Architecture Awards 2020

115 2020 Architecture Awards BUILD Jul20258 Most Innovative High-End Residential Architecture Studio - Germany As the winner of the Most Innovative High-End Residential Architecture Studio – Germany in this year’s Architecture Awards and Best High-End Residential Architecture Studio in 2019, you can be sure that the work of Karen Schwichtenberg Architektin (KSA) is first class. The studio, led by Karen herself, is based in Hamburg. With a refined sense of taste, and a desire to uphold the beauty of past aesthetics, KSA is very deserving of the accolade. We take a closer look at how this award-winning studio creates a modern space that is eco-friendly in its re-using of materials. riginally from Munich, Karen has always been a keen traveller interested in learning more about how people live and operate in different parts of the world. Having moved to Tokyo after finishing her studies to join the office of Pritzker Prize winner Kazuyo Sejima for two years (2001-2003), Karen later moved to London to work for large multi-disciplinary offices DEGW and Fletcher Priest (2004-2007). During her time in the UK, she became a registered architect with the ARB and RIBA. Moving once more, Karen opted for Hamburg. Here, she became a registered architect and established her office. Havingtravelledtheglobe,experiencingdifferentculturesandseeing a diverse range of architectural designs, it was Japan that had the strongest influence on her work. Karen explains that, “the simplicity of design, the attention to detail, the attention to small spaces in general are all things that I try to reflect in my work.” Whilst KSA’s history has been in period conversions, refurbishments and extensions, they noticed that clients are now asking the studio to put their skills and insight into interior and new-build projects as well. KSA’s focus is on residential projects. They most often work for private clients and private investors. Not only does the studio help the client bring their visions to life, but they offer expertise from beginning to end. KSAcan advise clients about options, constraints and cost estimates prior to the purchase or selling of a property. As designers, KSA love to design beautiful spaces. Much of their success comes down to their “winning recipe” of taking hold of the original style of a space and reviving the faded glamour. They have used this method on period homes but also on homes from the 1930s and later. Since their inception, KSA have become experts in combining traditional styles with the comfort and practices of today – resulting in relaxed and casually chic interiors. Beyond all of this, KSA also strives “to bring value to the property and take our understanding O of the property market into account when advising the client”, Karen reveals. From beginning to end, KSA strive to make the design process as reassuring as possible for their clients. The studio helps clients craft a design that they will not only love but will work with their budget. KSA says that clients appreciate having their expectations managed from the beginning; it makes the project feasible, successful and an enjoyable process. With a number of projects in the pipeline, Karen and the team are currently working on a few developments which include the radical remodelling of a family home, a residential extension and the design of two new-build family homes. Bringing the interview to a close, Karen highlights the studio’s collective concept for each of the projects. “In all three projects, we are creating contemporary homes with clean aesthetics yet cosy feel. We are opening up the ground floor living space to create a continuous open plan living and seamlessly connect it with the terrace and the garden. We are adding windows to flood the space with light, as well as, frame the view of the exterior. We also use a subtle colour palette to bring a consistent look and feel to the entire home.” Company: Schwichtenberg Architektin Website: www.schwichtenberg-architektin.de