The Architect’s Stair #2 competition 2nd Prize winners - Abhishek Blesson Manuel A and Emma Schwarz

We’d like to take this opportunity to introduce the Second Prize winners of The Architect’s Stair #2 competition — Abhishek Blesson Manuel A and Emma Schwarz from India!

Emma Schwarz and Abhishek Blesson Manuel A 

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.

We are Masters students in our fourth semester at the Institute of Architecture at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna. We are part of Studio 2, which is dedicated to exploring the intersection of media and architecture, led by Professors Fredrik Hellberg and Lara Lesmes.

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?

Our Masters program focuses on the symbiotic relationship between architecture and media, exploring how they influence and evolve with one another through both theoretical and practical work. We engage with a wide range of scales from pavilions to megastructures with a strong emphasis on adaptive reuse. The focus of our last semester was on rethinking and redesigning existing, often failed, structures. The Lamarr project, in particular, involved transforming an abandoned, failed shopping mall development. This challenge pushed us to fundamentally rethink our design process and approach a large-scale existing urban problem.

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

For us, architecture is about creating spatial designs and experiences that have the power to change or expand how people perceive, explore, and live within their environment. The role of the architect in society is to be a thoughtful mediator, curating physical space to enhance the human experience and contribute meaningfully to the urban pulse.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

We view architecture competitions as a valuable playground. They offer a distinct opportunity to dive deep into a specific topic, test new tools and methodologies, and further develop our projects outside of standard academic constraints. Crucially, they allow us to address real world problems that align with our professional interests, but which might otherwise be beyond the scope of our student studio work.

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

Our advice is simple: It's always beneficial. View a competition not as a gamble on winning, but as a guaranteed opportunity to express your own unique ideas and perspectives on a specific design problem. The process will sharpen your skills, force you to articulate your vision, and ultimately result in a portfolio ready project that's a win in itself. Don't focus on the result; focus on the process.