FIRST PRIZE WINNER!
Silin Wang, Zhiqi Shen & Yiwen Cai
China
Silin Wang: I’ve just finished my bachelor degree of design in architecture. I have an enthusiasm for exploring the relationship between nature, culture, humanity and architecture. I have also studied the cultural and historical background of aboriginal Australians and designed relevant projects about them at university. I am really keen on drawing and photography that deepen my understanding of space, colors and lighting, contributing to my expertise on architecture.
Zhiqi Shen: I am Zhiqi, I am an architecture graduate from China. During my school years, I have participated in many China Rural Architecture Design Competitions and got very good results. In the process, I gained a lot of experience and knowledge about the construction of rural buildings. In my daily life, I am happy to capture the beautiful moments in life with my camera, and I believe that the significance of photography is the same as that of architecture, which can bring warmth and touch to people.
Yiwen Cai: I am going to be a fifth-grade architectural student next semester, and planning to study abroad after graduation. I believe that architecture is a language that penetrates into the lives of each person and designers themselves, It is like the human senses, which serves as a receiver and also a transmitter between inner self and outer self. I am interested in observing the emotional and mental changes brought by this language as an architect, and I hope to keep practicing with the use of this language in my continuous design.
Interview with the Winner
Research and Inspiration:
What research methods did you employ to understand the relationship between architecture and sound? Were there any particular sources or case studies that influenced your design?
Zhiqi Shen: We explore the connections between music, emotion and architectural space through audio visualization. The audio visualization was carried out with the help of GH and the emotional symbols corresponding to the different architectural elements were extracted. Ultimately we strung together spaces to form a short journey of strolling. Peter Zumthor attaches great importance to the sensory experience brought by architecture. He once said, "Space will not respond to your sight, but it will reflect your voice.". His designs for the spa baths in Wals, Switzerland, and the church of St Benedict have inspired much of our architectural language.
Personal Reflection:
How has participating in this competition and winning affected your perspective on the importance of sound in architecture and design? Have you discovered any new passions or areas of interest through the process of designing for aural architecture?
Yiwen Cai: When people walk into an architecture. They may savour the charm of the space through the five senses. Sound as one of the five senses, on one hand we construct architectural space by using the information in sound; on the other hand we complement our senses by travelling through different architectural spaces. It is no doubt that there are still many possibilities waiting to be explored in the field of auditory architectural design: for example, adding interactive sound devices in buildings to provide deaf people with a possibility to perceive the world; or combining the other senses to promote the generation of architectural space.
How does it feel to win the Aural Architecture 2023 Design Competition? Any final thoughts or messages you would like to share with the audience?
Silin Wang: Well, I think it is a really interesting and enjoyable design experience. This award gives me much more confidence on architecture, and it is regarded as a new step for me to explore music and buildings. I’m so glad to meet good teammates and we cooperate closely in the planning and designing this project. I think I have learned a lot from my teammates during brainstorming. It is a very nice cooperation!
Zhiqi Shen: For winning the first prize in this competition, I felt the inclusiveness and attractiveness of the field of architecture as a discipline. I hope that everyone will enjoy this journey with architecture and enjoy the process.
Yiwen Cai: I am very lucky to have met my two teammates through this chance, and it is fortunate to have gained such a satisfying result while experiencing an enjoyable design process. I am thankful that this award has inspired me to express my design concepts, and I am looking forward to design something even more stirring in the future!
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