Architecture Competition Timber Skyscraper Challenge Honorable mention winners - Studio Gao-Byun

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to one of our Honorable mention winners for our "Timber Skyscraper Challenge" competition – Nelson Byun and Yufan Gao from United States!

Honorable mention winners from United States

Studio Gao-Byun was founded in 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. We are a cross-disciplinary studio that focuses on projects at the intersection of architecture, landscape, and art.

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?

With academic and professional backgrounds in architecture and landscape architecture, we were instinctively drawn to experimenting with mass-timber as it conceptually bridges the built and natural environment. We enjoy designing projects on a large-scale with mass-timber to optimize its positive impact on the environment, while exploring novel tectonics and aesthetics that arise from the material’s distinct characteristics.

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

Architecture and the role of an architect are about sowing new and transformative possibilities in the built environment for future generations to develop from.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

Competitions offer a unique opportunity to fulfill our deep-seated passion for creative exploration and experimentation, allowing us to grow as designers.

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

Participating in architecture competitions allows us to expand our knowledge base, showcase our work to a wider audience, collaborate with other professionals, and tackle high-profile projects that push the boundaries of design thinking and experimentation.