The Last Nuclear Bomb Memorial / Edition #5 Honorable mention winners - Alfred Josua Dann and Lasse Frech

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the Honorable mention winners of our "The Last Nuclear Bomb Memorial / Edition #5" competition – Alfred Josua Dann and Lasse Frech from Germany!

Alfred Josua Dann and Lasse Frech

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 a newly formed collaboration between two designers with backgrounds in architecture, landscape architecture, and computational design. We met during our studies but had never worked together before. Driven by our shared interest in interdisciplinary design and innovation, we decided to participate in an architectural competition as a team. Lasse studied architecture, while Josua specialised in landscape architecture and computational design, allowing us to combine structural, spatial, and algorithmic approaches in our work.

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?

This is our first project working together. With our different academic backgrounds we found a strong intersection between these disciplines. This allowed us to integrate architectural and landscape elements seamlessly.

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

For us, architecture is primarily about creating spaces that foster social interaction rather than solely pursuing artistic expression. The role of the architect is to design environments that bring people together, support community engagement, and respond to societal needs.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

We saw this competition as an opportunity to collaborate on a project outside of a university or work context. It allowed us to explore ideas freely and develop our skills beyond the constraints of formal education and professional practice. Competitions provide a space for experimentation, learning, and self-improvement while challenging us to think critically and push our creative boundaries.

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

Competitions are a great way to test your ideas outside of a university setting and gain a clearer understanding of where you stand on an international level. They provide a platform for creative exploration, skill development, and critical thinking. Whether you win or not, the process itself is valuable—it pushes you to refine your design approach, work under real constraints, and gain experience in presenting your ideas effectively.