There is no manual on architecture competitions to guarantee success; rather, the specific conditions and the different ways of approaching the problem determine whether a proposal is appropriate and, hopefully, a winner. Some participants push their capabilities to the limit, treating the project as a deeply personal challenge. However, the solutions we find in difficult moments strengthen our confidence, proving just how far we can go. There is nothing quite like the satisfaction of a job well done after hours of effort and dedication.
Below, we share three tips from Colombian architect Dan Gamboa, who won the SkyCity Challenge 17 architecture competition in China. His winning project merges a library with a children's playground. According to Gamboa, the proposal was developed in just 48 hours after his team pulled out of the competition a week prior.
The Communication of Your Architecture Project Must Be as Clear as Possible
The relationship between traditional media and architecture is one of the primary tools at our disposal. As we are increasingly expected to innovate, platforms like YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook keep us engaged in an active world, where constant references push us to evolve and explore our ideas and capabilities.
Speaking with ArchDaily, Dan Gamboa explains:
Architecture competitions require a certain degree of legibility, in which clear themes are presented without convoluted terminology, proposing conversations rather than arguments, and that is where the media, writing, and social media converge to talk about architecture through videos, films, or newspapers.
Innovation Does Not Emerge Immediately
The project sought to transform an empty building into a cultural venue in China. The goal was to turn the structure into a hub for all kinds of temporary or permanent expressions bridging architecture, design, and art. Here, one of Gamboa's primary strategies took center stage: transforming the typical experiences associated with visiting a library, without relying on architecture in the orthodox sense of the word.
We might not hit upon a groundbreaking concept at the very start of a project; however, it is ideas with substantial development that ultimately give the project a solid, convincing form when presented.
An Emergency Can Be a Great Help in Resolving Your Project
What if an emergency forces us to be more efficient and concise in how we present our project? This is worth reflecting on, as such situations often compel us to address critical aspects of our project more quickly and effectively. Additionally, during development, the core idea must remain more important than the final output itself.
Because the proposal was completed in just 48 hours after his team backed out a week before, simplicity became a defining factor of the project. This ensured a clear and legible presentation for any viewer. In this regard, Dan says:
A huge wall that would be the library's bookshelf, but to access it, you could climb it; and not only that, but as you advanced through school grades, you would climb up the wall. The library emerged during the process; it was never the goal. I also wanted it to be very clear that the formal definition of the project could be easily modified, while the idea remained permanent
This article was written by Yamid Rivera. The translation is powered by AI.
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