Architecture competition Rome Collective Living Challenge Honorable mention - Belarusian National Technical University

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the winner of the Honorable mention of our “Rome Collective Living Challenge ” competition - Daria Studneva and Julia Studneva from Belarus!

Daria Studneva and Julia Studneva from Belarus

We are sixth year students of the Belarusian National Technical University. The participants of: The sixth Minsk architecture forum ‘What is a city square?’ (tutor: Owen Hatherley), Minsk Workshop “We represent sport in a different way: gender-sensitive spaces for playing”, Minsk (tutors: Milota Sidorova/ WPS-Prague and Ivan Kravcov/ the Bureau 35) also Daria Studneva: Spring school of architecture SESAM Terra Incognita (tutors: Ewa Rudnicka/ Poland, Marek Happach/ Poland), Minsk Julia Studneva: International Design Seminar 2017, TU Delft

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

In our understanding, architecture is a reflection of reality, a material embodiment of the idea of ​​the human community. Architecture is omnipresent, it forms the environment in which everyone spends almost their entire life; being perceived by all the senses, it forms the mood, taste preferences and way of thinking of a person. Architecture is part of our daily life. The architect is the intermediary between reality and its material embodiment. In our architectural projects, we strive to combine functionality and beauty, practicality and art; create not static buildings, but buildings that may change over time.

Why do you participate in architecture vision competitions?

Participation in the competition is always an incentive to search for new ideas, concepts, it is a challenge, first of all for yourself, a reason to get out of the comfort zone. It is also an opportunity to think about more global challenges, to go beyond student design. 

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

You have nothing to lose. Unleash your imagination.