The Last Nuclear Bomb Memorial #6 competition Student Prize winners - Ho Chi Minh City Architecture University

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce the Student Prize winners of The Last Nuclear Bomb Memorial #6 competition – Tất Sĩ Minh Lê, Tra My Do Nguyen and Minh Phú Nguyễn from Vietnam!

Tất Sĩ Minh Lê, Tra My Do Nguyen and Minh Phú Nguyễn

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 currently students at the University of Architecture Ho Chi Minh City, majoring in Architecture. During our studies and research, we have also developed strong interests in and exposure to related fields such as Urban Planning, Landscape Architecture, Interior Design, Urban Design, as well as other interdisciplinary areas. This multidisciplinary approach allows us to develop a more comprehensive perspective in both research and design, ensuring harmony between architectural space, landscape, functional performance, and socio-cultural context.

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?

At present, we have not had many opportunities to directly participate in large-scale real-world projects. However, throughout our academic journey, we have completed professional internships at architectural offices and related organizations. Through these experiences, we have been exposed to real working environments, project workflows, methods of developing design documentation, and interdisciplinary coordination. These experiences have provided an important foundation for gradually building professional competence and preparing us for future participation in practical projects.

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

To us, architecture is not merely about creating forms or buildings, but about how people organize space to live, interact, and remember. Architecture reflects the cultural, economic, and spiritual context of a society at a given moment, while simultaneously influencing human behavior, emotions, and quality of life. A well-designed space can nurture communities, evoke collective memory, and foster a strong sense of connection between people and place.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

We participate in architecture competitions because they offer an opportunity to experiment with design thinking beyond the framework of academic studio projects. Competitions allow us to engage with social, cultural, and environmental issues on a broader scale, where architecture is not simply an exercise but a tool for questioning existing conditions and proposing potential solutions.

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

If you are uncertain, consider architecture competitions as a parallel learning environment alongside formal education, rather than as a pressure to win. The greatest value of competitions lies not in the awards, but in the process of questioning oneself, setting personal limits, and challenging those limits within a constrained period of time.