Architecture competition Teamakers Guest House Honorable mention - Matthew Gatt, Daniel Attard and James Dingli

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the winners of the Honorable mention of our “Teamakers Guest House ” competition - Matthew Gatt, Daniel Attard and James Dingli from Malta!

Matthew Gatt, Daniel Attard and James Dingli from Malta

Daniel Attard (b. 1992) is an architect and urban designer, graduated with a Master’s in Architecture with a specialization in urban design, obtained from the University of Malta in 2016. Throughout his young career, Daniel has managed various medium to large-scale projects emanating from Maltese architectural realities, with an emphasis on the public realm. Towards the end of his six year journey at the University of Malta, Daniel, along with two other colleagues, managed an EASA Workshop held in his native country, supervising twenty students who brought a timber structure called il-Bocca, to life. Along with a team assembled from University of Malta, Daniel was part of designing interior spaces at the Europa Building in Brussels for the Maltese Presidency of 2017.

James Dingli (b. 1991) graduated in architecture and civil engineering at the University of Malta in 2014. Being a musician sometimes reflects in his approach to design - searching for form in the same way a musician searches for the next notes to play, an exploration of instinct rather than preconceptions. His musical compositions aspire to draw attention to the relationship between architecture and music.

Matthew Gatt (b. 1992) is an architect and civil engineer who graduated from the University of Malta with a Master’s degree in Structural Engineering in December 2016. Following his studies, Matthew worked in various aspects of the construction sector, in both the fields of design and execution. He is now working with iAS Ltd, a firm specializing in project management in Malta. Matthew's love for design was founded during the early years of University. Matthew is a very rational thinker and grounded in his ideas. He finds great satisfaction in managing and leading projects throughout their entire life-cycle, from the concept stage to completion.

All the team was involved in a variety of projects, both together, with other firms and independently. We all enjoy working on projects which benefit the community, or which involve social interaction. Furthermore, we have a keen eye for detail, and we all enjoy seeing our projects come together to redefine the spaces that we live in.

In 2015, James Dingli formed part of a team of graduate architects that were involved in a funded research project for an IASS conference (International Association for Shell and Spatial Structures) which included an expo of structurally innovative pavilions at the Muziekgebouw in Amsterdam. Dingli is currently focused on his private practice. 

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

Architecture is a careful curation between the selfish and selfless. An interaction mediated by material but ultimately defined by the people who use it. It is not only about form and function but also by events and celebrations. The role of the architect is therefore not only to position his architecture to serve the function that is required of it, but to create relationships that react and adapt to the evolving cultural frameworks by which society orients itself with.

Why do you participate in architecture vision competitions?

Architecture can sometimes present times of mundanity, especially when one gets into the execution part of a building. The challenge that such competitions create, aids in keeping the problem solving mind alert. So we think of them as brain training for architects.

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

The environment of architecture competitions allows architects and creatives to explore new realms of architecture and develop their creative processes. It creates an environment where to be creative means to engage new tools and tackle new problems. In our case, the process was particularly beneficial because it allowed us to explore new team dynamics and experience new methods to our design processes.