The Architect's Chair #2 competition Honorable mention winner - Alexandra Corrine Santiago Arguelles

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the Honorable mention winner of our "The Architect's Chair #2" competition – Alexandra Corrine Santiago Arguelles from Singapore!

Alexandra Corrine Santiago Arguelles

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 graduated from the National University of Singapore in 2023 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Design. I currently work as a UX design researcher at the SIA-NUS Digital Aviation Corporate Laboratory.

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?

As a designer, I consider myself somewhat of a generalist. I enjoy exploring various spheres of design, such as design research, product and furniture design, and experiential design. From 2022–2023, I worked with DLX Lab and Ikeuchi Lab from the University of Tokyo to develop “Talking with Neurons”—a live interactive installation in which viewers get the chance to remotely converse with in-vitro neural circuits. This project has been exhibited at SIGGRAPH 2023, and 21_21 Design Sight in 2024.

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

Architecture is integral to modern living—it impacts nearly every aspect of our lives. Coming from a small, dense city, it is more apparent how architecture shapes our daily experiences and influences our behaviour, both as individuals and as a community.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

To challenge myself, competitions provide space for learning, experimentation, and pushing boundaries. They inspire me and give me the freedom to be creative and do what I love.

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

It depends on what you want to achieve. Aside from winning, competitions are great opportunities for learning, experience, and exposure. If you have the funds and time to do it, why not?