Morocco Oasis Retreat competition Honorable mention winner - Paul Bo Peng

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the Honorable mention winner of our "Morocco Oasis Retreat" competition – Paul Bo Peng from Australia!

Paul Bo Peng from Australia

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.

We are the IAPA DESIGN team. IAPA was founded in Sydney, Australia, in 1998 and is one of the most representative international design firms in Australia. In 2003, IAPA established an office in Guangzhou, China. Our excellent industry background and strong reputation for design have attracted many outstanding designers from both domestic and international arenas to join IAPA. This has enabled IAPA to benefit from both international and localized perspectives. After approximately 25 years of development, IAPA has become a comprehensive design firm with full-service capabilities ranging from urban design to architectural design, landscape, and interior design. Our team consists of about 60 people in Guangzhou office and around 30 in Sydney office. For over 20 years, we have undertaken design projects in multiple countries including China, Australia, the UAE, Iraq, and Mongolia, completing over 400 outstanding projects. These projects have received nearly 100 prestigious international and domestic awards and competition honors, such as the WAF Nomination Award, the Iconic Award Best of Best, the A' Design Award Gold Prize, the GDA Design Award, the IAA International Architecture Award, the ARCASIA Architectural Award Honorable Mention, the Gold Nugget Merit Award, the BLT Architectural Design Award, and the MUSE Design Award Platinum Prize, and among others.

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?

IAPA is a comprehensive design firm that integrates urban planning, architectural design, landscape design, and interior design. Since inception, we have completed nearly 400 outstanding projects. These projects include public project types such as hotels, residential buildings, libraries, museums, exhibition centers, grand theaters, visitor centers, science centers, cultural centers, and underground spaces. They also encompass comprehensive planning and design for scenic areas, residential districts, waterfronts, urban parks, heritage parks, urban core areas, hospitals, and creative industrial parks, as well as various types of landscape and interior design.

In recent years, in terms of architectural design, our built projects — such as the Xi’an Taibai Wushanju Hotel, Xi’an Fengdong OCAT Cultural Center, and the Calm Hill – Spend Time For Living have garnered nearly 30 international design awards. In urban planning, we achieved first place in the "Dubai 2100" international competition last year. Additionally, in the international competition for the master plan of the new capital city of Kharkhorin in Mongolia, we ranked fifth, securing a spot among the final winning proposals. At the end of 2023, in the international design competition for The New Basra Waterfront in Iraq, we achieved second place.

In terms of our focus on projects, we are more interested in challenges and the long-term impact they can have on cities.

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

For us, architecture is both the process and the result of creating and designing physical spaces. Architecture is not just about providing simple functions like shelter and protection; it also shapes people’s living environments, influencing their emotions, behaviors, and lifestyles. Architecture reflects humanity's attitudes toward nature, place, and historical context in a given space, seeking harmonious coexistence with the natural environment and acting as a medium that connects history, culture, and future possibilities.

In our society, architects play a crucial role. Engaging in architectural practice means participating in and intervening in social production and daily life. In this process, architects continuously understand the environmental conditions of their surroundings, people's lifestyles and social relationships, and the local history and cultural traditions. They are constantly coordinating and reshaping the relationship between people and the environment, as well as between people and society.

The role of an architect goes beyond creating beautiful and functional buildings; they also bear social responsibility. Architects must consider factors such as urban planning, sustainable development, and social impact to create livable, sustainable, and community-beneficial built environments. They also need to focus on environmental protection, energy efficiency, and the use of renewable resources to promote sustainable architecture and green design. Respecting the depth of local culture, showing care for local humanism, and interpreting traditional culture and local memories through modern design methods have always been core principles upheld by IAPA.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

As an international design firm, IAPA consistently positions its projects on a global scale. The purpose of participating in this architectural design competition is to explore the possibilities of future residential architecture by reflecting on different geographical environments, social relationships, and site conditions. At the same time, by engaging in various types of projects, we aim to convey architects' attitudes toward the environment and their exploration of human living spaces, while also elevating our own architectural values and ideological perspectives.

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

First, one must assess the significance of participating in an architectural competition for personal growth. Second, carefully evaluate the time commitment and workload involved, act within your capabilities, and do your best. Finally, maintain a passion for design.