The Winners!
MATERIALIZE 2024
First Prize Winners
Allen Porras
Philippines
Second Prize Winners
Gokhan Bunsuz
U.K.
Third Prize Winners
Rubo Sun & Jian Zhu
U.S.
Rubo Sun and Jian Zhu are architectural designers based in NYC, specializing in a diverse range of projects, from small-scale interior designs to large-scale urban campus developments.
Introduction:
We are architectural designers based in NYC, specializing in a diverse range of projects, from small-scale interior designs to large-scale urban campus developments.
As professional architectural designers, we recognize the critical role rendering plays in our work, particularly in conveying design concepts and materiality. The Materialize Architectural Rendering Competition serves as an excellent platform for us to share our ideas with talented designers worldwide and gain inspiration from one another.
Material Innovation:
One material gaining increasing popularity in modern architecture is ETFE, celebrated for its distinctive properties. Our rendered images depict a scenario utilizing ETFE to highlight its lightness, versatility, and durability in the design of an outdoor emergency shelter. By combining advanced rendering techniques with real-world contexts, the images vividly demonstrate ETFE's potential to transform lightweight, efficient, and visually striking architectural solutions.
Artistic Vision:
Our goal is to showcase the practical application of ETFE material in a real-world scenario, making technical accuracy a top priority in our submission. We aim to precisely represent its lightweight nature, flexibility, and supporting structure to the best of our ability. While aesthetics are secondary, they remain an important aspect of our presentation.
Creative Process:
We began by selecting the material we wanted to showcase, and the first idea that came to mind was ETFE—a lightweight, translucent envelope that contrasts beautifully with architectural solidity. Inspired by ETFE's properties, we envisioned a scenario where an ETFE bubble emerges in a forest, serving as a durable yet low-impact shelter for outdoor hikers.
Challenges and Solutions:
To address ETFE’s properties, we explored several advanced rendering engines and leveraged AI technology to achieve realistic light behaviour. By feeding the model with photographs of the material captured under similar lighting conditions, we were able to closely replicate real-world light interactions.
Sources of Inspiration:
Our design is inspired by the innovative use of ETFE by architects like Selgas Cano. Their projects highlight how ETFE can seamlessly blend functional performance with aesthetic appeal, which strongly influences our approach.
Reflections on Winning:
It is a tremendous honour to have won third place in the Materialize Architectural Rendering Competition. This opportunity not only allowed us to showcase our ideas as young professionals but also provided a platform to explore the latest advancements in architectural rendering technology and engage with the industry’s cutting-edge innovations.
Future Aspirations:
Being recognized by the juries and the community is a great encouragement, affirming the valuable potential of ETFE in the design industry. This recognition inspires us to further explore and integrate ETFE into our future projects, contributing to a more sustainable built environment.
Special mention
Honorable mention
Pallavi Dhandekar and Aditya Gupta
Yulun Liu & Dongqi Chen
Dhruv Gupta
Pallavi Dhandekar and Aditya Gupta
India
Yulun Liu & Dongqi Chen
U.S.
Yulun Liu
Yulun Liu is an interdisciplinary designer with a keen passion for melding the realms of architectural design and structural engineering. Holding a Master of Architecture degree from the Weitzman School of Design at the University of Pennsylvania, Yulun has also earned a Master's degree in Structural Engineering from Tianjin University. Currently, she is dedicated to her role as a full-time architectural designer at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) in Chicago. Her extensive educational and professional journey has been marked by active participation in a diverse array of architectural and structural design projects, as well as competitive ventures. She will remain committed to the pursuit of pushing the boundaries between architecture and structural engineering, shaping a promising future in this dynamic field.
Dongqi Chen:
Dongqi Chen is an innovative professional specializing in the fields of architecture and visualization. His work is characterized by a deep exploration of alternative connections between the place and occasion. Chen is a dedicated architectural designer at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) in Chicago, where he engages in a diverse portfolio encompassing cultural and commercial projects. Notably, he is an honored member of the Metropolis Future 100 and is recognized for his prolific contributions, which have been featured across various prominent platforms.
Chen received his Master of Architecture degree at University of Pennsylvania, where he was the recipient of the prestigious E. Lewis Dales Traveling Fellowships for Excellence in Design. He earned a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Urban Planning from South China University of Technology, achieving the distinction of receiving the National College Urban Design Evaluation Prize.
Dhruv Gupta
India
