What convinced you to join the hej.build Architecture Advisory Board?
For many years, I was President of the bdia (Bund Deutscher Innenarchitektinnen und Innenarchitekten, the association of German interior architects). Alongside committee work and jury duties, I was active there on editorial and trade fair advisory boards. I want to pass on my skills and knowledge, and this Architecture Advisory Board, with its mix of experts, is perfectly suited to that. Every encounter with hej.build so far has been stimulating, informative, motivating and competent. I want to be part of it.
What is most on your mind at the moment in architecture, interior architecture or building products?
In architecture and interior architecture, I am alarmed by the lack of knowledge about our titles of architect and interior architect, and the wrong way they are handled. Where is that leading us? I also work as an assessor in accreditation procedures for architecture and interior architecture degree programmes, so I deal a lot with the aims of our profession. What are the degree and the practical training phase worth? What will the future of this look like?
Fees that give architects and interior architects an adequate income are important for ensuring quality in our design practices. Together with BAK, AHO and the BMWSB, I worked on the amendment of the HOAI 202X for interior architects in a specialist working group in Berlin. I’m curious to see how this develops. As the bdia, we co-wrote the DGNB declaration »Nachhaltigkeit Innenräume« (sustainability in interiors). What is really sustainable in the end, and what is greenwashing? I’m looking forward to the exchange on that.
What does good architecture/interior architecture mean to you?
Good interior architecture isn’t loud and isn’t trendy, but feels intuitively right. It is durable, supports users and residents and makes a lasting contribution to well-being and therefore to health. It gets particularly good when, in new buildings, clients or planners involve interior architects early on.
Is there a current highlight or an all-time favourite project?
As the joint venture ARGE DÖLL|raumwerk, following a public competition, we have just completed a spatial sculpture in the library of Hochschule RheinMain at the Unter den Eichen campus: a place to work and learn, with atmosphere. The collaboration between the disciplines was impressive, and so was the result in terms of time and budget. In this rented building, without intervening in the existing fabric, we created a real feel-good place that allows students to work with concentration.
Why did you become an interior architect?
Being an interior architect is the most beautiful job in the world! Nowhere else are creativity, organisation and business thinking so closely connected. It is wonderful to imagine spaces, walk through them at the end of the project and see how the users and residents make the spaces their own and appreciate them. What’s more, my fellow professionals are all (and this isn’t meant disrespectfully!) crazy, creative spirits whom you love to surround yourself with and work with.
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.