Q&A with FAP 2020 Student Category 2nd Place Winner: Yan Tsz Ching
January 5, 2022
As part of a series of online activities for FuturArc Prize (FAP) 2022, we talked to winners of the previous cycle to inspire this year’s contestants. Click here to learn more about the brief and to submit your entries for FAP 2022 (registration & entry submission by 25 Feb 2022)!
With an academic background in landscape architecture and cross-disciplinary experience with architecture and urban planning projects, Yan Tsz Ching from Hong Kong submitted the proposal titled Matrix Sponge: New Living Prototype for Water Resiliency, which won 2nd Place in the Student Category of FAP 2020. Read her advice and experiences below!
Q: As a winner of the previous cycle of FAP, please give some advice for students who are planning to participate in FAP 2022! The theme for this year is Reinterpretation, where we ask them to imagine new Green solutions to reuse and reactivate buildings that are sitting empty.
A: My entry for FAP was in early 2020 before [the pandemic] happened, time flies! The global pandemic has challenged our understanding of landscape, as well as the entire built environment. I believe well-being will be a fresh ‘tag’ of FAP 2022 for entrants to translate, reinterpret and inject new ideas to all Green solutions.
Q: What does winning the award mean for you? Since it’s a great starting point for a student to have won an esteemed international competition, has it helped you in your career or further education?
A: Winning the award really empowered my design and strengthened my ability to present my thoughts. I also appreciate seniors in my workplace who have encouraged me to apply ideas of the competition entry in our projects.
Q: From the experience of participating in the contest, what were the challenges that you encountered and how did you overcome them? What is the most valuable lesson that you have learnt?
A: One of the major challenges is how to turn my design into a framework that could be replicated across various Asia cities that are facing challenges of rising water levels, as FAP is not just a site-specific competition to me, but a platform encouraging integrative solutions for cities globally.
Q: Can you tell us what made you interested to participate in the competition at first?
A: Joining the competition won’t save the world immediately, but it will let you begin to have critical thoughts on how to use your design to shape a better future, which goes beyond imagination-only student projects—and there is attractive prize money too! I believe FAP is a good platform to [launch your first step].
Register now for FuturArc Prize 2022: Reinterpretation & win cash prizes!
Read related projects below:
Conversion of Chai Wan Factory Estate to Public Housing
A mathematics institute adds upon an existing structure
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Previously Published Online Exclusive Feature
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