Second Place Winner
When Nature Calls
Design by
Wai Yan Oo, Kyal Sin Moe
Wai Yan Oo, Kyal Sin Moe
Wai Yan Oo
Wai Yan Oo is currently working as an Architect at KKAA (Kengo Kuma and Associates). He is a master graduate from I-AUD (Meiji University, Japan).
Kyal Sin Moe
Kyal Sin Moe is currently studying the Architecture at TTU (Thanlyin Technological Universtiy).
Celebrating Creativity & Vision
Winner’s Spotlight: An Exclusive Interview
Discover the story behind the victory — from concept to creation.
What is your design philosophy?
We believe that architecture is a symbiosis between society and nature. We inspire the architecture from the lifecycle and biogeochemical cycles to emphasize the principle of variability, adaptability, flexibility, continuity, and sustainability. Our idea is to bring nature into people’s hearts and make an emotional bridge from humans to nature by creating a place where nature and society can be together.
Can you briefly explain your understanding of the topic and the source of ideas?
We are currently working and living in Tokyo. We used to take an architectural tour every weekend. One day, we found many experiential public toilet designs by world-renowned architects throughout Shibuya. We were very interested to try one in the competition and found the experimental public toilet challenge by Archiol. When we say “Toilet”, we had an experience of a Toilet in Nature, with Nature, and by Nature experiencing the close relationship with natural environments.Today toilets sound more private and give more privacy. We were thinking what if we create one which gives such a kind of coexistence of openness and protected feelings? We want to give the user to experience reconnecting with nature through the conception of a relationship between private-public, inside-outside, and nature and artificiality.
When and how you were first introduced to architecture?
WAI YAN OO -It was 2014 when I visited Bagan, Myanmar. The interpretation and story of the design elements, the relationship between inside and outside, the definition of natural light and ventilation, and the use of local material and its sustainability are the reason why I become interested in Architecture.
KYAL SIN MOE- I have had a childhood ambition which was to be an architect for creating beautiful buildings and a happy environment for people. I believe architecture is not only just to create the physical environment in which people live but also a part of the culture and represents how we see ourselves, as well as how we see the world. Hence; this would encourage me to pursue an architectural profession, becoming one of the important parts of my life.
What does architecture mean to you?
About the beauty and importance of our living society, we create spaces where the relationship between nature and artificiality is directly and spatially experienced.
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