SECOND PRIZE WINNER!
Faustino Sinopoli & Diego Delgado
Diego Delgado is an emerging architectural designer and graduate of Florida International University, where he earned his Master’s degree in Architecture. His work is grounded in a strong belief that thoughtful, well-crafted design has the power to shape better experiences and strengthen communities. With a design philosophy rooted in clarity, functionality, and human connection, Diego focuses on creating environments that are both innovative and responsive to context.
Influenced by his academic training and personal experiences, Diego draws inspiration from travel and cultural exploration, allowing global perspectives to inform his architectural sensibility. His work reflects a balance between creative expression and practical problem-solving, always aiming to deliver spaces that enhance daily life, promote well-being, and reflect the identities of the people who use them.
Diego continues to pursue opportunities that allow him to grow as a designer, collaborate with others, and contribute to projects that make a lasting, positive impact on the built environment.
Faustino Sinopoli is an emerging architectural designer whose work explores the intersection of simplicity, material sensitivity, and spatial experience. With a Master’s degree in Architecture from Florida International University and hands-on experience in both academic and professional settings, Faustino approaches design with a balance of conceptual clarity and practical execution.
His recent projects investigate how architecture can create a sense of openness and comfort, often drawing inspiration from natural landscapes and cultural context. Across scales, he brings careful attention to atmosphere and detail, often using subtle shifts in surface, light, and form to evoke emotional resonance. With an eye toward sustainability, storytelling, and user experience, Faustino’s work aspires to create architecture that feels inevitable, as if it belonged to the site long before it was drawn.
Interview with the Winner
Tell us about yourself / your team. What led you to architecture and design?
We are recent Architecture graduates, we have a passion for pushing design boundaries and the inclusion of natural landscape within the design, which is part of our inspiration to enter this competition.
What inspired you to participate in the Minimal Dwelling 2024 competition?
Another inspiration to participate in the Minimal Dwelling competition was visiting Japan. We experienced the dense and fast life of Tokyo, a city that never sleeps. As well as the simple and calm living of Kyoto, which resonated with us more.
How did you interpret the theme of minimalism in your design for the Smith family?
We interpreted the theme of minimalism in a simplistic manner with a tightknit home centralizing family living. Thanks to this type of design, people get to appreciate other aspects of life that we often forget when living in larger spaces that are often cluttered.
What was the central design concept of your project?
The central design concept for this project came from the terraced rice fields and their cultivation. As they are harvested, they are tied in a bunch which gives resemblance to the traditional thatch roof also known as Kayabuki in Japan.
For Raisuhatto, simplicity, functionality, and comfort are approached as one unified idea.
Rather than adding elements, we focused on refining what was essential: open adaptable spaces that respond to the surrounding rice fields and ocean views; natural materials that bring warmth and, carefully framed light and air that shift with the seasons.
Comfort is not achieved through excess, but through clarity, where each space supports daily life while remaining connected to nature. In this way, simplicity becomes a tool for enhancing function and well-being.
What sustainable or innovative design strategies did you incorporate into your proposal?
Making the roof traditional thatch, it recycles bundles of vegetation to create a long-lasting roof system that not only give a striking appearance, but provides insulation. The swooping windows in various directions provide cross ventilation and plenty of natural lighting to the spaces indoors. Lastly, the outdoor patio space creates a welcoming shaded space for gathering and being in the elements of nature.
What were the biggest challenges you faced during the design process and how did you overcome them?
One of our biggest challenges was finding the right balance between minimalism and warmth. creating a house that feels simple and light, but not cold or empty. Since the site is surrounded by rice fields and open landscape, we wanted the house to feel connected and open, while still providing a sense of comfort and shelter. We focused on the small details. How light moves through the space, how materials feel to the touch, and how the views are framed. To make sure that simplicity didn’t turn into lifelessness.
Another challenge was responding to the rhythms of rural life: designing a compact, efficient home that fits naturally into its surroundings without overpowering them.
We were careful to choose the right proportion, material choice, and orientation, helping us overcome these challenges — leading to the idea that simplicity should enrich, not diminish, the experience of living in this place.
What message or idea do you hope your project communicates about minimalist living?
For our project we hope to communicate clarity, harmony and a deeper connection to one’s surroundings. By adapting to only what is necessary, the house creates space for what matters: the changing rhythms of the rice fields, the quality of light, the feeling of materials, and the openness of the rural landscape.
Instead of viewing minimalism as a reduction, we treated it as an invitation. Living more attentively and harmoniously with nature. Suggesting simplicity can bring comfort, beauty, and a renewed sense of connection to place and season.
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