Architecture Competition Office 2021 Design Challenge Student prize winner – Southern California Institute of Architecture

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the Student prize winner of our "Office 2021 Design Challenge" competition – Ayse Eda Tarakci from United States!

Ayse Eda Tarakci from United States

I am currently studying at the MArch II program of Southern California Institute of Architecture. I have previously studied my undergrad degree in architecture at Bilkent University, Turkey.

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 am really interested in worldbuilding and spatial narratives. In my academic projects, I have been exploring how different media can be integrated to architecture and how new futures and cultures can be coupled and speculated through architectural narratives.

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

Architecture is an exploration of the potential qualities and consequences of spatial intervention. The architect takes role in the design of our environments but once the design is implemented, the building starts generating its own narrative with the society around it. I believe that the role of the architect is to imagine future worlds and speculate about the needs and wants of the future settings, societies and natures.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

Architecture competitions offer a productive setting for exploring design ideas by eliminating some of the limitations of the real world.

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

I find architecture competitions productive because they offer the chance to get my ideas out there and test their potential.