The Next House: USA Honorable mention winner - Timothy James Tamulonis

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the Honorable mention winner of our The Next House: USA competition – Timothy James Tamulonis from United States!

Timothy James Tamulonis

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 work with researchers and design practitioners to understand and address housing issues in the Southeastern United States. I practice every day to advance an architecture that solves problems. I first began developing this approach while pursuing my Bachelor of Architecture at Syracuse University and later my master’s at Harvard’s Graduate School of Design. In 2024, after several years at an international design practice, I chose to change my career trajectory and join the Front Porch Initiative at Auburn University.

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 an individual, I frequently enter competitions as a way to independently practice and challenge my design skills. As a member of the Front Porch Initiative, we work at the intersection of design, research, and implementation, providing architectural and technical assistance to nonprofits building single-family homes across the United States.

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

The role of an architect is to imagine how the built environment can better serve people and their communities. I have understood this as our responsibility from a young age and have spent years practicing how to turn those ideas into reality, both independently and as part of larger teams.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

Architecture competitions hold a unique and important place in the profession, offering value both to society and to the architects who participate. As architects, we have a responsibility to be visionaries in the built environment and to champion equitable, sustainable, and beautiful design. Competitions provide a forum to test those ideas while building a toolkit of skills and approaches that can inform our work and, potentially, the work of others. They create space for critical investigations of the design zeitgeist and for experimentation that can push the discipline forward. I participate for my own growth as a designer—and because they are good fun.

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

Architecture competitions require a commitment and passion that are not always readily available. But the opportunity to exercise critical design skills, engage with societal challenges through the built environment, and practice developing an idea into a design is both unique and uncommon. If you have the time and curiosity to pursue one, I think the experience itself can be valuable; regardless of the outcome.