Architecture Competition San Francisco Affordable Housing Challenge Honourable mention - Thomas Melville

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to an Honourable mention winner for our “San Francisco Affordable Housing Challenge” competition - Thomas Melville from the United States.

Thomas Melville from the United States

I am a Project Architect at Perkins & Will in Boston and have a master's of Science in Advanced Architectural Design from Columbia University. I have been actively participating in architectural competitions since school, to continue exploring and developing design thinking.

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 company/ individuals have been involved?

In a large office, projects last years and involve many stakeholders. Competitions are an opportunity to quickly explore smaller projects. Recently, I have designed bridges, benches, and pavilions.

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

Architecture at any scale is a profound act of optimism that bridges the gap between what was and what will be. It is a collaborative act of consensual wish fulfilment shaping our buildings and cities.

Why do you participate in architecture vision competitions?

Architecture is about constant learning and development. Competitions allow me to test and explore new ideas, responding to different briefs for sites around the world. As experiments, they’re useful as a way to evaluate my own thinking about a site, program and form; more importantly, though, they serve as a forum to explore and evaluate the ideas of other talented designers.

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

Every act of design improves your skill as a designer. Always test yourself.