Architecture Competition SKYHIVE 2019 Skyscraper Challenge 2nd prize winner - Federico Fauli

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the 2nd prize winner of our “SKYHIVE 2019 Skyscraper Challenge” competition - Federico Fauli from Italy!

Federico Fauli from Italy

I’m an Italian architect, 26 years old graduated in Architecture. I’ve got my B.Arch with honors at the Politecnico of Milano and my M.Arch at the Architectural Association in London. I’ve worked at the Renzo Piano Building Workshop in Genova and I’m currently working at Zaha Hadid Architects in London. Currently looking for a position as well as AT in European main architecture universities. Winner of the 2018 MADs Fellowship, the 2019 Renzo Piano Building Workshop Fellowship, The Tamayouz International Architecture Thesis, Mia Cucina Rethinking design competition and more, Finalist at the 2017 African Architecture Awards, at the AZ Awards, House of a Dream, and more.

I have participated as both a student and a young architect in many competitions worldwide, both alone and in teams. During my experience at the Renzo Piano Building Workshop in Genova, I had the chance to work on several international projects, focusing on the San Francisco 555 Howard Street Hotel and the West 21 New York Galleries-Apartments. Regarding my current work at Zaha Hadid Architects, I’m part of the Zaha Cluster Team and therefore I’m not allowed to leak any information about both undergoing and upcoming projects.

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

Architecture for me is not just “work” or “a passion”, but since I’ve received my first Playmobil set, I've always dreamt of becoming an architect. To build, to create and one day to be able to live a trace. Regarding the role of architects in society nowadays, I do believe that architecture doesn’t need to say anything. It does not need to talk, doesn’t need to express anything specific, and it doesn’t need, overall, to be needlessly “radical”. Architecture always has a meaning when it is created based on a strong concept. It has to be looked at, spoken, interacted, explored, touched and, at the end, endlessly admired. Architecture justifies its own existence, it emerges to create and show its own values, which at the end are completely rooted in life.

Why do you participate in architecture vision competitions?

I participate in architecture vision competition because I do believe that most of architecture is shaped from competition. Each architecture project needs to contribute to the critical nature of the discipline and expand it through its value, architecture should not just be something that follows up on events but that is the leader happening. The process of creation should never be guided just by political or moral terms, moreover, I do feel that this allows talented architects to explore and to escape from social and economical driven boundaries. These are the reasons why I'm participating in architecture vision competition.

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

I would strongly recommend to participate in architecture vision competitions because, as stated before, architecture’s creativity is based on freedom and wilderness and always needs to be kept alive, and this is probably one of the best ways for doing it.