GRAFT is conceived as a studio for architecture, urban planning, design, music and the pursuit of happiness. Since its establishment 1998 in Los Angeles, it has been commissioned to design and manage a wide range of projects across multiple disciplines and in numerous locations. Further offices followed in Berlin in 2001 and Beijing in 2004.
We believe in the power of architecture as a tool, best employed not for its own sake, but to represent ambiguous and diverse identities.
Although the company’s core enterprises gravitate around the field of architecture and the built environment, GRAFT has always maintained an interest in crossing the boundaries between disciplines and “grafting” the creative potential and methodologies of different realities. This is reflected in its expansion into the fields of exhibition and product design, art installations and academic projects, as well as in their variety of project locations around the world.
Grafting Identities
Architecture is a cultural technique. It is never self-contained, nor finite; it is part of a complex cultural cycle in service of society as a whole. As a result, architecture is always a representation of society rather than an autonomous discipline. The importance of identity within designed space, from individual to community, from city to region, cannot be underestimated. At a time when there is a blurring of boundaries between the real and the virtual, urban and rural, and local and global, our built environment plays a fundamental role in defining identity.
GRAFT is responding to the challenges of the future with an optimistic attitude towards multiple and simultaneous identities, which enables a higher degree of complexity. There is no such thing as one single truth, and we believe that hybridization enhances the qualities of its constituent characteristics.
Our design process is evidence-based and human-centered. Our approach stems from scenography and movement rather than tectonics. In this way, we are able to create dynamic, flexible architecture that allows multiple readings.
Founding Partners
LARS KRÜCKEBERG
M.Arch., Dipl.-Ing. Architekt, BDA
Founding Partner of GRAFT
Lars Krückeberg studied architecture at the Technical University Braunschweig, Germany, where he graduated with a Dipl.-Ing. Arch. He received his Master of Architecture at the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc), Los Angeles, USA. In 1998 Lars Krückeberg established GRAFT in Los Angeles together with Wolfram Putz, and Thomas Willemeit. GRAFT has won numerous national and international awards and garnered international fame with a widespread following throughout its existence. GRAFT today employs 100 architects and designers worldwide.
WOLFRAM PUTZ
M.Arch., Dipl.-Ing. Architekt, BDA
Founding Partner of GRAFT
Wolfram Putz studied architecture at the Technical University Braunschweig, Germany, where he graduated with a Dipl.-Ing. Arch. He received his Master of Architecture at the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc), Los Angeles, USA. In 1998 Wolfram Putz established GRAFT in Los Angeles together with Thomas Willemeit, and Lars Krückeberg. GRAFT has won numerous national and international awards and garnered international fame with a wide-spread following throughout its existence. GRAFT today employs 100 architects and designers worldwide.
THOMAS WILLEMEIT
Dipl.-Ing. Architekt, BDA
Founding Partner of GRAFT
Thomas Willemeit studied architecture at the Technical University Braunschweig where he graduated with a Dipl.-Ing. Arch. Besides his successful career in the architectural field, he won numerous national prizes as a violin player and a chorister. In 1998 Thomas Willemeit established GRAFT in Los Angeles together with Wolfram Putz, and Lars Krückeberg. GRAFT has won numerous national and international awards and garnered international fame with a widespread following throughout its existence. GRAFT today employs 100 architects and designers worldwide.
Partners
SVEN FUCHS
Dipl.-Ing. Architekt
GRAFT Partner
Sven Fuchs studied architecture at the Technical University of Braunschweig and graduated in 2004 with a Dipl.-Ing. At that time, he was already working as an artist and achieved early recognition with a first prize in the international architecture competition for the Spielbudenplatz in Hamburg, in collaboration with Planungsring Mumm + Partner. Sven Fuchs has been with GRAFT since 2006. He became a partner at GRAFT in 2018 and, in addition to business development, is also responsible for human resources in our company.
GEORG SCHMIDTHALS
Dipl.-Ing. Architekt
GRAFT Partner
Georg Schmidthals studied architecture at the Technical University of Graz and the Technical University of Cottbus, where he graduated in 2005 with a Dipl.-Ing. Arch. He worked as a design tutor for master and bachelor students at the Institute for Architecture and Culture at the Artesis Hogeschool in Antwerp. As an architect, Georg Schmidthals held leading positions at Jürgen Mayer H. in Berlin and Stuttgart, and LENS°ASS in Brussels. In 2013 he founded his own architectural office AND’ROL in Namur, Belgium. Georg Schmidthals has been with GRAFT in Berlin since 2015 and became a partner in 2018. He is responsible for numerous ongoing projects, new project commissions and competition participation.
Team
Our work features designs for projects in the fields of residential and commercial architecture, health care, mobility, digitization, work, branding, master planning and urban culture, all of which graft different realities into new hybrids.
With projects in more than 30 countries, our work as well as our employees are truly international. Our team of about 100 architects, interior designers, communication experts and administrative staff works from offices in Berlin, Los Angeles and Shanghai.
Management
SVEN FUCHS
Partner · Executive Director
Architekt, Dipl.-Ing.
TOBIAS HEIN
COO
Dipl.-Ing. Architektur
LARS KRÜCKEBERG
Founding Partner · CEO
Architekt, BDA, M.Arch., Dipl.-Ing.
WOLFRAM PUTZ
Founding Partner · CEO
Architekt, BDA, M.Arch., Dipl.-Ing.
GEORG SCHMIDTHALS
Partner · Management Projects
Architekt, Dipl.-Ing.
THOMAS WILLEMEIT
Founding Partner · CEO
Architekt, BDA, Dipl.-Ing.
Communication
ALMA GROSSEN
Public Relations
M.Sc. Architecture
SARAH JOHN
Public Relations
Dipl.-Museol.
MARIA LUDEWIG
Head of Public Relations
M.A.
REGINE OTT
Architect
M.Sc. Architektur
Administration
ANJA DAMME
Accounting
ROMAN PUZICHA
Workplace Manager
ANGELIKA REHE
Accounting Management
Architektin, Dipl. Ing.
EDYTA SAJEWICZ
Office Manager
ULRIKE SEIFERT
Controlling
Dipl.-Kauffrau
Directors
DANIEL FINCK
Director
Architekt, M.Sc.
ANNETTE FINKE
Senior Director
Architektin, Dipl.-Ing.
ANNE KLEINLEIN
Department Director QM
Architektin, Dipl.-Ing.
CASEY MCSWEENEY
Department Director
M.Arch.
JANE PARK
Asia Representative
M.A. Interior Design
KATRIN STAHN
Department Director HR
ARNE WEGNER
Senior Director
Architekt, Dipl.-Ing.
DAVID WEHRMEISTER
Department Director BIM
Dipl.-Ing. Architektur
MAIKE WIENMEIER
Department Director
Architektin, Dipl.-Ing.
Project Leads
PETER BUCHE
Senior Project Lead
Architekt, Dipl.-Ing.
AGATA FILIPOWICZ
Project Lead
B.Sc. Architektur
JANNIS JASCHKE
Senior Project Lead
Dipl.-Art., M.Sc. Architektur
ALEKSANDRA KISZKIELIS
Project Lead
M.Sc. Architektur
JULIA KRAFFERT
Project Lead
M.Arch.
ACHIM KRAYL
Senior Project Lead
Dipl.-Ing. Architektur
SASCHA KRÜCKEBERG
Project Lead
Dipl.-Ing. Architektur
FILIPA LEAL DE CARVALHO
Senior Architect
M.Arch.
CAROLINE LOSSACK
Senior Project Lead
Architektin, Dipl.-Ing.
ANTONIO LUQUE
Project Lead
Architekt, Arq.
SIMONE MARTINI
Project Lead
MSc. Arch.
SEBASTIAN MASSMANN
Senior Project Lead
Architekt, Dipl.-Ing.
ALEXANDER MORITZ
Senior Project Lead
Architekt, Dipl.-Ing.
JAVIER NIETO CANO
Project Lead
Arq.
PAULA ROSCH
Senior Project Lead
Architektin, Dipl.-Ing.
MATTHIAS RÜMMELE
Senior Project Lead
Dipl.-Ing. Architektur
MATTHIAS SCHLENDER
Project Lead & Contract Management
Dipl.-Ing. Arch.
MICHAEL STOLL
Project Lead & Construction Supervision
Dipl.-Ing. Architektur
MAXIMILIAN WELLNER
Project Lead
M.Sc. Architektur
ARCHITECTS
SEAN CJ ABUNDO ALAVAZO
Architect
M.Arch
BESHER ALYOUSSEF
Architect
M.A. Architektur
ANDREI-FRIEDERICH ATANASOAIE
Senior Architect
Architekt, M.Arch.
DAVID GREVE
Architect
M.Sc. Architektur
ALEXANDRA BAACK
Architect
B.Sc. Architektur
GEETIKA BHUTANI
Architect
M.Sc. Architektur
MATHILDE CATROS
Senior Architect
M.Arch.
FOIVOS CHALKIOPOULOS
Junior Architect
Dipl. Architect Engineer
HUGO CHEVASSUS
Architect
M.Arch.
KENT CHUANG
Senior Architect (BIM)
BSc. Architektur
DUA NUR CIFTCI
Senior Architect
M.A. Architektur
IVANA DAMJANOVIC
Senior Architect
M.Arch.
KENO DIOP
Intern
B.Sc. Architektur
DANIEL DOMINGUEZ MORALES
Senior Architect
Architekt, Arq.
MARCO FALZONI
Senior Architect
M.Arch.
ANA GALVEZ
Senior Architect
M.Arch.
SEBASTIAN GERNHARDT
Senior Architect
Dipl.-Ing., M.Sc. Architektur
MARIA GOLDSTEIN
Senior Architect
M.Sc. Architektur
ZSOLT GONDOS
Senior Architect
Dipl.-Ing. Architektur
SORIN GABRIEL GOŞA
Senior Architect
Architect, M.Arch.
HARPREET KAUR
Senior Architect
B.Arch.
ONUR KEMAL KÖSEDAĞ
Senior Architect
M.Arch.
NIKOLAS KRAUSE
Senior Architect
Dipl.-Ing. Architektur
TATIANA LEBEDEVA
Senior Architect
M.Sc. Architektur
KARSTEN LITTAU
Senior Architect
M.Arch.
THERESA LOHSE
Architect
M.Sc. Architektur
DORIAN MANDZUKIC
Senior Architect
M.Arch.
PHILIPPOS MICHAEL
Senior Architect / BIM-Coordinator
M.Sc. Architektur
MARIE POTH
Senior Architect
Dipl.-Ing. Architektur
MARK RESCHKE
Senior Architect
M.Sc. Architektur
MARCO SCHACHT
Architect
M.Sc. Architektur
MIRA SCHADE
Senior Architect
M.Sc. Architektur
LEON SEIBERT
Architect
M.Sc. Architektur
ELENA SHEPELEVA
Senior Architect
M.Arch.
SELEN SÖNMEZ
Junior Architect
M.Sc. Architecture Typology
LUIS TOMAS
Senior Architect
Architekt, Arq.
AIKATERINI TSIREPA
Architect
Architektin, M.Sc.
INGA VON TÜRCKHEIM
Senior Architect
Architektin, Dipl.-Ing.
RAFAEL VARGAS
Junior Architect
Master Architektur
TIMO VORTISCH
Architect
Architekt, M.Sc.
MARTA WEGNER
Senior Architect
Mgr Inż. Arch.
BOJAN ZDRAVKOVIĆ
Senior Architect
Dipl.-Ing. Architektur, M.Arch.
Recognition
The five partners give lectures worldwide and provide insights into future-relevant topics and GRAFT's architectural approach. Lars Krückeberg, Wolfram Putz and Thomas Willemeit have held several visiting professorships in the USA, Italy, the Netherlands and Germany and are members of the expert team of the think tank Zukunftsinstitut.
GRAFT has won numerous international awards. Our projects have been displayed in exhibitions around the globe.
Publications
TASTE IS THE LACK OF APPETITE. Hybrid approaches to architecture, Ausstellungskatalog, 2023, AEDES, Berlin
IDENTITY. New Commercial, Cultural and Mobility Architecture, 2020, Birkhäuser De Gruyter, Berlin
Unbuilding Walls. From Deathstrip to Free Space - Exhibition catalog, 2018, Birkhäuser De Gruyter, Berlin
FUTOPOLIS – Urbanisierungsstudie, 2018, Zukunftsinstitut GmbH, Frankfurt
GRAFT Home. Story., 2017, Birkhäuser De Gruyter, Berlin
Architecture Activism, 2016, Birkhäuser De Gruyter, Berlin
Immobilien Report 2016 – Communicating Architecture, 2015, Zukunftsinstitut GmbH, Frankfurt
Immobilien Report 2015 – Living Spaces, 2014, Zukunftsinstitut GmbH, Frankfurt
Distinct Ambiguity, 2011, Gestalten, Berlin
Architecture in Times of Need, 2009, Prestel, München
Graftworld, 2007, Aedes, Berlin
Year
Lectures
Verein Forum Stadtbild, ICC Lecture, Berlin, Germany
Light+Building, Presentation JUNG Unique Collection, Frankfurt a.M., Germany
BDA-Partnertag “Planning and building with AI”, Lecture, Berlin, Germany
Awards
Callwey Best Workspaces 2024, Award, TRILUX Light Campus
Designverse Awards 2023-2024, Space Category - Jury Grand Prize, ICE STADIUM SCHIERKE, CHARLIE LIVING und HUMAN HORIZONS
Callwey Immobilien des Jahres 2024, 1.Preis, DOXS NKLN
Exhibitions
Exibition for german urban planning award 2023, Werksviertel Munich
Besides GRAFT’s architectural work the company also acts as a catalyst for socially impactful initiatives. GRAFT collaborates with leading entrepreneurs in different fields to establish long lasting solutions for the future – as a continuous effort for tackling problems of the 21st century.
In 2007, together with Brad Pitt, Bill McDonough and the Cherokee Foundation, GRAFT established the Make It Right Foundation, whose objective was the rebuilding of New Orleans’ Lower 9th Ward after Hurricane Katrina.
GRAFT’s self-initiated projects also include SOLARKIOSK, a company founded with the German lawyer Andreas Spieß in 2009 to bring clean energy, connectivity and solar products to rural areas in sub-Saharan Africa.
In 2024, Jana M. Mrowetz and GRAFT founded URBAN CELL, a modular concept for the planning, construction and operation of sustainable residential neighborhoods with a vibrant community.
