Architecture Competition Portable Reading Rooms / Edition #2 Honorable mention winner – Stephen Good

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to one of our Honorable mention winner for our "Portable Reading Rooms / Edition #2" competition – Stephen Good from United States!

Stephen Good from United States

I was educated at Virginia Polytechnic Institute in the United States where I studied architecture. My thesis work is titled Instrument Architecture. The thesis investigated ways architecture–that is to say both construction and inhabitation–works as an instrument to reveal knowledge of a particular place. A deep concern for the land is present in all of the work that I do.

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?

My footprint as a designer is not significant at this time. In the past few years I have worked on a few competitions, designed a few pieces of furniture and worked on some personal initiatives.

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

I think that architecture is a form of knowledge. There is knowledge in the way we live on the land and the way that we build. I believe architecture’s role is to make that knowledge evident to people through inhabitation and the experience of space. This guides the work that I do.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

Primarily to hone my abilities in visualization and communication as well as using the prompt to test a particular idea or theme of exploration. The architectural work I do always seems to return to similar themes in different contexts. A new prompt or project offers a way to consider these themes in a new way.

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

I do think participating is valuable apart from any formal recognition for your work. It can be helpful simply as an exercise in visual communication of an idea. And working with the prompt will always bring out new insights as you are designing.