Rome Rain Rooms competition 3rd and Student award winners - Mennaalla Mohamed Mostafa Soliman Abas, Rina Seida and Synnove Patricia Grao

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the 3rd Prize and Student Award winners of our Rome Rain Rooms competition – Mennaalla Mohamed Mostafa Soliman Abas, Rina Seida and Synnove Patricia Grao from Italy!

Mennaalla Mohamed Mostafa Soliman Abas, Rina Seida and Synnove Patricia Grao from Italy

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 architecture students at Politecnico di Milano. Our work comes mainly from our academic studios, where we have explored different scales of design, from residential projects to public and urban spaces.

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?

During our studies, we have designed residential and private buildings and worked on projects connected to public space and urban design. We have also had the opportunity to study urban conditions directly on site, which helped us understand how people actually use and experience spaces.

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

For us, architecture is about creating spaces that respond to people, place and the environment. An architect should not only design something functional or visually interesting but also understand the context and the impact a project can have on everyday life.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

As students, we see competitions as a way to test our ideas beyond the academic environment. They push us to think critically, communicate clearly, and recognise both our strengths and weaknesses. More than winning, they are a chance to learn, experiment, and gradually develop our own architectural voice.

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

We would say to treat it as a learning experience rather than focusing only on winning. Competitions can help you develop an idea further, improve how you communicate a project, and understand your own approach to architecture better.