The Next House: USA competition 1st Prize winners - Shengnan Gao, Telmen Bayasgalan and Penghui Zhang

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the 1st Prize winners of our The Next House: USA competition – Shengnan Gao, Telmen Bayasgalan and Penghui Zhang from United States!

Shengnan Gao, Telmen Bayasgalan and Penghui Zhang from United States

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.

The three team members are 2024 Master of Architecture alumni of the University of Pennsylvania Weitzman School of Design. They currently work as architectural designers in Boston, Chicago, and New York City. 

Penghui (Henry) Zhang: Henry is an architectural and interior designer at Elkus Manfredi Architects in Boston and previously worked at Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF) in New York City. He holds a Master of Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania and has a background in Interior Design from Pratt Institute. His diverse portfolio encompasses residential, workspace, hospitality, and architectural illustration. 

Telmen Bayasgalan: Telmen is an architectural designer at FGP Atelier in Chicago. His professional focus includes architectural design, computational design, visualization, and urban development, with a particular interest in the relationship between design and real estate development. 

Shengnan Gao: Shengnan is an architectural and interior designer at Architect Associates LLP specializing in commercial interior design, hospitality renovations, visualization, and graphic design.

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?

Penghui (Henry) Zhang: “My work spans multiple scales and phases, from interior fit-outs to architectural façades, building design, and construction administration. I see architecture and interior design not as separate disciplines, but as a continuous process where spatial, material, and architectural decisions inform one another.“ - Henry Zhang 

Telmen Bayasgalan: His current work focuses on master planning and real estate development, with experience across residential, mixed-use, and urban-scale projects. 

Shengnan Gao: Shengnan’s work focuses on urban revitalization, using architectural interventions, murals, and graphic design to enhance the urban experience.

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

Penghui (Henry) Zhang: To me, architecture is a continuous process of creativity, learning, and problem-solving. Beyond client-driven commercial work, architectural design give me the freedom to explore ideas, experiment with new knowledge, and refresh the way I think. 

Telmen Bayasgalan: I understand architecture as a means of communication between people and our environment; therefore, thoughtful and respectful engagement with the parties involved is essential. 

Shengnan Gao: Architects serve society with dignity and responsibility by bridging the gap between macro-environmental responsibility and the micro-scale human experience, always mindful of how our designs shape communities and everyday lives.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

We participate in the competition to stay informed about the most up-to-date technologies and developments in architecture and to remain actively engaged with the architectural academic community. Although working remotely and not being physically together presented challenges, the experience pushed us to overcome communication barriers, strengthen our collaboration, and develop a more effective way of working together.

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

First, trust yourself—trust your eyes. If you believe you have created something great, trust that others can see it too. When you struggle with whether to participate, try to focus less on the outcome and more on the process. Don’t you enjoy the moment when you lose yourself in drawing, designing, and creating? That experience of freely exploring your creativity is, to me, the most valuable part of entering a competition.