Pavilion Of Humanity: First Contact / Edition #2 Honorable mention winner - Paul Christian Wagner

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the Honorable mention winner of our "Pavilion Of Humanity: First Contact / Edition #2" competition – Paul Christian Wagner from Germany!

 
Paul Christian Wagner

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.

I completed my bachelor's degree in Interior Architecture at the University of Applied Sciences in Mainz. Currently, I am pursuing my master's degree in Communication in Space. During my bachelor's degree, I undertook a six-month internship at Henning Larsen, and between my bachelor's and master's degrees, I completed another six-month internship at BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group).

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?

At the moment, I am particularly interested in the conversion of existing buildings, as I believe it is a fantastic way to reduce our carbon footprint. Personally, I am very interested in the connection between architecture and interior design, and I find existing buildings to be a particularly interesting aspect of that connection.

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

For me, architecture is the translation of an idea into space. It is all about relationships. The role of the architect, in my view, is to ask the right questions and, as a facilitator of the process, to translate the answers into a spatial structure. It's about empathy.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

This was my first architectural competition. I thought it was a great opportunity to explore questions you don't normally think about and find answers without any creative limitations.

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

I believe participating in architectural competitions is worthwhile for the knowledge gained throughout the design process. Undertaking a creative challenge inevitably enhances creativity in the long run.