Portugal Vez River SPA competition Student Award winners - Harvard Graduate School of Design

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the Student Award winners of our Portugal Vez River SPA competition – Chloe Lynne Choi, Sean Ow Jou Chern and Wei Yi Keane Chua from United States!

Chloe Lynne Choi, Sean Ow Jou Chern and Wei Yi Keane Chua from United States

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.

 We are a group of students currently attending the Harvard GSD MArch 1 program. Our backgrounds span architecture, computation, and fine arts, bringing diverse perspectives to our collaborative work.

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?

Drawing from our backgrounds in Singapore and South Korea, we are particularly interested in designing for high-density cities and urban environments. Our focus centers on projects that address the challenges and opportunities presented by dense urban contexts, exploring how architecture can respond to the spatial, social, and infrastructural demands of contemporary city living.

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

Architecture represents the tangible manifestation of human aspirations and experiences—spaces that shape how we live, work, and see the world. While the profession is fundamentally centered on design, it requires interdisciplinary coordination across many sectors, allowing architects to question and reshape the very constructs that define value. We believe architecture can transform projects into catalysts for meaningful change that extend far beyond the building's walls.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

We participate in architecture competitions to gain exposure to new projects, environments, and collaborators that we wouldn't normally encounter. Competitions provide firsthand experience with real clients and briefs rather than purely speculative work, offering valuable insights into practice while challenging us to think beyond our typical design approaches.

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

There is nothing to lose, only to gain. Whether competitions provide new inspiration for your current work or offer opportunities to collaborate with new people, they serve as valuable learning experiences that can expand your perspective and skillset.