Museum of Emotions / Edition #7 competition Honorable mention winner - Chung Yu Chen

We’d like to take this opportunity to introduce the Honorable Mention winner of our Museum of Emotions / Edition #7 competition – Chung Yu Chen from United States!

Chung Yu Chen

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.

Brandon Chen is a second-year B.Arch student at Cornell University College of Architecture, Art and Planning from Ithaca, New York.

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 a third-year B.Arch student, I recently completed schematic design for a private lakeside cabin, developed around an eidetic, material-efficient parti that prioritizes experience. I look forward to applying the same clarity and rigor to larger scales as I broaden my range of practice.

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

Materials and spaces profoundly affect the way people feel, behave, and connect. Whether it’s the warmth of wood, the openness of a courtyard, or the quiet rhythm of filtered light, these elements shape our experiences in ways we often can’t articulate but deeply feel. I personally find the beauty of architecture in the continuous exploration of how a building is informed by its site and how it, in turn, interacts with and shapes its surroundings.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

Every competition is a shared architectural experience–an opportunity to see how a set of given constraints is interpreted differently. It challenges me to refine my design process under real constraints and grow both creatively and professionally. The dialogue between designers becomes a form of collective growth.

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

Seize the opportunity. Treat them as a means of self-improvement and a way to broaden your architectural perspective.