the Middle East, and the United States. As Managing Director, he oversees business operations, finances, and technical coordination, ensuring precise and professional project delivery.

Petr Kousal /Creative Director & Founding Partner/ Petr holds a Master’s degree in Architecture and Urban Development from VUT in Brno. Following his success in the Kaplicky Internship, he joined Adjaye Associates in London, where he contributed to globally recognised projects, including the Abrahamic Family House in Abu Dhabi. Since 2022, Petr has been shaping TMD’s creative vision, driving innovation, and delivering cutting-edge design solutions. His expertise blends architectural aesthetics with technological precision, ensuring exceptional quality across all projects.

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?

As architects, we primarily focus on residential architecture, exploring the intersection of context, materiality, and spatial experience. We are currently working on a private villa on the island of Mallorca, designed to seamlessly integrate with its natural surroundings. Previously, we developed a holiday residence on the shores of Lake Como, a project that engaged deeply with the landscape and local craftsmanship. Alongside these, we have delivered numerous bespoke residential projects, each driven by a commitment to thoughtful design and strong narrative clarity. Beyond our own architectural work, we support fellow architects in competitions and high-profile projects, where high-quality visualisations and animations play a crucial role in conveying design intent. Our expertise spans projects of all scales, from large-scale urban masterplans to high-rise towers, allowing us to translate architectural ideas into compelling visual narratives. This global experience has enabled us to collaborate on diverse projects worldwide, helping architects bring unbuilt concepts to life with clarity, atmosphere, and impact.

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

Architecture is more than the creation of buildings—it is the physical translation of ideas, culture, and ambition. It defines how we experience space, connects us to history, and shapes the way we interact with our surroundings. At its core, architecture is a built narrative—a language where every line, material, and spatial sequence contributes to a larger story. The role of the architect is not simply to design buildings but to orchestrate experiences—to bridge the gap between vision and reality, past and future. Architects are strategists and sculptors, balancing functionality with aspiration, pragmatism with poetry. In a rapidly changing world—where climate, technology, and urban dynamics continuously reshape the built environment—architects must be visionaries, shaping sustainable, human-centred spaces that not only address today’s needs but anticipate tomorrow’s challenges. At TMD, we see architecture as a catalyst—not just a reflection of society but a force that propels it forward. Whether designing buildings or crafting visual narratives for others, our mission remains the same: to amplify ideas, elevate design, and make architecture more tangible, immersive, and impactful.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

Competitions are where architecture is at its most ambitious. They are laboratories for ideas—spaces where constraints become catalysts for innovation, and where bold, unfiltered visions can be explored. Unlike conventional projects, which evolve within practical and commercial frameworks, competitions offer freedom to push boundaries, challenge norms, and rethink how architecture interacts with people, place, and culture. For us, competitions are not just about winning—they are about provoking dialogue and shaping the architectural discourse. They provide a rare opportunity to engage in speculative design, testing radical concepts that may one day influence mainstream practice. Competitions allow us to engage with global challenges—whether it be rethinking urban living, designing for resilience, or redefining sustainability through material and spatial innovation. At TMD, we view competitions as a platform for collaboration and storytelling. Whether developing our own proposals or supporting fellow architects through compelling visual narratives, we participate because we believe in the power of architecture to inspire, challenge, and transform. The best ideas don’t just respond to a brief—they create entirely new possibilities.

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

Competitions are an investment—not just in a project but in your thinking, creativity, and ability to shape narratives. They provide a platform to test ideas, free from commercial constraints, and experiment with new typologies, helping architects define their unique voice within the profession. If you see architecture as more than just problem-solving—if you view it as a way to challenge, provoke, and reimagine the world—then competitions are worth pursuing. The real value is not just in winning—it is in the process. Every competition pushes you to refine your ideas, develop sharper conceptual clarity, and articulate why architecture matters. It is an opportunity to collaborate, engage in conversations that may not happen in conventional practice, and position yourself within the global architectural discourse. If you are hesitating, ask yourself: Do you want to be part of the conversation shaping the future of architecture? Because that is what competitions offer—a space where ideas gain momentum, where bold visions become built realities, and where architecture, at its best, moves beyond function into something deeply cultural, human, and transformative.