Architecture competition "Sydney Affordable Housing Challenge" Honorable mention - Cuong Hoang, Hiep Che, Giang Vu and Duong Dang

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the winner of one of our Honorable mentions for the “Sydney Affordable Housing Challenge” competition - Cuong Hoang, Hiep Che, Giang Vu and Duong Dang from Australia!

Cuong Hoang, Hiep Che, Giang Vu and Duong Dang from Australia

Che&partners is a small design office established in 2015 with 5 founder members: Cuong Pham, Hiep Che, Giang Vu, Duong Dang & Vu Hoang. It currently has 10 employees.

Professional background:

Cuong Pham: graduated from Hanoi Architectural University  2008 – former team leader architect in PVCHB 2008-2013; opened GCDA studio, a 3d rendering company in 2013, joined Che&partners Architects in 2015, based in Hanoi.

Hiep Che: graduated from Hanoi Architectural University 2008, Samfox school of Design & Visual Arts – Washington University in St.Louis  (Master of Architecture) 2012. Former architect at Look Architects Pte – Singapore (2012-2014). Founded Che&partners Architects  in 2015, based in Hanoi.

Duong Dang: graduated from Hanoi Architectural University  2008 – former design architect in V-Architect  2008-2013; opened GCDA studio, a 3d rendering company in 2013, joined Che&partners Architects in 2015, based in Calgary.

Giang Vu: graduated from Hanoi Architectural University 2008 – former design architect at NRA (Australia) 2011-2013, Andy Fisher Workshop (Singapore) 2013-2016, HBA/Hirsch Bedner Associates (Singapore) 2016-2017; partnership at GCDA studio  in 2013, partnership at Che&partners Architects in 2015, based in Brisbane.

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?

As a starting point for a small design office, we mainly focused on small residential projects such as semi-attached houses, terrace houses, apartments interior design and other small public projects. We also provided 3d rendering & animation services for developers and contractors worldwide - mainly from Australia, Canada & France - under the GCDA studio brand.

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

We believe that the design process plays an important role in our society. Like the ‘butterfly effect’ we think that a small gesture in house design could lead to big changes in the lives of house owner's, and small carefully designed streetscapes could profoundly encourage social interaction.

Why do you participate in architecture vision competitions?

We think that participating in architecture vision competitions is a chance for young architects pay attention to social issues, a chance for us to contribute something valuable back to the society.

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

We believe that the most difficult to participate in an architecture vision competitions comes down to “design topic”. Is it really relevant to our self, our city, our society? Is it a global crisis that could be solved by an individual? To answer this question depends on each architect himself. However, we think that the brainstorming process, as well as the presentation preparation for the competition, really helps the design process later in our professional lives. It helps young architects with design thinking and design skills for professional practice. For instance, studying the layout for an affordable housing competition project will help you quickly do apartment schematic designs later. Considering the architecture competition as an extra homework from drawing class could help every architect enjoys doing it.