Threadless Challenge Winner

When we laid out the blueprint for our Architecture challenge, we knew it would inspire some fantastic submissions. Sure enough, we were right! You guys sent us over 200 incredible designs depicting the coolest buildings, bridges, houses, and more that knocked our architecture-loving socks off. After a whole lotta careful consideration, we finally named the Portugal-based husband and wife duo team FalcaoLucas the grand prize winner for their design “Within”. Learn a bit more about the artists below, and don’t forget to check out their awesome tee!

CONGRATS ON YOUR WINNING ‘WITHIN’ DESIGN FOR OUR ARCHITECTURE CHALLENGE! WHY DON’T YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF?

We are Tânia Falcão and Avelar Lucas, a couple of Portuguese designers, illustrators, and musicians. We have lived and worked together for more than ten years, but it was only two years ago that we finally decided to create our illustration and animation project.

WHAT ABOUT ARCHITECTURE DO YOU FIND FASCINATING?

Everything! The creation of new liveable physical spaces, the challenge of conquering gravity, the “eternal” aspect of it, etc. But, being both artists and designers, the one thing that fascinates us even more is the seamless blending of two worlds: the creation of a functional and liveable work of art. And, since we live in Lisbon, a city with a great architectonic past, everywhere we look there’s always an opportunity to be inspired.

HOW DID YOU WORK TO RECREATE THE CONCEPT OF ARCHITECTURE INTO A 2-D DESIGN?

By giving it a great sense of perspective and merging two very distinct elements: a classical element (the window) which was represented in a more realistic manner, and a representation of an architectural space through patterned layers composed of simple geometric shapes. The merging of these two very different elements combined with perspective created this unique design.

WHAT EXACTLY DOES YOUR DESIGN ‘WITHIN’ REPRESENT?

It represents the history behind buildings; breaking away their walls to give us a glimpse of the memories, good or bad, of everyone who has lived there. It basically asks, “What’s within?”

YOUR DESIGN IS INCREDIBLY DETAILED. HOW DID YOU WORK TO CREATE IT?

We divided the design into three distinct parts: the windows, the deconstructed walls, and ambience. We started by drawing the windows in a more realistic way with an iPad app and created the pattern with geometric shapes on Adobe Illustrator. We then recreated everything in 3DS Max to create the perspective and a sense of depth, rendering it multiple times to create more material to work with. We then composed the final design and colored it on Adobe Photoshop.

IF YOU CAME UPON A WINDOW THAT LED TO SPACE, WOULD YOU EXPLORE THE OTHER SIDE?

Sure we would! Certainly we would find new things on the other side to inspire us.

WHAT REAL LIFE ARCHITECTURE DO YOU FIND INFINITELY INSPIRING?

The Serpentine Gallery Pavilion by Sou Fujimoto.

IF YOU COULD BE AN ARCHITECT FOR A DAY, WHAT WOULD YOU DESIGN?

Impossible buildings in the style of M.C. Escher.

ANY OTHER SHOUT-OUTS?

Thank you to Threadless for choosing our t-shirt. This is our first print! Thank you to all that voted for us and to our friends that continue to vote for us and support our art.

READ THE COMPLETE INTERVIEW HERE: