What convinced you to join the hej.build Architecture Advisory Board?
We have to work together to accelerate sustainable change in the construction sector. I’m looking forward to constructive work that can help change our built environment in a sustainable way.
What is most on your mind at the moment in architecture, interior architecture or building products?
What matters most to me is always having a holistic vision of projects. Above all, that design processes take into account the principles of energy efficiency, resource efficiency, CO2 reduction in construction, the circular economy, human well-being and the integration of nature into the projects.
What does good architecture/interior architecture mean to you?
A difficult question that can’t be answered in a few sentences:
For me, a work of architecture is good when the building is adapted to the climate and its surroundings, is clear in function and form, flexible and multifunctional, energy-efficient and resource-saving, built with durable, high-quality components and materials whose connections allow them to be kept in the cycle, and, last but not least, rich in »third places« where people spontaneously want to spend time. Architecture should evoke feelings in the people who use it.
Is there a current highlight or an all-time favourite project?
Right now, two projects come to mind that show how buildings can contribute to sustainable change:
The Drei-Scheiben-Haus by HPP Architekten: with a very efficient floor plan, the functions are easy to integrate, and the structure is so well thought out that the building has adapted to several generations. The materials are of high quality and durable. The building has been an icon in Düsseldorf since the 1960s and is an example of the circular economy in the construction sector.
The Cradle by HPP Architekten is also a project in which people’s health was the priority from the outset. This and the fact that the building parts can be dismantled make the project a pilot for the new era of architecture. In addition, the high-quality and natural materials have improved the carbon footprint of the embodied energy compared with conventional construction. The building envelope is multifunctional, optimised to improve energy efficiency through its construction, and offers space in between for spontaneous encounters between people. The shape of the facade also gives the building a clear identity.
More experts on the board
Which topic is keeping you busy right now?
Tell us briefly which building products it’s about and what you want to achieve. We’ll get back to you with an initial assessment. We often start with our »Day One« workshop: a day at your premises, where marketing, sales and senior management set priorities together.