Re:Form - New Life for Old Spaces #2 competition Honorable mention winners - Naeimeh Seyedhosseini, Fahimeh Seyedhosseini and Mona Pourmohammadi Sani

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the Honorable mention winners of our Re:Form - New Life for Old Spaces #2 competition – Naeimeh Seyedhosseini, Fahimeh Seyedhosseini and Mona Pourmohammadi Sani from Italy!

Fahimeh Seyedhosseini, Mona Pourmohammadi Sani and Naeimeh Seyedhosseini

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 small group of three Iranian women whose shared cultural background is enriched by distinct professional paths across different parts of the world; an interior designer in Iran, an architect working in Italy, and an urban planner based in Germany. Though shaped by different contexts and experiences, we are united by a common vision of design rooted in critical thinking, sustainability, and a deep sensitivity to the relationship between people and the spaces they inhabit, use, and move through. Our collaboration allows us to approach each project through a broad multiscalar perspective, with sustainability and a human- centered vision always at the core of our work. Through this shared approach, we aim to create spaces that are responsible, resilient, and meaningful.

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?

Our experience spans a diverse range of projects and contexts, reflecting our multidisciplinary background. Among the projects developed through our individual and shared experiences, we would like to mention the riqualification of the Ex-Innocenti factory in Milan, one of the main industrial cores of 20th-century Italy; the regeneration of Tarbiat Pedestrian Street in Tabriz, a historic route linked to the Silk Road; and contemporary exhibition within underused silos in Tehran, exploring the potential of adaptive reuse and the reinterpretation of industrial heritage. As a team, we are particularly interested in projects that establish meaningful connections between architecture and the existing urban fabric, engaging with social life and ongoing processes of transformation. We are especially drawn to regeneration and reuse strategies, aiming to create spaces that generate lasting public value.

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

To us, architecture is a way of understanding and creating the relationship between people, space, and society. It goes beyond the construction of buildings, becoming a tool to interpret context, grasp and respond to real needs, and promote more sustainable ways of living. We see architecture as both a practical discipline and a cultural act, capable of influencing how people experience and interact with their environment. In our society, the role of the architect is to act as a mediator between different scales, needs, and perspectives, balancing technical knowledge with social responsibility and translating complexity into joyful and livable spaces.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

Architecture competitions are not only opportunities for recognition, but also occasions to deepen our design approach, strengthen collaboration, and evaluate our work within a broader cultural and architectural discourse. By participating in architectural competitions, we are offered a valuable space for experimentation, research, and critical thinking, allowing us to challenge ourselves beyond the limits of everyday practice, develop ideas, and engage with architectural questions in a more open and exploratory way, helping us grow as architects. Among all competitions, it is especially important for us to engage with those whose criteria align with our professional interests and values. We deeply believe that the approach promoted by this competition can help meaningful ideas take shape and contribute to creating a better world.

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

If someone is unsure whether participating in architecture competitions is worthwhile, our advice would be to first reflect on their own intentions and expectations. Competitions can be meaningful when they are approached not only with the aim of winning (which is, of course, a joyful achievement) but also as a way to explore a theme, clarify one’s position as a designer, and engage with questions that may not always find space in regular architectural job. Growth often comes from challenging oneself through new experiences, unfamiliar situations, and critical design questions.