Sansusi Sound Sculpture competition Honorable mention winner - Jurgis Prikulis

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the Honorable mention winner of our "Sansusi Sound Sculpture" competition – Jurgis Prikulis from Latvia!

Jurgis Prikulis

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.

I am a young professional originally coming from Latvia where I started my studies and first professional experiences in architecture. Later, I continued my consistent studies in Italy, Politecnico di Milano. It gave me an opportunity to establish a couple of beautiful professional collaborations in Italy. My focus and interests are the relationship between space and structure, architecture in historic context and how detail can play a key role defining a building.

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?

I have been collaborating in multiple re-use and preservation projects in Latvia, including medium scale cultural building and two historic monuments of exceptional value in Riga, Latvia. These experiences reinforced my academic research work and project - Conservation and reactivation of Umanitaria Cloisters in Milan. Even though academic, this project included important principles of urban reactivation, redefinition of function and circulation, reversibility, recognizability. My professional collaborations in Italy have included work with public typologies such as school and courthouse and public space - piazza from concept to detail level, both as new interventions and redevelopments. One of my latest personal works was a proposal for Tallin Architecture biennale Installation competition which was shortlisted to second stage among 84 initial entries. It was dealing with themes of reuse and collective memory.

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

It is a gift to be able to do something one really loves to do. In my case it is architecture, design and creation. For me architecture helps to define the way I see my life. I cannot be more grateful to work in a field where I can truly experience satisfaction from the work that I do. I find it interesting to explore places with the lens of an architect. I find great passion in understanding how they work and how things and processes work. The role of the architect is to give a true answer to the purpose of the architecture intervention. It involves a clear pursuit of the essential need in a certain context. It shall be reasonable and useful and needed and make a change towards better. That is the responsibility of the architect in society.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

An architecture competition is a platform to work freely and creatively, allowing me to fully immerse myself in the process of creation. A competition is a great mental exercise. It adds to my experience and helps me test my creative abilities, not only through words or thoughts but through actual work and drawings on paper. Moreover, there are certain benefits if the work is successful. I see it as an opportunity for growth and a tool to enhance professional skills.

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

When deciding whether it would be beneficial to participate in a competition, it is important to assess one’s own values, goals, and skill level. If it aligns with one's interests and purpose, there is good reason to take the risk. There are indeed many benefits to taking a proactive role in participating, regardless of the outcome. However, it is crucial to balance the time and resources invested with the expected results. Finding a competition that truly fits is essential.