Architecture Competition Painters' Lake House Honorable mention winners - Mohamed Isak

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to one of our Honorable mention winners for our "Painters' Lake House" competition – Mohamed Isak from Denmark!

My academia background is rooted in the interaction between architecture, engineering and society. I have a master’s degree in architectural engineering and Sustainable Architecture from the University of Aalborg in Denmark. The Institute is known for exploring new options for construction and architecture primarily through technological development as the driving force.

I think the main focus for me has been trying to solve the challenges our society is facing today which really demands development of the interaction between architecture, technology and society. As a newly graduate I have a luggage filled with ideas and a particular energy and a hunger for the challenges ahead.

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 work as an architect for a small municipality, where my work ranges from designing ways of tackling climate change to local architectural identity and traditional urban planning. The most interesting element is working on a variety of scales: from strategic planning to the devising of various architectural ideas.

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

Architecture for me is about beauty. It is about meaningful cohesion experienced through our senses and bodies. I was born in Somalia, near the Kenyan border in a small town called Bula-hawa, which was a unique city as it served as a business gateway to Kenya and Ethiopia. The journey from a war-torn country to Europe is something I reach into as an architect. One almost becomes Hyper conscious of people’s cultural differences and in that architecture became the perfect element for me to find purpose in an otherwise foreign world.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

I think architectural competitions hold a great value, as it provides a platform for young architects and gives us a chance to compete. As young architect, there aren't really any studios that hire a new graduate, and it can be hard when you are passionate about the profession and want to create something. The competitions provide a platform in which one's talents are recognized.

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

I would say it is necessary to try it if you want to compete in the field of architecture.