Architecture Competition Monte D'Oiro Wine Tasting Room Honorable mention – Elliot Lind

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to one of our Honorable mention winners for our “Monte D'Oiro Wine Tasting Room” competition – Elliot Lind from Australia!

Whilst completing my Master of Architecture at the University of Western Australia, I was also fortunate enough to study and work abroad on several occasions – most notably at the 2014 Venice Biennale and at the office of RCR Arquitectes in 2016. After spending several years working at MORQ Architects and teaching at UWA, I left my hometown of Perth and moved to Melbourne. I am currently employed at Clare Cousins Architects, working across a range of project types and scales.

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?

I’ve been lucky enough to be involved in a wide range of projects, from temporary installations to urban scale proposals. Whilst most of the built work has been of a modest scale, I think there are a few aspects that seem to be a constant throughout. The usual aspects come to mind, such as attention to detail, focus on materiality, relationship to context and landscape, and so on. But for me, the idea that a building has integrity in the way it is put together holds a particular interest. If a building can be honest about its method of construction and express that in its final form, then the chances are someone has really thought about it.

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

I’m not sure if I have figured that out just yet! Architects tend to be idealists, so as an idealist I’d like to think that the role of the architect in society is really no different than anyone else. That is, to do what is within their means to make life better for everyone.

Why do you participate in architecture vision competitions?

Practice is always good. The setting of the competition is quite liberating, it is a great opportunity to test ideas freely and to contribute to some of the wider design conversations happening around the world.

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

If it interests you, just give it a go. Just think of it as another opportunity to learn something.