Architecture competition Pape Bird Observation Tower Honorable mention - Bogi Kovács, Anna Gassner and Zsolt Krausz

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the winners of the Honorable mention of our “Pape Bird Observation Tower” competition - Bogi Kovács, Anna Gassner and Zsolt Krausz from Hungary!

Bogi Kovács, Anna Gassner and Zsolt Krausz from Hungary

It was about two years ago that we met at an architecture office in Budapest as co-workers. It was just by chance that we would apply for a job there since none of us studied or lived there at that time. Anna finished her studies at RWTH University in Aachen and at Bauhaus University in Weimar, Bogi at the University of Pécs and lastly myself at the University of Timișoara. However, during this period we found a common interest in architecture as well as a lasting sympathy towards each other.

Since then things changed, Anna moved back to work in München, Bogi took an offer at another studio in Budapest, but we kept in touch and adventured on trying ourselves out on a competition. Discussing ideas on a glitching video-chat is not best method of communicating one may wish for, but overcoming the small technical difficulties is worth it for an interaction of a colourful cultural, social and academic background.

So far we undertook projects and competitions that gave us the opportunity to find and strengthen our views on architecture. In our projects we look for the sense of materiality, light and the feel of a space, therefore preferring projects on a smaller scale closer to the human body. The historic footprint is a factor also valued and studied well, if it is the case.

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

Building regulations, technical standards are mere guidelines to numerically define the quality of an edifice or what fits a certain construction site. Architecture is a response to a context in a much wider sense of the word. We want to create places that fit with the identity of a location, with the character of the people. Designing buildings is like documenting these colourful patterns, and materialising them through the craft of construction. 

Why do you participate in architecture vision competitions?

These competitions offer a safe playground for our ideas, visions to fly freely. A place where we can try our creativity and brains to put together a powerful concept. A liberation of the constraints and time consuming day-to-day tasks. They offer possibility to challenge yourself, compete with others, familiarise yourself with different sites and communities, analyse other points of view on the same subject, while working together with your colleagues.

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

We know that uneasy feeling, but whenever you are putting yourself out there it also means you will live something new that you can learn from. Do it for the experience, results will come soon enough.