Fifteen years ago, the School of Architecture at Universidad ORT Uruguay a competition that enabled 14 young people aspiring to become architects or interior designers to fulfill their dreams. Since then, “Design Your Room” has been the name and motto of this contest, which awards a full scholarship to the participant whose work is selected by a jury as the best in each edition.
Today, most of those high school students who won the contest and went on to study at ORT have already graduated; some have even remained connected to the university, such as Bruno Pedreira (2009 winner), who is currently a professor in the School of Architecture. Others, the younger ones, are continuing to advance in their studies to become professionals. What they all have in common is that initial effort that allowed them to embark on their academic journey.
Thursday, June 27, 2019, marked the deadline for submitting projects for the15th edition of “Design Your Room.” To celebrate the anniversary, several of the winners share their experiences with the contest, the university, and their current employment status.
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2005 Competition / María Belén Fernández – Noctiluca. Architect
What was the main feature of your project?
The project consisted of a room designed as a light box. That was the key element of the entire project.
The layout was simple because it had a rectangular floor plan. Everything took place in that single space—in a straightforward way, yet meeting all the needs of my room at the time.
The unique feature was in the walls, which functioned as a giant lamp and came to life at night. A double-wall system, with the inner wall made of translucent material, allowed lighting to be placed between them; when turned on, they projected shadows of threads. This shifted the notion of heavy, static walls, infusing them with life and dynamism.
At the same time, I designed the furniture with personal touches and a specific color palette that tied the pieces together. Elements such as a Paraguayan hammock suggested a way to use the space.
The ensemble was completed by a large stained-glass window, which also allowed for the play of light during the day, enhancing the shapes and colors found throughout the rest of the design.
How would you describe your time at the School of Architecture?
It was a really enjoyable experience. The last semester was especially rewarding, as I gained a deeper understanding of the material thanks to some brilliant professors. I also worked part-time, which helped me grasp the purpose of each subject and its practical applications. I know it might sound ambitious, but the program helped me realize that through this profession, I could also make others happier: helping to improve their surroundings and inspiring others—perhaps even unconsciously for them—to find a better way of experiencing the spaces in their lives.
From day one, what I’ve enjoyed most is designing: seeing a project come to life fills me with pride, but getting to know the client, understanding what they want, how they feel, and what they dream of—beyond their current circumstances—is a wonderful challenge.
Universidad ORT Uruguay eternally grateful to Universidad ORT Uruguay for the opportunity this competition provided for me—and continues to provide for others—to access a formal, rigorous, well-organized, and supportive education, taught by highly professional and compassionate faculty.
To this day, I still remember the passion that several teachers conveyed; it was contagious and helped us feel, understand, and love what we were learning.
Where are you currently working, and what are your main responsibilities?
I currently work part-time as a freelance architect, collaborating with Analía Triay, who is also an ORT graduate. My work focuses on project development. At the same time, I’m pursuing a career as an illustrator.
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2006 Competition / Valeria Gómez – Quartá. Bachelor of Interior Design
What was the main feature of your project?
I designed my ideal space—one I could truly identify with and connect to—that met all my needs and was exactly as I had imagined it. Today, as a professional designer, I find that this remains the most important thing: finding the right solution for the space and the furniture that meets the client’s needs and ensures the final product creates a meaningful experience for them.
How would you describe your time at the School of Architecture?
I have fond memories of my time in college. I always had the opportunity to reach my full potential, and at the same time, I really enjoyed the experience. I gained all the skills I needed to succeed in the workforce.
Where are you currently working, and what are your main responsibilities?
I currently work at BoConcept Cono Sur as the training and visual merchandising manager for stores in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay.
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2007 Competition / Alexia Barbarian – Fussion. Architect
What was the main feature of your project?
My project focused on making the most of the space, versatility, and modernity. It was a project conceived and designed specifically for me, one that would adapt to and reflect my interests and tastes at that time.
How would you describe your time at the School of Architecture?
It was a wonderful, enriching, and challenging experience. I met many friends (who are now colleagues) and teachers who helped shape us both professionally and personally.
Where are you currently working, and what are your main responsibilities?
I run my own architecture and real estate firm. I handle and combine design and construction management with real estate consulting and investment services. Every day brings new challenges, and I love it!
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2008 Competition / José Ignacio Bonifacino – Graffiti. Architect
What was the main feature of your project?
My main idea was to give the project a New York vibe by creating a loft-style room with graffiti on the walls. A street-style look, but youthful at the same time. Basically, I was thinking about what my ideal room would look like when I was 17, living in a space with high ceilings and a large window.
How would you describe your time at the School of Architecture?
What I valued most was the opportunity and motivation it gave me to develop my skills and continue learning, even after I graduated.
Where are you currently working, and what are your main responsibilities?
I work at the interior design firm Hassen Balut. What I enjoy most about my job is working as an architect, starting from a blank page during client meetings all the way through to overseeing and completing the project on-site.
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2009 Competition / Bruno Pedreira – Peace. Architect
What was the main feature of your project?
I’d like to go back to that moment and clearly see what my intentions were when I first conceived the project. What strikes me (quite a bit) is that I find in the project some design decisions—or rather, concepts—that are very much present in my current version. Fluid spaces, with areas defined through elements or features such as changes in height, furnishings, etc. Obviously, I would change everything, but I think that’s the point, isn’t it?
How would you describe your time at the School of Architecture?
This is something I’ve had a chance to ask myself, and I think the answer has been the same for quite some time now. When you embark on a professional career, you’re exposed to all kinds of situations—good and bad. You learn from everything. The way I see it, college provides the framework for everything to happen. So that you can find motivation, develop a passion, build connections that open doors for you, and so on. In my case, after a difficult time in high school, I’m lucky enough to say that I had a lot of fun during my college years. Well, okay, I do miss it a little.
Where are you currently working, and what are your main responsibilities?
I work at TIMB, a firm we founded three years ago with friends I met on the second day of class. In fact, we’re certain that the firm’s DNA was forged during our time in school. My role at TIMB is tied to the early stages of the architectural project. You could say it involves planning or designing. From the studio’s perspective, we see it more as figuring out how we can give whatever it is—be it an office, a real estate development, or the home a family has saved their whole lives for—the greatest possible added value through architecture. Fortunately, every team within the studio has this concept very clear.
Looking back at the work you did for the contest and what you’ve achieved since then, what has been the most important lesson you’ve learned?
I think that looking back on the competition—how it all began—makes me more and more convinced that architecture is a means for other things to happen. Whether it’s classmates who become friends, or friends who become partners. Ideas and concepts that turn into projects, and a couple of sleepless nights at age 17 to submit a competition entry that turned into the opportunity to study and graduate from this university. All with architecture as the excuse.
I think that’s the lesson. That what we have are tools, and we use them in different ways to make certain things happen. Sometimes those things are buildings, homes, businesses, companies, friends… Sometimes they’re scholarships. I think that’s the lesson: that by using architecture as a platform, we can achieve things far greater or more significant than we ever imagined.
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2010 Competition / Jessica Yacono – Untitled Project. Interior Designer
What was the main feature of your project?
In this project, I expressed who I am and what my dream was: my identity as a dancer, my simplicity, and my dream of having a space dedicated to dance. I combined my workspace with my living space (dance studio and bedroom).
How would you describe your time at the School of Architecture?
It was a really great and interesting experience. It reinforced my passion for design and broadened my horizons in many areas. I discovered my full potential, and it gave me opportunities to work with colleagues and professors.
Where are you currently working, and what are your main responsibilities?
I’m not currently working specifically in design; a year ago, I started my own business: a dance school. I put my professional skills to use in getting it off the ground: I renovated the space, designed the layout, and oversaw the various construction projects. Today, I’m both a teacher and the director of the school.
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2011 Competition / Alejandro Danon – Shades. Architect
What was the main feature of your project?
The main feature lay in the interaction between the two floors. This was achieved through the use of two double-height spaces and the interplay of colors between them, among other elements.
How would you describe your time at the School of Architecture?
It was a great experience, and like everything else, it had its ups and downs. Overall, the program is very rewarding and enjoyable, despite the inevitable challenges of a demanding course of study. It’s a program that allows you to build wonderful relationships with your fellow students.
Where are you currently working, and what are your main responsibilities?
I work at TIMB as a Project Manager in the detailed design department.
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2012 Competition / María Noel Rodríguez – Inspiration. Architect
What was the main feature of your project?
My project was based on an ideal space, with generous dimensions and high ceilings. In my mind, it involved renovating a period home—something that has always appealed to me—where the high ceilings could be used to create a mezzanine level, thereby defining different areas within the room.
Based on this, the design included a living area near the entrance for entertaining friends and relaxing; a small, enclosed dressing room beneath the mezzanine; a more private sleeping area at the back; and the mezzanine, intended for painting and drawing.
How would you describe your time at the School of Architecture?
My time in college was very rewarding, both academically and personally. On the one hand, I felt motivated to grow professionally. The School of Architecture presents challenges and demands a great deal of commitment, but overcoming them reaffirms that you made the right choice. And on the other hand, I also made friends who will be with me for life.
Where are you currently working, and what are your main responsibilities?
I recently completed an internship in the Architecture Department of the Ministry of Social Development. There, I worked on design, the preparation of architectural drawings, and construction management. I also work as a freelancer, creating renderings and photomontages for private clients.
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2014 Competition / Marisa Firpo – Snow. Architecture Student
What was the main feature of your project?
The main features of the project were simplicity and the evocation of a snowy landscape.
How would you assess your time at the School of Architecture so far?
Studying architecture has undoubtedly been a challenge, especially since I’ve been doing it while working at the same time.
Where are you currently working, and what are your main responsibilities?
I work in graphic design and as a community manager. I consider design in all its forms to be my calling, and it has become inevitable for me to focus not only on architecture, which is why I have branched out into interior design, graphic design, digital design, and rendering.
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2015 Competition / Juan Pablo Fregosi – Spectrum. Architecture Student
What was the main feature of your project?
When I first conceived the project in my mind, I sought to create a space that was functional, one that would suit the lifestyle one would expect in a space of this kind, but that would also offer a unique sense of space. In that regard, this is achieved by moving away from the rigid, cold square floor plan—a constraint that can only be overcome by experimenting with varying ceiling heights.
In the case of my room, the spatial design aims to create a flow that both integrates and divides the space, allowing for the coexistence of a living area, a study, a bedroom, and even a guest area within a single integrated space.
But in their feedback on each room, the jury pointed out aspects of my design that I hadn’t been able to see—certain strengths that sparked my curiosity about understanding the many perspectives of architecture and design. For the jury, the defining feature was that spectral flow, which, consciously or unconsciously, aligned with the name I gave the room: Spectrum.
How would you assess your time at the School of Architecture so far?
I love it; it challenges me, opens doors for me, and motivates me. Personally, when it came time to choose a major, I was torn. I loved architecture more than anything, but I always wondered: is it enough that I just like it? And in that sense, the competition was the deciding factor: it was time to either try and fail, or try and become even more passionate about architecture. Luckily, it was the second option, and the fact that I went to ORT played a huge role in that. The courses, the teachers, and the atmosphere intensify your passion and make a demanding degree program incredibly enjoyable. They always encourage you to give your best and to push yourself further every step of the way.
Where are you currently working, and what are your main responsibilities?
I work at a firm called ABCN Consultores, which specializes in architectural assessments and audits, as well as the development of architectural projects. My responsibilities range from drafting audit reports to designing primarily single-family homes and housing complexes, both in the preliminary design and final design phases. It’s a job from which I’ve learned a great deal, because it allows me to see both sides of architecture: its conception and its potential flaws; how to proceed correctly and what problems arise or may arise.
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2016 Competition / Sofía Silvera – Curve Bedroom. Architecture Student
What was the main feature of your project?
It was an effort to create something real, with actual dimensions, while challenging modern and curved forms—which is what gave my design its name. I used my bedroom as a model to give it the features I had in mind. To do that, I took actual measurements, reimagined my bedroom, and figured out how to create it, while at the same time picturing myself building it in my own home. That’s what led me to design my room.
How would you assess your time at the School of Architecture so far?
The department is always a constant source of motivation; we’re always designing, creating, and imagining, and I think that’s what our degree program is all about: bringing a design to life. Throughout the semester, we push the boundaries in our projects in ways we probably never imagined we could when we first started our studies.
Where are you currently working, and what are your main responsibilities?
I’m not currently working in the field I’m studying, but I haven’t given up hope. I’m working at a financial firm as an administrative assistant. In any case, my job gives me a lot of opportunities, such as the chance to continue my studies and take courses to further my career.
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2017 Competition / Tomás Ferrari – Curved 180. Architecture Student
What was the main feature of your project?
Its main feature is its shape. It is constructed as a single curved plane that defines the entire project.
How would you assess your time at the School of Architecture so far?
The program motivates me, especially the Project course, which encourages you to create and bring your ideas to life.
Where are you currently working, and what are your main responsibilities?
I am currently in charge of designing an office and a booth at a security trade show for a software company in Brazil. The booth was set up a few weeks ago, and the office design is almost complete.
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2018 Competition / Giuliana Pozzi – Refuge - My Ideal Space. Architecture Student
What was the main feature of your project?
I focused my design on the exterior, specifically on the relationship I wanted that space to have with the landscape—something not every room has. From there, I began to shape the room using the elements visible inside.
What are your expectations for your time at the School of Architecture?
I hope to make the most of the knowledge I gain at this institution to continue refining my design and planning concepts.
Where are you currently working, and what are your main responsibilities?
I'm not working right now.