HJELL

We are three architecture graduates from Cuernavaca, Mexico, just starting our professional careers. We decided to participate because we wanted to gain experience in the real world of architecture. This was our first competition.

The main idea behind our project was to create an ideal space in response to the site's conditions and the available local workforce. The proposal began with an analysis of the structures found in the nearest village. From this analysis, the triangle and the colour red became fundamental elements of the project. The form responds to the climate, while the red reflects the identity of the local community. We also reinterpreted the traditional hjell structures used by fishermen, giving them a new meaning within the project.

The new programme was an interesting challenge. At first, we went back to the old-fashioned way of working, using pencil and paper — our ideas flowed more naturally this way. Later, we incorporated digital tools into the design process.

Gendo was a new platform for us, and we really liked the idea of AI finally becoming a useful tool for designers.

It was a huge surprise. This is the first real step in our professional lives; previous competitions were within our university and among peers, and this one was on a global scale. Being shortlisted serves as a massive motivation.