Pape Info Point competition 1st prize winners - Zishen Liu and Nathaniel Loretz

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the 1st prize winners of our "Pape Info Point" competition –  Zishen Liu and Nathaniel Loretz from Austria!

Zishen Liu and Nathaniel Loretz

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.

Zishen Liu is a Vienna-based architectural designer who graduated at the University of Applied Arts Vienna under renowned architects such as Kazuyo Sejima, Cristina Díaz Moreno and Efrén García Grinda. With international work experience in China and Austria, his work bridges diverse architectural contexts.

Nathaniel Loretz is a Vienna-based architectural designer who graduated at the University of Applied Arts Vienna under renowned architects Cristina Díaz Moreno and Efrén García Grinda. He worked in various internationally known practices, notably at Studio Tomás Saraceno, the Next Enterprise Architects, and ĒTER.

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?

We are interested in the contemporary concept of public space in relation to cultural, social, and political aspects

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

As architects, we encounter complex social issues that extend beyond what architecture alone can address. Nevertheless, these challenges provide us with an opportunity to envision a future form of architecture that raises greater public awareness of those issues.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

We believe that architecture competitions are a way to apply our knowledge, explore new ideas, and have fun in the process.

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

Choose a topic you enjoy and immerse yourself in it.