Architecture:
Studio Karhard
28 August 2026
Architecture:
Studio Karhard
28 August 2026
Q: How does the philosophy of material reuse influence Studio Karhard's design process?
A: We like to be inspired by the places where we plan.
It is also necessary that we carefully study which materials have been used and try to draw up a suitable material concept.
If possible, we also try to reuse materials, but it is often difficult because there are many restrictions. We rather rely on constructions that can be dismantled, that are handcrafted and have a material quality.
Q: You often preserve traces of a building’s past instead of hiding its imperfections. Why is the history of a space important for creating its future identity?
A: It gives character and tells a story. We believe that all rooms should tell a story. Either there are these, or we develop them together with the client.
Q: You both moved to Berlin at a pivotal moment in history, just before and immediately after the fall of the Berlin Wall. How did the city's atmosphere and its transformation shape you personally and influence your architectural thinking?
A: The Berlin, the nineties, was characterized by temporary clubs and bars. Of course, the performative and unfinished have determined our opinion. It is interesting that in the two thousand years many of the illegal and temporary locations were legalized. We have contributed to this process.
"Without the Berlin of the 1990s, this scene of clubs and bars would not exist today."
Q: After more than two decades of practice, what has changed in your understanding of what makes a space meaningful?
A: Our understanding has not changed much. However, the framework conditions have changed, as everywhere in the world there is a change in going out and consumption behavior and different priorities than 20 years ago. But we still believe in the fact that well-designed spaces have a positive impact on people.
Q: You designed Berghain over twenty years ago, and it is still the first thing people ask you about. Does that legacy free you or constrain you?
It can be said that we are now proud to be a part of this movement. However, we do not like to be reduced to that.
Q: Which technologies and materials do you see as the most promising for the future of sustainable architecture?
A: We believe that sustainable spaces are used for a long time and still have quality even after a long period of use. We perceive a long life as sustainable.
Q: Looking back at your own path, what do you wish someone had told you earlier? What advice would you pass on to people who are just starting?
A: Oh, that would be a lot of things! However, I don't know if we would have followed these recommendations. :)
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