Architecture Competition Painters' Lake House Client Favorite Award winners – Mats Kemppe and Kristina Masytė

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the Client Favorite prize winner of our "Painters' Lake House" competition – Mats Kemppe and Kristina Masytė from Norway!

Mats Kemppe and Kristina Masytė from Norway

Utpost (English: Outpost) is a small architectural practice based in Tromsø, a city situated north of the arctic circle in Norway. Since 2012 the office had been dedicated to creating functional and appealing residential architecture on various scales. The practice share office space with other companies that work within architecture, landscape architecture, and interior architecture.

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?

The office works primarily with residential projects in the region, both for private clients and developers. The scale varies from designing single-family homes to townhouses and larger row house projects.

While designing homes is our main expertise, we love to be challenged to work within other fields of architecture. The office has also been involved in small-scale commercial projects, cabins, art projects, and working with graphic design.

Beside the architectural practice we do have experience from the International Master of Landscape Architecture in Tromsø. Both teaching and studying. The program is focusing on arctic/subarctic landscape and territorial studies.

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

Designing good spaces and places for people to unfold their lives, making them happier, and healthier and giving them a sense of belonging. To do so we need to be curious and engaged in our clients’ needs and dreams, while also navigating through rules, and technical challenges and adapting projects to their context.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

It is an opportunity to challenge ourselves and think in unconventional ways, working with other themes, settings, and frames than what our common projects provide. It is not every day we are asked to design dwellings for bats for example. Competitions also give us the opportunity to work in landscapes and environments which are different from ours. In addition, it allows us to immerse ourselves in new knowledge, find new inspiration and develop new ways of communicating our projects.

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

Challenge yourself and get curious. See it as an opportunity to develop your architectural skills while creating beautiful and meaningful spaces.