In view of the rapid spread of the Covid-19 virus we have taken all necessary precautions in recent weeks to protect the health of all employees, their families and our customers. With the help of efficient digital routines we are able to continue all current projects as planned.
For any questions, please contact our PR team via >> pr@graftlab.com.
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Our founding partner and CEO Thomas Willemeit will hold a keynote entitled ‘DISSOLVING BORDERS’ at the multinational software corporation SAP’s headquarter in Walldorf, Germany.
With SAP Design Talks experts from some of the world’s strongest brands are invited to share their inspiring stories behind the design of their products.
The award-winning talks have hosted many renowned design experts from brands as diverse as BMW, Amazon, Ubisoft, Coca-Cola, Nike and Cirque du Soleil. They take place at SAP’s headquarters in Walldorf, Germany, with additional locations in Bangalore, Montreal and Shanghai.
Date: February 26, 2020
Where: SAP HQ, Walldorf, Germany
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We’re delighted to announce that our project Ice Stadium Schierke Feuerstein Arena was nominated for the AIT Award in the category Sports and Leisure.
A total of 943 projects were registered. After a preliminary check for completeness, 877 competition entries from 47 countries were admitted to the AIT Award 2020 l Best in Interior and Architecture.
In autumn 2019, architects, interior designers and designers worldwide were invited to submit implemented projects for the AIT Award 2020 l Best in Interior and Architecture. The competition, which was launched in 2012, immediately became one of the largest competitions for architecture and interior design worldwide with entries from 47 countries. As in previous years, the AIT Award 2020 l Best in Interior and Architecture combines interior design and architecture in one prize and focuses on the world’s architectural centres (Europe, North America, Middle East and Far East). This year’s AIT Award is divided into 14 different categories. All types of architectural projects and interiors completed after 30 June 2017 were eligible for submission. An internationally renowned jury consisting of architects and interior designers awards one first prize per category as well as 2nd and 3rd prizes and special mentions.
Jury
Walter Angonese, Walter Angonese Architekt, IT-Kaltern
Kim Marc Bobsin, Seel Bobsin Partner, DE-Hamburg
Ester Bruzkus, ester bruzkus architekten, DE-Berlin
Simon Frommenwiler, HHF Architects, CH-Basel
Werner Frosch, henning larsen architects, DK-Copenhagen
Marieke Kums, Studio Maks, NL-Rotterdam
Roger Riewe, Riegler Riewe Architekten, AT-Graz
Amandus Samsøe Sattler, Allmann Sattler Wappner Architekten, DE-Munich
Christian von Wissel, HSB, DE-Bremen
More on Ice Stadium Schierke Feuerstein on the project page >> https://bit.ly/37nlBZQ
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From March 10 – 13, 2020 GRAFT will be present at the international real estate fair MIPIM in Cannes. You will find us with a booth at the German Pavilion ( Riviera Hall, Booth R07.G38), as well as a shortlisted candidate with our project WAVE at MIPIM Awards in the category Residential Development. The Award Ceremony will take place on March 12 at Palais de Festivals in Cannes.
We very much appreciate your voice in the elections of the Award winner, but even more to see you there!
For meetings with our founding partner Thomas Willemeit please contact us via email (>>> pr@graftlab.com or via telephone ( >> +49 (0) 30 30645103-17)
For more information on the GRAFT booth please visit the >>> Website of the German Pavilion on MIPIM
More information on the award can be found on the >>> MIPIM Award Website
Fair Website >>> www.mipim.com
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On the occasion of African Drone Forum in Kigali, Rwanda our Founding Partner Lars Krueckeberg will give a a keynote. Since winning the competition in 2019, GRAFT is the designer for the landing infrastructure and landing pads, so called VoloPorts, of fully electronic air taxi Volocopter.
Emerging technologies can play a vital role in improving the lives of people in hard-to-reach rural communities across the continent, increasing resilience, and leapfrogging existing infrastructure to deliver significant socio-economic benefits. The African Drone Forum is a timely multi-stakeholder engagement programme that will take place in 2020 in Rwanda, a country already using drone technology to improve the lives of its citizens. This Forum will showcase the latest drone technology, convene experts and regulators together in a Symposium, and challenge drone companies to take part in flying competitions with real-world elements.
When? February 5-7, 2020
Where? Kigali, Rwanda
More information on >>> africandroneforum.org
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We are delighted to announce that our lately completed residential project ‘WAVE waterside living berlin’ was shortlisted for the MIPIM Award in the category ‘Best Residential Development’!
The final winner will be announced during MIPIM on 12 March 2020 at Palais des Festivals in Cannes! We hope to see you there.
More on the award >> www.mipimawards.com
More on WAVE >>> on our project page
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GRAFT Founding Partner will be a workshop speaker on the Foreign Trade Day Architecture, Planning and Construction on the topic ‘Europe and Africa – Building New Partnerships together’.
When: Tuesday, February 11, 2020
Where: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
More information >>> on the website of NAX
Workshop with GRAFT Founding Partner Lars Krueckeberg: ‚Sustainability in Africa – What does it take?‘
13h00 – 14h30
Workshop Participants:
S. E. Dr. Abdallah Saleh Possi, Botschafter der Vereinigten Republik Tansania
– Phyllis Chege, Afrika kommt! / GIZ
– Lars Krückeberg, GRAFT (Solarkiosk)
– Ludwig Pfeiffer, Ludwig Pfeiffer Hoch- und Tiefbau
– Erwin Nolde, Nolde & Partner
– Till Gröner, supertecture / Young Bavarian Architects
– Thilo Vogeler, Foreign Trade Chamber for East Africa. Kenya
Presenter: Katja Hellkötter, Constellations International
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Save the Date: Our founding partner Lars Krueckeberg was one of the winners of the Villa Massimo scholarships for the academic year 2018/19. On January 25 and 26 the scholarship holders’ works, which was created during the residency in Rome, will be on view at the KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin. Join us!
When: January 25 and 26, 2020
Where: KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Auguststraße 69, 10117 Berlin GERMANY
More information >>> on the website of Villa Massimo.
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On the occasion of H.O.M.E magazine’s 20st birthday we were invited by the editors to design „THE HOME 2020“, which can be seen fully fitted out in the magazine’s jubilee edition! The 3D Modell and VR Tour can be seen for the first time at imm cologne January 13-19, 2020 and throughout Europe afterwards.
Address: Imm Cologne, Messe Köln, Halle 11.2 H-020/J-021
Date: January 13 – 19, 2020
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GRAFT and Marianne Birthler announce a second round of Graft Travel Grants!
2018 marked the 28th anniversary of the fall of the inner German border wall and the point at which the Wall had been gone for exactly as long as it had existed. GRAFT and Marianne Birthler, the curators of the German Pavilion at the 16th Architecture Biennale in Venice, took this parallel as an opportunity to explore the topic of “UNBUILDING WALLS”. Following on from the exhibition and the issues it raised, the curators announced two Travel Grants with a value of 3000 € each.
Applications should be sent to media@graftlab.com and be submitted by 14 March 2020.
Find out more on the project page >> https://bit.ly/34AXQw8
Applications Documents can be downloaded >>> here!
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We’d like to wish you Happy Holidays and a Joyful New Year! We’re already looking forward to 2020, with lots of exciting news and projects to share with you in the coming months.
Carry on reading for our highlights of 2019 and a sneak peek to 2020 here >>> https://bit.ly/2YYGrw1
Yours sincerely,
Lars Krückeberg, Wolfram Putz, Thomas Willemeit, Sven Fuchs, Dennis
Hawner, Georg Schmidthals and all GRAFTies
(c) Besher Alyoussef
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We’re looking forward to announce more projects in China very soon in collaboration with our new strategic partner Neuni Group in Shanghai.
Depicted above is our recently completed project Lux Lake Towers in Chengdu, China.
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On the occasion of Berlin Energy Agency’s advent dinner GRAFT founding partner Thomas Willemeit will give a keynote on the future of cities.
When: Wednesday, December 11, 2019, 7:00 pm
Where: Letter & Wegner, Gendarmenmarkt, Berlin
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On the occasion of Management Forum in Starnberg GRAFT Partner Georg Schmidthals will give a keynote entitled ‘Flexible Workspaces – Workplaces for Digital Nomads’. The overarching topic of the conference is ‘Future Offices 2019’.
When: November 3, 2019, 9:30 am
Where: Management Forum Starnberg, Maximilianstraße 2b, 82319 Starnberg, Germany
More information: https://bit.ly/38q6ukj
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The new TRILUX light campus in Cologne, in the categories “Interior Design” and “Excellent Product Design – Lighting”.
For our client we developed an innovative office building, and jack be nimble contributed the lighting concept to present the products of the lighting manufacturer in all areas of the new building in a creative and modern manner.
Congratulations to Trilux and jackbenimble! We are happy having contributed the “cloud” installation in the entrance area. The TRILUX lamp “Parelia” designed by GRAFT can also be found throughout the entire building.
Jury Statement by the German Design Council: “Special solutions, such as the “cloud” installation hanging sculpturally from the ceiling of the reception area or the “cloud” provide an especially impressive and representative demonstratation of what is possible and lend the brand a high level of competence with regard to modern lighting design. An interesting combination of exclusive lighting design an elegant design idiom.”
More on the TRILUX blog: https://bit.ly/2sKuMVM
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We’re happy to share the realized projects of our two „Travel Grant 2019“ winners Brooke Adams and Antonio Giraldez Lopez.
Last year, GRAFT together with Marianne Birthler curated the German Pavilion at the 16th Architecture Biennale in Venice with an exhibition entitled „Unbuilding Walls“, dedicated to the 28th anniversary of the inner German border wall. The exhibition examined the unique spatial phenomenon of the void of the border zone, illustrated by twenty-eight projects that have since attempted to recode and reinhabit the former death strip in different ways.
In order to keep the spirit of UNBUILDING WALLS alive, we decided to grant two travel fellowships of 3.000 € each to two winning student’s proposals examining the topic of built, physical or strategic interventions aimed at overcoming barriers, taking the form of a concrete project or of political nature.
The topic for the next GRAFT Travel Grant Call will be announced soon, so stay tuned if you are interested in applying!
Click here to learn more about Antonio and Brooke’s finished projects >>> Project Page UNBUILDING WALLS TRAVEL GRANT 2019
Special thanks go to Antonio and Brooke for their efforts and outstanding results!
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GRAFT joins the worldwide collective Architects Declaration on Climate Breakdown and Biodiversity Loss Emergency as a founding signatory of its German wing!
We hope that every German architectural practice will join us in making this commitment.
Our world is under siege by a climate and a biodiversity crisis and the collective considers both as the biggest problems of our time. Buildings and their construction play an important part, as they account for around 40% of all carbon dioxide emissions. Architects Declare calls upon architects and clients to complete a paradigm shift, towards a regenerative, self-sufficient, ecologically sustainable architecture.
In general, the collective aims to: raise awareness concerning the twin crises, a faster transition to regenerative solutions, share and distribute knowledge, evaluate new projects according to the collective’s goals and encourage clients to do the same, augment existing structures as a CO2-saving alternative to new buildings, take buildings’ life cycle into account more, integrate more sustainable design principles, reduce building waste further by furthering cooperation between contractors, engineers and clients, further the use of ecologically responsible materials and reduce resource squandering.
For more information and to join us please visit >> de.architectsdeclare.com
The list of signatories will be updated regularly.
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“The dependence of humanity in an increasingly changing environment becomes more and more obvious. In the Anthropocene, what we have designed must be understood as part of this changed concept of nature and prove worth preserving over generations.
GRAFT sees itself in the context of an architectural scene that aims to experiment with an innovative formal vocabulary and joyfully integrates the opportunities of new technologies, not only in our daily practice, but in an array of projects worldwide that focus on the development of underserved communities.”
GRAFT
Please join us for the exhibition opening of “Letters to the Mayor” at DAZ Berlin, with a contribution by GRAFT.
What ideas, visions and expectations do architects and stakeholders of the city have for Berlin?
As part of a global exhibition project, the DAZ, together with Storefront for Art and Architecture from New York, has invited 100 international architects and city stakeholders to formulate their ideas for a sustainable Berlin worth living in and to address them directly to the government.
These letters with suggestions for a livable, sustainable Berlin will be officially handed over to the Governing Mayor Michael Müller at the opening on November 15, 2019 at DAZ and he will discuss individual letter topics with Matthias Böttger, DAZ.
Opening: Friday, 15 November 2019, 19h00
Exhibition: 16 November 2019 – 2 February 2020, Wed – Sun 3 – 8 pm
More Information: https://bit.ly/2NKplhv
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On the occasion of the Family and Brands Summit 2019 organized by Brands Lab International, GRAFT founding partner Thomas Willemeit will give a lecture entitled ‘Global Future Living Trends in Architecture’.
Family and Brands will be a two day event to present projects, Brands and investment opportunities in front of like-minded professionals from real estate, branding, development, investment, architecture and sustainability that will join forces to grow and share different perspectives from different parts of the globe. FAB 2019 will be opened by Portugal’s governmental representatives.
When: November 15, 2019, 14h00
Where: Palacio Estoril, Lisbon, Portugal
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We’re happy to announce that our residential project WAVE – waterside living berlin, directly located at the river Spree is completed.
Find out more on our project page >> https://bit.ly/2NkubSz
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From November 4th – 10th Berlin celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Peaceful Revolution and the fall of the Berlin Wall in seven days and seven locations. Among them a GRAFT exhibition and talk.
In 2018, Marianne Birthler and GRAFT founding partners Thomas Willemeit, Wolfram Putz and Lars Krückeberg showed “Unbuilding Walls” in the German Pavilion at the 16th Architecture Biennale in Venice. The curators used the occasion of the 28th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall to examine the effects of this 28-year-long division and the process of healing as a dynamic spatial phenomenon. During the preparations, the journalist and documentary filmmaker Maria Seifert travelled to border walls all over the world. The resulting video installation “Wall of opinions” shows the people she interviewed, and was part of the Venice exhibition.
On the 10th of November there will be a talk accompanying the exhibition. Panelists will be the curators Marianne Birthler together with the GRAFT founding partners Lars Krueckeberg, Thomas Willemeit and Wolfram Putz, interviewed by Maria Seifert.
EXHIBITION
When:
Monday, 4. November, 10:00 am – 10:00 pm
Tuesday, 5. November, 10:00 am – 10:00 pm
Wednesday, 6. November, 10:00 am – 10:00 pm
Thursday, 7. November, 10:00 am – 10:00 pm
Friday, 8. November, 10:00 am – 10:00 pm
Sunday, 10. November, 10:00 am – 10:00 pm
Where: Brandenburger Tor, opposite the program pavillon, Berlin
More information: https://bit.ly/2C0RslV
TALK
When: Sunday, November 10, 2019, 18:00 – 19:00 Uhr
Where: Brandenburger Tor, Programmpavillon, Platz des 18. März, Berlin
More information: https://bit.ly/32WVt6E
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GRAFT founding partner Lars Krueckeberg will be part of a panel alongside Franco Stella, Massimo Alvisi and Luca Montuori at University Roma Tre in Rome.
30 years after the fall of the Wall, Berlin remains an open construction site. Architecture has strongly marked the appearance and identity of the city. How has the face of Berlin changed today? Where do we stand with German and European reunification? And above all: what is the Italian contribution to all this?
When: Monday, 4 November 2019, 18h00 – 19h30
Where: Università Roma Tre, Aula Adalberto Libera in L.go Giovan Battista Marzi, 10, Rome
Free admission – Registration per mail: eventi.architettura@uniroma3.it
Language: Italian
PARTICIPANTS:
Franco Stella, Architect (Architect of the reconstruction of the Berlin Imperial Castle as “Humboldt-Forum”)
Lars Krückeberg, Architect (Visiting professor at Roma Tre University, Villa Massimo Scholar 2018/19)
Massimo Alvisi, Architect (Founder of Alvisi Kirimoto and G124 tutor)
Luca Montuori, Councilor for Urban Planning of the Municipality of Rome
GREETINGS: Prof. Luca Pietromarchi, Rector of the University of Roma Tre; Prof. Giovanni Longobardi, Director of the Department of Architecture
MODERATION: Francesca Sforza, La Stampa
CONCLUSIONS: Viktor Elbling, Ambassador of Germany in Italy
GRAFT founding partner Wolfram Putz will give a talk and take part in a panel discussion at the Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe in Hamburg, Germany. The Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe is currently showing the traveling exhibition SOCIAL DESIGN that presents 25 international projects in the fields of urban space and landscape, housing/education/work, production, migration, networks, and the environment. Among them is also GRAFT’s Solarkiosk, an adaptable off-grid power supply solution. Find more Information the SOLARKIOSK in our online portfolio. The event is hosted by Friedrich von Börries.
Exhibition tour
When: Wednesday,
October 23, 2019, 5pm – 6pm
Where: Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe, Hamburg, Germany.
Panel Talk
When: Wednesday,
October 23, 2019, 7pm – 8:30pm
Where: Foyer of HFBK, Hamburg, Germany
Our housing project PARAGON APARTMENTS was awarded with a first prize last week. The Award Deutscher Wohnungsbau is the first German client award in the typology of multi-storey apartment buildings. Official supporters include the Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI), the biggest European trade fair for real estate and investment Expo Real and the architecture magazine Baumeister. We are very honored and thankful for this recognition!
The jury included Cornelia Dörries, architecture journalist und author, Isa Fahrenholz, journalist for the architecture magazine Baumeister, Reiner Nagel, chairman of Bundesstiftung Baukultur, Ulrich Nolting, CEO of InformationsZentrum Beton, Amandus Sattler, Allmann Sattler Wappner Architekten, Josef Schmid, Member of the regional comitee housing, construction and infrastructure, as well as Prof. Sophie Wolfrum, professor at TU Munich.
Find out more information on the project in our online portfolio.
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GRAFT founding partner Thomas Willemeit will give a talk on the occasion of the launch of the FUTURE FORUM by BMW Welt, a platform which illuminates different facets of the future, inviting visionaries and experts from various industries and disciplines to take visitors on their journey into the cities of the future in exciting formats. His keynote “Futopolis. Dissolving Borders” describes future urban developments that challenge the relationships between people and nature, infrastructure and the public and private sphere. The Keynote will be followed by a panel talk on the topic of “Mobility in the City of the Future” with speakers Dr. Ayesha Khanna (CEO and Co-Founder ADDO AI Singapore), Martina Starke (Director Munich Studio Designworks), Antony Douglas (Head of Customer & Communications BMW Group Mobility Services Strategy) and Thomas Willemeit.
When: Thursday, October 17, 2019, 7pm
Where: BMW Welt, Munich, Germany
Watch the livestream on Instagram or Facebook.
Meet us at this year’s Expo Real on 7th – 8th October 2019!
As a special highlight, GRAFT founding partner Wolfram Putz will give a keynote on future work environments demonstrated by latest GRAFT projects.
When: Monday, 7th of October, 11am
Where: Expo Real Munich, TLG Immobilien / Hall 3, Booth 111
More >> http://www.tlg.de
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GRAFT Founding Partner will participate in two panels at this year’s German Architects’ Days with the overarching topic “Relevance – Shaping Spaces”.
10:55 – 12:10h / Room 4:
Panel discussion: ‘Economy – Falling down, getting up, carrying on – The rocky road to success abroad’
Participants: Jette Cathrin Hopp (Snøhetta), Prof. Roland Dieterle (Spacial Solutions), Lars Krückeberg (GRAFT Founding Partner)
16:00 – 17:00h / Room 1:
Panel discussion: ‘Occupational Policy – Development and Partnership – What is International Assistance?’
Participants: Anna Heringer (Architect), András Szekér (Project Lead Habitat for Humanity), Michael Grausam (humantektur), Lars Krückeberg (GRAFT Founding Partner)
When: Friday, September 27, 2019, 11:45 am
Where: bbc Berlin Congress Center
More informationen >> https://bit.ly/2nw2NX7
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On the occasion of Heinze Symbosien GRAFT Founding Partner Lars Krückeberg will give a keynote entitled ‘Dream. Design. Deliver’. It will be on the notion of ‘skin’ in architecture, exemplified by current GRAFT projects.
When: September 24, 2019, 2:30 pm
Where: Heinze Architektur Symbosien, Täubchenthal, Wachsmuthstr. 1, 04229 Leipzig
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This year marks the 18th anniversary of our Berlin office, exactly 21 years after founding the company in Los Angeles!
To express our gratitude towards all supporters along our “Coming of Age” journey, thriving on three continents, we invited to a jubilee celebration at Berlin’s Holzmarkt last weekend.
Special thanks go to Michael Müller (Governing Mayor of Berlin) for the welcoming speech, BRLO for GRAFT Anniversary beer, the amazing crew of Holzmarkt, Katerschmaus and Säälchen, Sonja Alhäuser for creating an extra-special Anniversary ice-cream sculpture, Frank Duske for an outstanding live performance by Kat Koan and every single person wo helped us celebrate this magical night!
Photo (c) Marie Wonka
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On the occasion of the conference ‘Shift Automotive’ at IFA 2019, GRAFT founding partner Wolfram Putz will give a lecture entitled “Changing parameters: the future of mobility“. The overarching topic of this year’s conference is “The Digital Revolution in Mobility – Future Needs, Innovations and Visions”.
Sharing models for cars or jobs are part of a new urbanity that requires innovations in mobility and blurs old boundaries. The city and its periphery are converging, and distances within the city will become increasingly shorter in the future. The physical and mental mobility of society is growing, and with it the field of activity of architects.
In our studios, we are currently not only concerned with building design, but also with mobility concepts for the near and distant future. For some years now, GRAFT has been working with leading providers in the field of electromobility and developing concepts at the interface between architecture and mobility.
When: Tuesday, September 10, 2019, 4:15 pm
Where: IFA, Messe Berlin
More informationen >> https://bit.ly/323xFgy
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Charlie Living is a residential project and the first block of a new ensemble of buildings at Checkpoint Charlie on Friedrichstrasse in central Berlin.
Find out more >> on the project page.
Photo © Trockland
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We are proud to announce that our project ICE-STADION SCHIERKE was honored „Winner“ at this year’s ICONIC AWARDS in the category „Innovative Architecture“. ICONIC AWARDS: Innovative Architecture, established by the German Design Council, is the first independent international architecture and design competition to take into account the interplay between the various disciplines. The focus of the award is on holistic production and interaction between the trades in the context of architecture.
Learn more about ICE-STADION SCHIERKE in our portfolio.
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Construction update: WAVE - two interacting residential buildings directly located at the river Spree and the Eastern harbor in Berlin, are soon to be finished.
More information on the project >> https://bit.ly/2T0A5t5
Photo © Studio Bowie
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GRAFT Founding Partner Thomas Willemeit, alongside Marianne Birthler, will give a lecture on UNBUILDING WALLS and the effects of division and the process of healing as a dynamic spatial phenomenon at Hitzacker Summer Music Festival; Germany’s oldest chamber music festival:
When: Saturday, August 8, 2:30pm
Where: VERDO Concert Hall, Dr.-Helmut-Meyer-Weg 1, 29456 Hitzacker
More information >> https://bit.ly/2Zq8ynm
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On July 19th 2019, for the ninth year in a row, architecture, arts and design will be celebrated at km 278 of the Adriatic coast, on Marzocca beach (Senigallia). This year’s main theme is Eurotopia, interpreted both as the last “possible utopia” and as a space for representation and for social, cultural and professional development. GRAFT founding partner Lars Krückeberg will participate in a panel on Biennale 2019 with the title “May we stand on interesting beaches”.
When: July 19th, 1pm
Where: Marzocca Beach, Senigallia, Italy
On the 3rd of July GRAFT founding Partner Thomas Willemeit will hold a lecture on scenography and interior architecture at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich.
When: July 3, 2019, 7:30 pm
Where:
Academy of Fine Arts Munich
Department of Design and Display
Akademiestrasse 2-4
80799 Munich
More information >> https://architekturdesign.adbk.de/
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We’re excited to be finalist in this year’s Architizer Awards with two of our recently finished projects: Schierker Feuerstein Arena and Showpalace Munich, both in the category Sport & Recreation – Stadium/ Arena.
Until the 5th of July you can vote and help us become a winner >>> https://bit.ly/2LjOFKn !
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GRAFT founding partner Lars Krückeberg was selected as one of nine scholarship holders of the German Academy Villa Massimo Rome. The scholarship holders, who started their jobs in September 2018, belong to the elite of German artists and creatives. The residency enables composers, writers, architects and visual artists to find inspiration and new artistic orientation. Visitors of the final celebration had the chance to visit his studio and exhibition on Solstice, Equinox, Meridian and the Equation of time.
We cordially congratulate Lars to his successful exhibition!
For more information about Villa Massimo and the other scholarship holders, please visit: www.villamassimo.de
Exhibition text (available in German and italian only)
Relativer Kosmos – fragmentierter Oikos
RaumZeitCollage
Die Menschen haben schon immer nach oben geschaut, um aus den vermeintlichen himmlischen Gesetzen von Bewegung im Weltraum (dem Kosmos) ihren Lebensraum (den Oikos) zu ordnen. Augustus ließ auf dem Campo Marzio eine gewaltige Sonnenuhr als urbanes Konzept planen, um aus den ewigen Regeln der Sonnenbahnen die Legitimation seiner Regentschaft und der Pax Romana für die bekannte Welt abzuleiten. Sonnenuhren funktionieren immer nur lokal und durch die Ekliptik der Erdbewegung und dem Phänomen der Zeitgleiche läuft die wahre Zeit schneller oder langsamer als unsere Uhren im Jahr: unsere Zeit und damit unser Raum ist relativ.
Dieses Raumzeit-Phänomen wird durch die Installation eines katoptrischen Meridianes – also durch einen Gnomonspiegel reflektierend – und seiner Zeitgleichenabweichung deutlich gemacht. Ein Meridian beschreibt die genaue Achse zwischen Norden und Süden und verankert den Sonnendurchgang aller Tage des Jahres exakt auf sich. Die Raumfigur der Zeitgleiche allerdings zeigt die wahre Bewegung der Erde, die sich je nach Nähe zur Sonne mal schneller oder langsamer dreht und damit die Länge unserer Minuten, Stunden und Tage verändert: die Abweichung der Raumzeit von der globalen Konvention einheitlicher Tage, das Relativieren von vermeintlich ewigen Ordnungsprinzipien, wird so räumlich anschaulich und begreifbar.
Die Wahrheit von Zeit und Raum ist eine Frage der Perspektive.
Ästhetischer ReKonstruktivismus
Die Geschichte der Architektur oszilliert ebenfalls zwischen der Suche nach gültigen Regeln und der Sehnsucht nach künstlerischer Freiheit. Gerade Rom in seiner fragmentierten Ästhetik eines vierdimensionalen Palimpsests fordert bis heute eine persönliche Standortbestimmung zwischen der Regelhaftigkeit eines Winckelmann mit seinem Gebot der Nachahmung idealer Formen und der radikalen Freiheit eines Piranesi, der virtuos das Zerbrochene in einer eigenen Wahrheit neu formiert. In einer zunehmend fraktalen Welt und Gesellschaft fasziniert auch heute der Versuch das vermeintlich Unpassende, Fremde, ja Gegensätzliche im Dienste einer Synthese zu neuer Gestalt und möglichen Wahrheit zu ordnen. So mögen neue, komplexere und adaptierfähige Regeln entstehen um unsere dynamische Gesellschaft, unseren Oikos immer wieder neu zu ordnen.
Works on show:
On the occasion of Architecture Days 2019 in Cologne GRAFT Project Lead Sara Gómez will give three guided tours at one of our recently completed projects ‘TRILUX Light Campus’.
The design of the cubic structure is heavily inspired by the client’s craft: light, refraction and reflections are mirrored throughout the building’s architecture. A continuous, staggered glass façade creates another mirror figure depending on the viewer’s perspective. The building houses office and exhibition areas as well as communication zones.
When: Tuesday, 14 May 2019
Guided Tours: 12:00, 16:00, 18:00
Where: TRILUX Light Campus, Mathias-Brüggen-Straße 75, 50829 Cologne-Ossendorf
Meeting Point: Reception Hall
For more information please visit >> https://bit.ly/2EMd3QT
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On the occasion of a lecture series organised by ARGE e.V. GRAFT Senior Project Lead Sebastian Massmann will hold a lecture entitled “Stadt, Land, Zukunft”.
When: Wednesday, June 19, 2019
Where: Neumuenster
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The world’s first retail outlets with Mercedes-Benz’s new brand identity can already be seen in car dealerships in Hong Kong, Beijing, Budapest and Istanbul. For three years, GRAFT has been working on concept development and engineering creating design guidelines and planning tools that will be implemented at sales and service locations around the world. The planning catalogue ranges from specifications for the facade and roof design to the interior design of customer contact areas, including media integration and furniture design.
Together with the creative agency TRIAD from Berlin, GRAFT won a two-stage competition against renowned international competitors. The concept of a new, seamless customer experience with modular “touchpoints”, developed in close cooperation with Mercedes-Benz and TRIAD, responds to changing offline and online customer expectations. With the goal of developing a customer-oriented retail experience, GRAFT’s striking architecture and high-quality interior design creates flowing transitions from inside to outside.
Link to project page: https://bit.ly/2KYrkhh
Photo Credit: © Hiepler Brunier
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Heinze regularly organises lecture days in order to foster in-depth dialogue between players of the building sector – from planning over science to economy – thereby promoting innovation and progress in the construction sector.
This year’s anniversary marks the highlight of the Heinze ArchitekTOUR, where architects and planners in eight German cities were invited to one-day lectures. As part of this, GRAFT founding partner Wolfram Putz will give a lecture entitled “At Home on Three Continents”.
When: June 6, 2019, 7:00 pm
Where: Showpalast München, Hans-Jensen-Weg 3, 80939 Munich
More information: https://bit.ly/2WAgmpp
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On the occasion of Luxury Business Day in Munich GRAFT Partner Georg Schmidthals will hold a keynote entitled “Architecture Matters” in which he will talk about the future in architecture and urban design based on current GRAFT projects , from classic planning for residential buildings, over hotels, health care industry to commercial and cultural buildings, as well as self-initiated and socially sustainable projects.
When: Thursday, 6 June 2019, 12:30 pm
Where: EY, Arnulfstraße 59, 80636 Munich
For more information please visit >> https://bit.ly/2Msq7B9
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Save the Date: On the 31st of May, GRAFT founding partner Lars Krückeberg will be part of a panel discussion with Angelo Capasso, author of ‘NATURANS – Landscapes in contemporary art.’ The book analyses the meaning of “landscapes” in the history of art – from the second half of the nineteenth century up to the present day and comes down to propose a possible answer to the oldest question: “What Is Art?”:
When: Friday, 31 May 2019, 5.30 pm
Where: Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea, Rome
More information: https://bit.ly/2W7RsMv
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On the ocassion of the event “Architecture and Energy” organized by NaBEK (Sustainable construction in development cooperation and disaster relief) GRAFT Senior Project Lead Sebastian Massmann will give a lecture on SOLARKIOSK, in which he will share his experience as Technical Director in the design process, development and construction of the energy-autonomous sales kiosk.
With SOLARKIOSK, GRAFT and Andreas Spiess have built an infrastructure instrument that can create an impact from the bottom up, cooperating directly with local people and developing their community.
When: Friday, May 24, 2019
Where: Centre Francais, Berlin
More Informationen: https://bit.ly/2QDZt70
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Skyports and Volocopter announced a cooperation to build the first mobile Volo-Port for air taxis. UK-based global vertiport owner and operator Skyports and air taxi pioneer Volocopter unveiled plans for the Volo-Port – the physical landing pads for so-called eVTOL (electric take-off and landing). Construction of the first Volo-Port will be completed later this year. The partners plan to build it in Singapore for the scheduled public flight trials in the second half of 2019. A full-scale Volocopter vehicle is on display at the GreenTech Festival.
Ground-based vertiport infrastructure is critical to the success of future urban air mobility (UAM), including air taxi operations in congested cities.
Vertiports are the only physical infrastructure required for air taxis to commence operations in cities in the near future. Volo-Ports are designed to provide passengers with a seamless air taxi experience that is safe, secure, and relaxing.
In cooperation with GRAFT Architects and Arup, Berlin agency GRAFT Brandlab won the Volocopter international tender to produce the Volo-Port design.
Link to project page: https://graftlab.com/portfolio_page/air-taxi-volo-port/
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On the occasion of the 25th Brillux Architect’s Forum GRAFT founding partner Wolfram Putz will give a keynote entitled “Moderne sucht Heimat”. Over the years, Brillux Architect’s Forum became an industry platform for dialogue and exchange, taking place in different locations each year. This year’s event focuses on the topic “Between convention and vision: impulses for the future of building”.
When: Monday, May 20, 2019, 4:30 pm
Where: Gasometer Berlin, EUREF-Campus 18, 10829 Berlin
For more information please visit >> https://bit.ly/2wrb2Fl
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On the occasion of the TRILUX Partner Summit, GRAFT partner Sven Fuchs will give a lecture on “Light in harmony with architecture” in which he will, among other things, report on how visions shape thinking and acting at GRAFT. Trilux Light Campus is a prime example of how a vision became reality and how innovative spatial concepts emerge when light is in harmony with architecture.
When: Friday, 10 May 2019
Where: Trilux Light Campus, Cologne
More information: https://bit.ly/2W7RsMv
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GRAFT Director of Communications, Nora Zerelli has been responsible for the campaign of “Unbuilding Walls”, the German Biennale contribution 2018 curated by GRAFT and Marianne Birthler. On the 17th of May, she will give a lecture at Quadriga University focusing on the exhibition concept, the communication strategy as well as her experience as Project Lead.
When: 17 May 2019, 2 pm
Where: Quadriga University, Berlin
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On the occasion of multi-part event series „Infrastructure and Elements of Public Space“, GRAFT Director of Projects Stefanie Götz will give a keynote on Ice Stadium “Schierker Feuerstein Arena”, followed by a workshop discussion.
When: Tuesday, 14 May 2019
Where: Wallraf-Richartz-Museum, Cologne
For more information please visit >> https://bit.ly/2UxPhRH
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GRAFT founding partner Wolfram Putz will giva a keynote on sketching in times of digital transformation. The keynote entitled “Crossmedia Sketching” deals with artistic and technical possibilities in the form finding process and gives an outlook on innovations in this field.
When: Friday, May 10, 9:15
Where: ANCB The Aedes Metropolitan Laboratory, Christinenstrasse 18-19, 10119 Berlin
more information can be found here: https://bit.ly/2WxQVk9
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On the occasion of the Future Mobility Summit in Berlin, GRAFT founding partner Thomas Willemeit will hold a keynote entitled ‘Future Spaces for Mobility’. The keynote will cover topics of urban development in times of transforming transportation and a new urbanity.
When: April 8, 2019, 5:30 pm
Where: Gasometer, Berlin
More information on the event can be found on >> https://bit.ly/2H72RV0
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GRAFT partner Sven Fuchs will give a lecture on April 5 at the ARCH + DSGN Summit in Istanbul. The keynote entitled ‘Less is Future’ will be about the big questions of our time and how they can be addressed by architects and designers. Special focus will be on the chances of new technologies such as Virtual- and Augmented Reality and GRAFT’s related projects SOLARKIOSK or Parametric (Dream) Room Design.
When: April 5, 2019, 5 pm
Where: ARCH + DSGN SUMMIT, Istanbul, Turkey
More information on the event can be found on >> https://bit.ly/2WGTEr6
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GRAFT founding partner Wolfram Putz held a lecture entitled ‘Dream. Design. Deliver.’ at the SARP Gallery in Katowice by invitation of the Polish Chamber of Architects.
When: March 28, 2019, 6:00 pm
Where: SARP Gallery, Katowice, Poland.
For more information please visit >> https://bit.ly/2HQPsln
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Soon to be finished: Our project Templiner Park in Berlin Prenzlauer Berg provides 107 apartments and retail spaces.
Learn more about this project >> Templiner Park
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Soon to be finished: the project BRICKS, a mixed-use complex in Berlin Schoeneberg, connects renovated buildings with new ones, making contemporary use of the historical brick material.
Learn more about this project >> berlinsbricks.com
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To mark the centennial anniversary of the Bauhaus design school, the ‘beyond bauhaus’ competition is calling visionary designers from across the world to contribute concepts and prototypes which address relevant social issues, and aim to make the world a healthier, fairer, more sustainable and better place. GRAFT founding partner Wolfram Putz will be part of the Jury.
Apply until March 31st for a chance to travel to Berlin at the organizers’ expense and to present your project in an exhibition in Germany’s design capital this summer: www.beyondbauhaus.com
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At in:situ, The New Zealand Institute of Architects Conference 2019, 11 accomplished international architects will visit Auckland to share insights about their work and the contemporary practice of architecture.
GRAFT founding partner Wolfram Putz will speak at the conference alongside Reinier de Graaf, Ma Yansong and Sadie Morgan! His keynote takes place on February 14, 3:45-5:00pm at Spark Arena in Auckland, New Zealand. At the end of his presentation there will be a question session facilitated by Christopher Hawthorne, the chief design officer of Los Angeles.
When: February 14, 3 pm
Where: New Zealand Architecture Conference, Spark Arena, Auckland, NZ
For more information please visit >> https://www.insitu.nzia.co.nz/
GRAFT founding partner Wolfram Putz will hold a lecture on January 30 at Knauf Architec in Stuttgart’s Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle. The lecture entitled “Homeland and Identity, Departure and Experiment – What will shape architecture and urban planning in the future.” deals, among other things, with the effects of the advancing digitization in urban planning.
When: Wednesday, January 30, 2019, 4:00 pm
Where: Knauf Business Days Architec, Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle, Stuttgart.
More information about the event can be found here: www.knauf-werktage.de/de/knauf-architec/
The jury committee selected two winners from numerous applications from over ten countries for this year’s UMBUILDING WALLS Travel Grant on January 14. We congratulate Antonio Giráldez López with “MORE THAN WALLS” and Brooke Adams with “UNBUILDING HERE” to their convincing proposals and wish them much joy and success in the realization within the coming months. Follow us on Facebook to learn more about the projects as they unfold.
Thanks to everyone who sent in a proposal and helped make the first UNBUILDING WALLS travel fellowship a success.
www.facebook.com/graft.official
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Today we celebrate the completion and opening of the latest GRAFT project, the new headquarters of the German lighting company TRILUX in Cologne. The design of the rectangular building is strongly inspired by the client’s craft: light, refraction and reflections. The innovative Smart Workingscapes provide the optimal balance between spaces for privacy and communication.
Find out more about the project in our online portfolio.
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As part of the “Social Design” exhibition at the Museum fuer Gestaltung in Zurich, GRAFT founding partner Lars Krückeberg will talk to curator Angeli Sachs about the SOLARKIOSK as a social infrastructure instrument and the development of the project.
When: January 16, 6 pm
Where: Museum für Gestaltung Zurich, Toni-Areal, Zurich
For more information please visit https://museum-gestaltung.ch/de/events/der-solarkiosk-als-soziale-infrastruktur/
GRAFT partner Georg Schmidthals will give a lecture at the world’s leading trade fair for architecture, materials and systems ‘BAU 2019’ in Munich. His keynote “Higher. Denser. City” will be about opportunities and challenges in the housing sector.
When: Wednesday, January 16, 3pm
Where: BAU 2019 / Hall B4, Stand 131, Munich, Germany
GRAFT founding partner Wolfram Putz will give a lecture about GRAFT and the Biennale exhibition UNBUILDING WALLS at the University of Applied Sciences Koblenz. The keynote is part of the lecture series ‘Profile der Architektur’.
When: January 16, 7 pm
Where: University of Applied Sciences Koblenz, RheinMoselCampus, Koblenz Karthause, Konrad-Zuse-Straße 1, 56075 Koblenz
For more information please visit https://www.hs-koblenz.de/architektur/die-fachrichtung/
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The design of Ice Stadium ‘Arena Schierke’ was awarded with a ‘Special Mention’ by the ‘German Design Council at the German Design Award 2019. The reason given by the jury was the light and airy characteristics of the dynamically curved roof construction.
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UNBUILDING WALLS, GRAFT and Marianne Birthlers exhibtion in the German Pavilion at this year’s Architecture Biennale in Venice has been honored in the Exhibition & Installation category of the 2018 Best of the Year Award.
When: Friday, November 30, 2018, 5pm
Where: Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, 655 West 34th Street, NYC
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Thomas Willemeit founding partner of GRAFT will give a lecture under the title “Dream, Design, Deliver” to students and interested guests in Karlsruhe on 28th of November 2018 in the context of the University´s lecture series Reality Check #4.
The lecture will focus on the professional background of GRAFT, on its aim to combine contrary approaches and on unconventional projects in the field of “Architecture Activism”.
When: Wednesday, 28th of November 2018, 7 pm
Where: Egon Eiermann Lecture Hall, KIT Karlsruhe
GRAFT founding partner Thomas Willemeit will present an award on Friday, November 19, at the “Wunder. Wonda. Wannenraum” design competition. The requirement for the participants was to choose a marble block on site, from which they should then design their interpretation of a tub space. A total of eleven architectural firms took part in the competition.
When: November 16th, 6:00 pm
Where: Breitwieser, Hochäckerstraße 11, A-3430 Tulln
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GRAFT founding partner Wolfram Putz will give a keynote on Tuesday, November 27 at 6 pm for the Architekturpreis Berlin e.V.. The event is organized together with the commercial law firm ZIRNGIBL, the FUNK Gruppe and BIM Berliner Immobilienmanagement GmbH. In his lecture “UNBUILDING WALLS – Dealing with the last Open Spaces of Berlin” Wolfram Putz will speak about the contribution to the 16th Architecture Biennial by GRAFT and Marianne Birthler.
When: 27th November 2018, 6:00pm
Where: KutscherHaus am Kurfürstendamm 50a / George-Grosz-Platz.
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GRAFT founding partner Lars Krückeberg gives a lecture at the Università degli Studi Roma Tre in Italy on Friday, 16th of November. The lecture deals with the development of the curatorial concept for the German Pavillion at the 16th Architecture Biennale in Venice, which was created together with Marianne Birthler and ARCHITECTURE ACTIVISM as a possible attitude for architects.
When: November 16, 10:45 am
Where: Aula Musmeci, Dipartimento di Architettura, Via Aldo Manuzio, 68L, Roma (ex Mattatoio)
For more information please go to >> http://architettura.uniroma3.it/?eventi=conferenza-di-lars-kruckeberg
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GRAFT Partner Georg Schmidthals is giving a lecture at the Hochschultag on lightweight construction. The key note “Dream. Design. Deliver” also covers GRAFT design methods and focal points of research.
When: November 15th, 12am
Where: Vienna House qf Dresden, Neumarkt 1 in 01067 Dresden
GRAFT founding partner Thomas Willemeit is giving a dinner speech on Wednesday, October 24, at the Energy Congress organized by the Federal Chamber of German Architects and the KfW bank. The speech covers possibilities of reducing grey energy in the planning and construction process. The aim of the Congress is to provide a new outlook on how the building sector can support the energy turnaround.
When: Wednesday, October 24, 7pm
Where: KfW Bank, Berlin
In 2013 GRAFT teamed up with healthcare professionals of Charité Berlin to examine and improve the Intense Care Unit rooms and help patients heal better. Today we are proud to share with you the positive outcome of our research and design:
The delirium rate of patients treated in the ICU rooms designed and planned by GRAFT was significantly lower (46%) compared to the patients treated in the standard rooms (76%).
Read more about our evidence-based design in the abstract of the official medical paper here: https://bit.ly/2AjdiRy
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On Friday, September 28th, 2018, the exhibition “HYBRID TBILISI – Reflections on Architecture in Georgia” opens at the German Architecture Museum (DAM) in Frankfurt. Therefore the DAM hosts a Georgian Architecture Event with GRAFT founding partner Thomas Willemeit and Georgian architect Giorgi Khmaladze. Willemeit and Khmaladze will discuss the contradictions of the Caucasian metropolis Tbilisi which sees itself confronted by a growing number of spectacular new constructions and late Soviet form experiments.
The evening will be moderated by Peter Cachola Schmal, director of the museum. The talks will be held in English.
When: Tuesday, October 23rd, 7 p.m.
Where: Deutsches Architektur Museum, DAM Auditorium, Frankfurt am Main
Price: 5€/ 2.50 € reduced
For more information please visit: http://www.dam-online.de/portal/de/Start/Start/0/0/0/0/1581.aspx
On Monday, October 22, GRAFT founding partner Thomas Willemeit gives a key note at the Institute of Urban and Cultural Area Research. The lecture with the title “Limits of Space in the Age of Mobility” deals with the topic of enhancement of space through an increase of connectivity.
When: Montag, October 22, 7pm
Where: Leuphana Universität Lüneburg, Room C 5.029
On Saturday, October 27th, GRAFT founding partner Lars Krueckeberg will give a guided tour through the German Pavilion for “Gesellschaft der Freunde der Akademie der Künste”. He will explain the exhibition concept of UNBUILDING WALLS, curated by GRAFT together with the civil rights activist and politician Marianne Birthler for the 16th Architecture Biennale in Venice.
When: October 27th 2018 , 11 a.m.
Where: German Pavilion at the Giardini of the Biennale di Venezia
On Saturday, October 20th, GRAFT founding partner Thomas Willemeit was invited to give a lecture on the future of urbanism and mobility for Porsche AG. Thomas Willemeit discussed, amongst other things, the systemic shift of renewable energy cycles and the extension of spatial perception through digital devices and screens.
When: October 20th, 11 am
Where: BRLO BRWHOUSE
GRAFT founding partner Thomas Willemeit will give a keynote at the Kunsthalle Goeppingen on Friday, October 19th as part of the “9th Night of Architecture”. In his lecture he will speak about the future of cities and how new urban developments will influence our perception of the city.
When: October 19th, 2018, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Kunsthalle Goeppingen
Masterplan and Urban Strategy
The masterplan created by GRAFT is integrated into the future-oriented business corridor of the Didube Chughureti quarter in the northern part of Tbilisi’s city center.
In addition to a public landscape, the project envisions two dynamically shaped office towers that will house the offices of the new headquarters of the Georgian railway company as well as a railway museum. The overall design focuses on an enriching working environment that takes a holistic approach to the well-being of its users and creates a wide range of functions for visitors and residents.
The project is currently in the negotiation phase.
As a continuation of the exhibition UNBUILDING WALLS at the 16th Architecture Biennale in Venice, the curators of the German Pavilion, the architects GRAFT and the politician Marianne Birthler, are initiating and awarding two UNBUILDING WALLS travel grants worth 3,000 euros each.
In addition to classical research and design projects, initiatives, media documentaries or other conceptual ideas dealing with the subject of UNBUILDING WALLS will also be supported.
Carried by the idea of sensitizing the next generation to walls, boundaries and their implications, the curators would like to deepen the topic as a field of research. Students can apply with architectural and artistic projects about built, physical or strategic interventions aimed at overcoming barriers. The aim of the work may be designs and investigations on physical interventions or on the social and political significance of walls and borders.
Applications can be submitted between the 3rd of October and the 31st of December 2018 to media@graftlab.com
Find more details in the announcement and the application form here
The Single Parenting Retreat is located in the very south of Lake Garda, where a small peninsula reaches into the lake and offers a spectacular panorama over the water northwards to the Alps. GRAFT´s design follows the special characteristics of the place. The design integrates various functions that offer both children and their parents a diverse recreational program in breathtaking nature. GRAFT achieves the combination of organic design and natural conditions through the thematic following of the shape of the butterfly.
The design was developed in the context of a competition for a hotel for single parents, awarded by the Cavallino Bianco Family Spa Grand Hotel.
The Sueddeutsche Zeitung Magazin invited GRAFT to take part in the Design Special in early autumn 2018 on the subject of wood. The task is to design an extraordinary birdhouse. In addition to GRAFT, the invitation was addressed to seven other international architects and designers.
The idea for the design of the bird house was already born in 2007, when GRAFT won the competition for the realization of a pilot project for energy-efficient building with a zero-energy house on BIRDS ISLAND in Kuala Lumpur. The original design of the organic outer shell, which dissolves the wall and thus creates a new spatial structure, has been simplified for the birdhouse, but also retains its function and figure in this smaller format. Our principle here is unusual design that does not stop at everyday objects.
The issue of the Sueddeutsche Zeitung Magazin with the Design Special will be published on the 28th of September.
The Old Mill Hotel Belgrade was promoted to the exclusive new brand in the Radisson Hotel Group portfolio – Radisson Collection. The Radisson Collection is a premium lifestyle collection of exceptional hotels located in unique locations. The Old Mill Hotel is situated in the white city of Old Belgrade, near the banks of the River Sava. GRAFT transformed the historic building of the “Old Mill” into a 4-star hotel. The ambitious interior concept embraces the existing historical structure and enhances it with new materials, colors and shapes, bringing out its original qualities and creating a unique visual experience.
In a joint venture with 8minutenergy/Abundant Future Organization and the HOPE Foundation, SOLARKIOSK was able to install five solar powered mini-clinics within the HOPE Field Hospital for Women. The new clinics will provide inpatient and outpatient care, preventing unnecessary death and disability within the displaced Rohingya community.
In a short period over just a few months, the Bangladesh government together with many donor organizations has built new camps for approx. 800,000 refugees from the Rohingya commmunity in Myanmar. Bangladesh, being one of the poorest countries in the world, accomplished to prevent a human catastrophe in a remarkable endeavor, supported by the international community of donors and NGOs, among them HOPE International, a medical organization based in Bangladesh and lead by Dr. Mahmood. HOPE has built a huge compound to treat pregnant and traumatized women in the Rohingya camp.
Almost one year after the start of the Rohingya refugee crisis, continued efforts are still needed to further scale up health services for almost 1.3 million people aground in the Bangladeshi Area of Cox’s bazaar. The field hospital is one of very few health care facilities currently operating in the densely populated area. SOLARKIOSK was able to contribute its solar powered E-HUBB technology and implement 5 mini-clinics, each with 2kwP, equipped with air condition, fridges for medicaments and vaccination, ECG and other testing devices, treatment and delivery rooms. SOLARKIOSK and GRAFT believe that the solar powered clinics play a key role in implementing much needed health infrastructure among the Rohingya camps.
CEO Andreas Spiess said at the inauguration event: “Today we are very blessed to witness a heroic endeavor of the people of Bangladesh, who rescued their neighbors, the Rohingya minorities, from one of the largest humanitarian catastrophes globally. We in Europe can learn a lot from Bangladesh, who are themselves an underserved nation, when it comes to effective and caring charity. SOLARKIOSK is proud and grateful for its modest contribution of five solar powered mini-clinics for Rohingya women and in particular thanks to 8Minutenergy / Abundant Future Foundation for their never-ending support in making this challenging project a success.”
Critically acclaimed architects GRAFT designed the SOLARKIOSK as a modular, robust, secure, expandable, lightweight and beautiful kit of parts, to be assembled at its target location. The kiosk is an off-grid solution for sustainable energy provision: It will substitute extremely expensive unclean energy with low-priced and clean solar power and give access to services such as business, education, communication, health and many more. In the form of a clinic, this is enabling a superior level of medical services in off-grid settings.
SOLARKIOSK was founded in 2010 by German lawyer Andreas Spiess together with GRAFT founding partners Lars Krückeberg, Wolfram Putz and Thomas Willemeit. A very special thank you goes to our engineering team Ben and Nas, who worked non-stop for many weeks to ensure the flawless technical operation of the clinics.
On October 4th, 2018, the vernissage of the exhibition “Social Design” takes place at the Museum für Gestaltung in Zurich. It presents relevant international projects and discusses the redesign of social systems as well as living and working environments.
A loom for starting a business, a house to build yourself or a SOLARKIOSK for local power supply: Social design is design for and with society. The consequences of the globally operating economy growth are becoming increasingly serious for people and the environment. Social design faces the rising imbalance in terms of resources, means of production and future opportunities and focuses on a new, equal exchange between individuals, civil society, state and economy.
Anyone can shape society! Share your knowledge, opinions and ideas in the exhibition forum.
Vernissage: Thrusday, October 4th 2018 – 7 p.m.
Exhibition: October, 5th 2018 – February, 3rd 2019
Where: Museum für Gestaltung Zürich, Toni-Areal
For more information about the exhibition please visit: https://museum-gestaltung.ch/de/ausstellung/social-design/
GRAFT founding partner Wolfram Putz will give a lecture at the 4th BEOS FORUM – Think ahead on Friday, September 21st 2018.
The lecture “Condensed Spaces” addresses a more effective use of inner city areas in order to fulfill the growing demands due to increasing population growth.
When: Friday, September 21st 2018, 12 – 12:30 p.m.
Where: eWerk GmbH | Halle F | Mauerstraße 78-80 | 10117 Berlin
For further information about the BEOS AG please visit: https://beos.net/beos-ag/wissen/beos-forum/
On Thursday, September 20th, 2018, GRAFT founding partner Thomas Willemeit will give a keynote speech at the symposium of the Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development on the topic of “Vario Housing”. In the face of a global housing crisis, rising land prices and a blatant lack of affordable housing in conurbations, the issue of housing has moved into the centre of social debate.
How can residential construction be designed to be sustainable and fair? Does residential construction fundamentally need new approaches or can it not be taken up with the tried and tested?
When: September 20th 2018, 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Where: Hotel Oderberger, Berlin, Germany
Further information on the program and the registration form for the seminar can be found at: https://www.forschungsinitiative.de/variowohnungen/03-netzwerk/veranstaltungen/fachsymposium-wohnungsbau-092018/
GRAFT designed the masterplan of EQUILALAND, a theme parc that is all about the world of horses. The official opening ceremony takes place on Sunday, September 16 in Munich and visitors get the chance to take an exclusive look behind the curtains of the fantastic show. Five pavillons have been designed by GRAFT next to Showpalace Munich.
In the “Horse Spa”, the keepers can be examined during daily care. Those who do not have enough of this knowledge can take a seat in the “Children’s University”, where knowledge about the world of horses is imparted in a playful way.
For more Information about the EQUILA theme parc please visit:
www.cavalluna.com/equilaland
In the context of the DAAD Alumni Seminar on “Urban Development and Future Planning in Europe” GRAFT founding partner Wolfram Putz gives an impulse lecture and analyses good examples of modern housing concepts and urban interventions in the city.
The two-day event starts on Friday, 14.09.18, with impulse lectures and an evening program for exchange and networking. Topics include vulnerability and resilience in cities and architecture, people-oriented urban planning and international urban development.
When: Friday, September, 14th.2018, 2:40-3:15 p.m.
Where: Gaggenau, Landesakademie Schloss Rotenfels / BRD
Lars Krückeberg was selected as one of nine scholarship holders of the German Academy Villa Massimo Rome. The scholarship holders, who will start their jobs this week, belong to the elite of German artists and creatives. The stay abroad enables composers, writers, architects and visual artists to find inspiration and new artistic orientation.
GRAFT wishes Lars Krückeberg the best on his trip – we are looking forward to many tasks, synergies and new plans from Rome.
For more information about Villa Massimo and the other scholarship holders, please visit:
In August 2018 the Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies selected GRAFTs project BRLO BRWHOUSE as the winner of this year’s International Architecture Award for the best new international architecture 2018.
The International Architecture Awards reflect the change of global architecture, presents current design directions by leading architecture offices and gives an important global overview of new developments in the different typological themes.
For more information about the awards, please visit the website of the Chicago Anthenaeum museum of Architecture and Design: www.chi-athenaeum.org
or the European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies www.europeanarch.eu
On Friday, July 20 2018, GRAFT Architects together with the client Trockland and the builders inaugurated the shell of BRICKS on Schöneberger Hauptstraße.
The two new buildings are part of the former postal buildings already renovated by GRAFT, which are situated over the entire block between Schöneberger Hauptstraße and Belziger Straße. The two new buildings on opposite sides of the complex will complete the block and close the two remaining gaps within the overall structure.
The two new buildings comprise a total of 128 apartments and offer space for commercial and retail use. The building on the Hauptstraße opens its facade and provides public access to the inner courtyards of the complex.
GRAFTs submission for the German pavilion has been shortlisted for the Expo 2020 Dubai among five other projects.
The architecture of the pavilion creates a symbiosis of efficiency and progress paired with beauty of the landscape and a comprehensive thought of sustainability.
A special focus is on the long-term performance of the construction: All components and materials are easy to dismantle and separate, so that the entire structure can be reused elsewhere or recycled.
GRAFT founding partner Lars Krückeberg will lead a delegation of 60 participants of the International Baukultur Symposium through the German pavilion on the 28th of June. He will explain the exhibition concept of UNBUILDING WALLS, the German contribution to the 16th Architecture Biennale in Venice.
The International Baukultur Symposium “Building Bridges” will take place in Venice from 26th of June to 28th of June 2018. During the three-day program the Federal Foundation for Building Culture invites to various lectures and symposia on the cultural development of the building landscape.
The exhibition UNBUILDING WALLS reacts to current debates about nations, protectionism and demarcation. This year Germany is reunited for 28 years – as long as the inner German Wall existed. With reference to this parallel, the effects of division and the process of healing are examined as a dynamic spatial phenomenon.
When: June 26th-28th 2018, UNBUILDING WALLS on June 28th 2018, 12.30 pm
Where: German Pavilion, Giardini Biennale di Venezia
For more information about the program, please visit the German website https://www.bundesstiftung-baukultur.de/en/network/international-network-meetings/international-baukultur-symposium-0
“Walls are temporary structures. Our exhibition asks the question: What happens after a wall comes down? Even if it disappears completely, it usually leaves behind very unusual spaces.”
On June 26, GRAFT founding partner Lars Krueckeberg gives a lecture in the Zentrum fuer Baukultur of the State of Saxony and discusses the topic of the exhibition UNBUILDING WALLS, shown at the Architecture Biennale in Venice. GRAFT is curating this year’s German Pavilion together with civil rights activist and politician Marianne Birthler.
The lecture is part of the program “Semper, Selbermachen und andere Stichworte zur Baukultur”.
When: June 13th-30th 2018, UNBUILDING WALLS on June 26, 2018, 6pm
Where: ZfBK – Zentrum für Baukultur Sachsen, Schlossstrasse 2, Dresden
Free entry
For more information about the program, please visit the German website http://www.zfbk.de/portfolio/unbuilding-walls/
This weekend, on June 23th and 24th the Tag der Architektur 2018 (Day of Architecture 2018) takes place according to the motto “Architecture stays!”. All over Germany, architects open their offices and offer guiding tours through their built projects.
GRAFT offers guided tours through the URBAN NATION MUSEUM FOR URBAN CONTEMPORARY ART in Berlin and the Schierker Feuerstein-Arena Saxony-Anhalt. The respective project leaders offer guided tours through the buildings for interested visitors and present a unique insight into the design idea.
Berlin
Saturday, June 23rd 2018
URBAN NATION MUSEUM FOR URBAN CONTEMPORARY ART, Bülowstraße 7, 10783 Berlin
Open tours on at 1:30 and 3 p.m.
Meeting point: Zietenstraße in front of the museum
Saxony-Anhalt
Saturday, June 23rd 2018
Feuerstein Arena, Am Winterbergtor 2, 38879 Wernigerode
Open tours at 1, 2:30 and 4 p.m.
We are looking forward to your visit!
You can have a look at the program of the Tag der Architektur 2018 with all open projects and tours around Germany on the following homepage:
On Wednesday, June 20th 2018 GRAFT will host a Studio Talk about “Unbuilding Walls”, the German contribution to the 16th international architecture Exhibition in Venice 2018 as a part of the Make City Festival at their office in Berlin.
With the exhibition “Unbuilding Walls”, GRAFT founding partners Lars Krückeberg, Wolfram Putz and Thomas Willemeit together with Marianne Birthler, respond to current debates on nations, protectionism and division.
In that context chosen projects will be presented to portrait the effects of division and the process of healing as a dynamic spatial phenomenon and focuses on architectural projects in the former death strip. Among them is the Berlin Wall Memorial, which counts to the few places, where the original structures are mostly preserved.
The event is subject to registration!
Please register at pr@graftlab.com
When: June, 20th 2018, 6:30- 8 p.m.
Where: GRAFT Gesellschaft von Architekten mbH
Heidestraße 50
10557 Berlin
For more information about the Make City Festival and registration for the event please visit the website:
http://makecity.berlin/en/
On Sunday, June 17th 2018, the conference „Former European border and the green belt. Networks and opportunities of cooperation in a European border area” takes place at the visitor center of the Berlin Wall Memorial.
GRAFT founding partner Thomas Willemeit and Marianne Birthler, who are among the curators of the German pavilion at this year’s architectural exhibition La Biennale di Venezia, will give a lecture about the exhibition “Unbuilding Walls”.
“Unbuilding Walls” explores the effects of division and the process of healing as a dynamic spatial phenomenon and focuses on architectural projects in the former death strip. Among them is the Berlin Wall Memorial, which counts to the few places, where the original structures are mostly preserved.
The conference is organized by the German National Committee of ICOMOS e.V., IUCN, the Berlin Wall foundation, the Landesdenkmalamt Berlin, the BUND, the state office of Brandenburg for preservation of monuments and the archaeological state museum.
When: June 17th-19th 2018, Unbuilding Walls on June 17th 2018, 8 pm
Where: Berlin Wall Memorial – visitor centre
Bernauer Straße 119
13355 Berlin
For more information about the program, please visit the German website https://sharingheritage.de/veranstaltungen/konferenz-iron-curtain-and-green-belt-das-erbe-des-eisernen-vorhangs-2-2/
On Friday, June 15th 2018, this year’s Real Estate forum by the IMMOEBS e.V. takes place with the theme “CROSS INNOVATION”.
Within the event, GRAFT founding partner Thomas Willemeit gives a lecture “Heimat and Identity, Start and Experiment – What will shape architecture and urban planning in the future”. Therefore he talks about the developments of cities and their physical as well as digital spaces, and themes like mobility and connectivity, which will get more important for future building, and present different forward-looking projects by GRAFT.
The aim of the Real Estate forum is to inform and support companies with the help of experts of science and practice about the opportunity of integrating the potentials of other industries.
When: Friday, June 15th 2018
Where: Evangelische Akademie Frankfurt, Römerberg 9, 60311 Frankfurt am Main
For more information about the event, please visit the German website https://www.my-immoebs.de/cms.260/show/immobilienforum
