Museum of Emotions / Edition #7 competition Honorable mention winners - Silvia Oana Cristea, Daniela Maria Roman and Maria Alexandra Cărămidă

We’d like to take this opportunity to introduce the Honorable Mention winners of our Museum of Emotions / Edition #7 competition – Silvia Oana Cristea, Daniela Maria Roman and Maria Alexandra Cărămidă from Romania!

Silvia Oana Cristea, Daniela Maria Roman and Maria Alexandra Cărămidă from Romania

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 students at the “Ion Mincu” University of Architecture and Urbanism in Bucharest, currently in our fourth year. We have known each other since the first year and have gone through most projects together, a shared path that naturally led to the formation of this team.

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?

Throughout our studies, we have explored a wide range of projects, from small-scale interventions—pavilions and temporary art installations—to residential complexes and hotels. We have worked on projects that prioritize creativity, as well as technically detailed ones. Many of them were developed in teams, and the “OG team” consists of Alexandra and Oana—we have completed every team project together from year one to year four. Daniela has been our friend for just as long and joins us whenever there is an opportunity, forming what we consider the perfect trio. We do not believe we could choose a single favorite project; each one received our full attention and the creative input of each member at the time.

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

Architecture is the framework within which life unfolds. It is the backdrop of daily events, a trigger of positive or negative emotions, a silent companion or, in some cases, an adversary. The architect must ensure that there is architectural support for people’s initiatives, even for those they are not yet aware of. To encourage them to play, to go outside, and to meet one another.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

We participate because we value challenges and because they push us beyond our comfort zone. Architecture competitions provide a space free of judgment, where we rely on our own experience to achieve the best possible outcome. This competition was based on a strong idea and an expressive image, without explicitly presenting a structure or technical drawings—simple in appearance, yet complex in essence.

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

At times, finding the energy to participate in a competition—an additional commitment on top of the constant workload architecture students face—can be difficult. However, we recommend taking part, as it offers a different kind of experience, one that, when shared with friends, can be both enjoyable and surprising in terms of the ideas and creative contributions of each member.