THIRD PRIZE WINNER!
Yumeng Hong & Zhengqing Tan
China
I am Yumeng Hong, from China, currently studying in China’s Academy of Art. I love painting and art. Since I was little, I like to build all kinds of small dollhouses and my dream is to become an architecture and interior designer.
My teammate Zhengqing Tan is my university classmate, she likes all kinds of handicraft arts and also wants to be an interior designer. We have shared interests and ideas, and designing together can push each other to improve and become better selves.
Interview with the Winner
What is your design philosophy?
Our design started with material research. Because we wanted to design a home for the inhabitants of the desert in northwest China in 2122 when desertification will be more severeand sand is the most common material in the area. We wanted to mix sand and other materials such as fiber to create a kind of rammed earth concrete that would reduce the cost of materials and make houses available to the less developed families in the area. We also envisioned what the house might look like in the future when the baby boom is coming and families are centered on children under the continued influence of China's three-child policy. The interior spaces are curved to allow babies and children to explore freely while avoiding bumps and bruises. The diffuse reflection of the rammed earth concrete will also create a blend of interior light to protect children's eyes.
Can you briefly explain your understanding of the topic and the source of ideas?
My understanding of the 2122 home is reflected in the three aspects of policy, environment and function. I think architecture has to be based on local reality, because the local policy influences the designer's decision on a large scale. In the face of desertification and resource shortage that may occur in 100 years, the design of a home has to be responsive to the environment and locally sourced materials. The demographic composition of a family may have a variety of combinations, and different families need different amounts of living space, so assembled housing is a great development direction in the future, which will be more economical and convenient.
When and how you were first introduced to architecture?
My first introduction to architecture was when I was a child playing with dollhouses, and arranging the interior decoration, and I felt very delighted when I saw the beautiful houses being built. Since then, I have wanted to help others through design and create more comfortable living spaces.
What does architecture mean to you?
A building means a small family to me. Everyone wants to have a home of their own, no matter how big or small, and it is very cozy for a family to live together. I see architecture as a container for living, it has some spatial material connection with our lives, and it holds the laughter of the family and the silence of a sound sleep. At the same time, architecture means a kind of resistance, in which we project the social status quo to an extreme and envision what the space of a child-centered family will become in the future. Through the fiction of a proactive approach, we express a reflection and critique of reality.
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