Pape Info Point competition Honorable mention winners - Yulha Noh, Park Sung Yon and Jihoon Choi

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the Honorable mention winner of our "Pape Info Point" competition – Yulha Noh, Park Sung Yon and Jihoon Choi from South Korea!

Yulha Noh, Park Sung Yon and Jihoon Choi

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.

While we are not yet an established company, we are a dedicated team of architecture students who have been collaborating since our first year of university. Our team showcases the power of diverse architectural interests, ranging from environmental systems to public architecture and urban regeneration. Through our academic journey, we have built a strong working relationship and developed complementary expertise in various aspects of architectural design. Our shared vision for the future includes establishing MMIJAJ STUDIO, where we aim to tackle projects across different scales and disciplines.

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 academic career, we have worked on numerous collaborative projects that have allowed us to combine our diverse interests and expertise. Our team's strength lies in our ability to integrate different perspectives—whether it's environmental systems, public architecture, or urban regeneration—into cohesive architectural solutions. Each team project has served as an opportunity for us to learn from one another and grow professionally. While our projects have primarily been academic in nature, they have spanned various scales and complexities, demonstrating our capability to handle diverse architectural challenges. Our approach is characterized by fearlessness in taking on new challenges and a constant eagerness to learn, which we believe removes any limitations to what we can achieve.

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

For us, architecture is more than just creating physical spaces—it is a way of shaping how people experience and interact with their environment. As students who met in university and shared a passion for architecture, we see design as a continuous dialogue between structure and life, form and experience. Architecture, at its core, is about crafting relationships—between people, space, and nature. It challenges static definitions and instead introduces spaces that are adaptive, participatory, and responsive. We believe the role of the architect is not just to build but to mediate, question, and reimagine the way we inhabit the world. In today’s rapidly changing urban and environmental landscape, architects must embrace complexity—addressing sustainability, inclusivity, and new ways of living. As young designers, we are particularly interested in architecture’s ability to blur boundaries and create liminal spaces where human experience and nature intertwine. It is not just about providing shelter but about enabling new possibilities of movement, play, and interaction. We see architecture as a framework for evolving narratives—spaces that grow with their users rather than constrain them.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

As a team of university friends who share a common curiosity for architecture, competitions give us the opportunity to collaborate beyond the constraints of academic assignments and real-world commissions. They allow us to engage in experimental, radical, and sometimes even playful explorations of architectural ideas. Competitions push us to challenge conventions, develop our own voices, and refine our problem-solving and communication skills. We focus on the process—learning to balance concept and feasibility, theory and materiality. Through these challenges, we grow as designers, questioning what architecture can be and how it shapes human experiences. Most importantly, competitions enable us to exchange ideas with a global community, providing a space to test new methodologies, engage with diverse perspectives, and contribute to larger discussions about the future of architecture. For us, they are an intellectual playground—an opportunity to take risks, experiment, and evolve our architectural thinking.

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

If you are hesitant about joining an architecture competition, we encourage you to see it as a space for exploration rather than evaluation. The process itself—regardless of winning—is immensely valuable. It challenges you to think critically, articulate ideas clearly, and work collaboratively. Competitions are not just about showcasing skill but about discovering your architectural perspective. They allow you to engage in self-directed projects, test unconventional ideas, and gain confidence in your design thinking. Even projects that do not win can later inspire future works or lead to new insights. Ultimately, competitions are what you make of them. Whether you want to refine your portfolio, experiment with radical concepts, or simply enjoy the creative process, they offer an opportunity to grow and connect with a broader architectural community. If you are passionate about design and eager to challenge yourself, we would say—go for it.