Architecture competition Rome Collective Living Challenge Honorable mention - Lund University

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the winners of the Honorable mention of our “Rome Collective Living Challenge ” competition - Kajsa Henriksson, Paul Weedle and Tara Fartash-Naini from Sweden!

Kajsa Henriksson, Paul Weedle and Tara Fartash-Naini from Sweden

Kajsa Henriksson - I am currently completing my Masters of Architecture at Lund University, LTH in Sweden. I have previously done an internship at Sweco Architects in Stockholm and in the fall I will join Hauschild and Siegel as an intern before I do my thesis at the architecture school in Lund. I have a great interest in sustainable architecture and strive to create buildings that are good for both people and the environment.

Paul Weedle - After receiving a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from University College Dublin (UCD) in 2017, I joined Henchion Reuter Architects in Dublin as a Part I architectural assistant. In 2018, I returned to UCD to complete a Masters in Architecture. In 2019, I was given the opportunity to complete a semester of my Masters in Lund, Sweden. I am now back in Ireland, working for Carr Cotter Naessans for the summer before heading into my final year of the masters.

Tara Fartash-Naini - After receiving a Bachelor's degree in Architecture from McGill University (Canada) in 2017, I decided to gain experience in the field before continuing my studies by joining AS Architecture Studio in Paris as an architectural intern. In 2018 I moved to Sweden, where I am now a graduate student completing a masters of architecture degree at Lund University.

Having all interned around the world in various architectural offices, we have experience in both large and small scale projects - from conceptual designs to detailed construction drawings.

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

There is no clear answer - Architecture, as a term so broad, has fabricated this unclear boundary of limits on design, and what it consists of. It is the most complex form of art which has opened our eyes to the world and extended our knowledge due to its multifaceted education.

Having only been in architecture a short while, we find it hard to define the role of the architect. People say architects are problem-solvers, but we are more than that. Not only are we problem-solvers, but we can see beyond the problems, and imagine new possibilities. We dream, we reach beyond the limits of expectations.

At the core of it, an architect must have a sense of humanity. Her role is to articulate our experience of the world, our experience of light, shadow, air, natural and man-made resources.

​Why do you participate in architecture vision competitions?

Architecture competitions are a good way to get out into the architectural world, it’s an opportunity to grow and explore the different edges of architecture. Ideas are flowing freely and nothing is filtered.

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

Competitions allow for young architects like us to think outside of the box. It is an opportunity to promote your work while thinking freely and bring the most outrageous ideas to life. So, what do you have to lose?