Interviewed by Ahmad Zohadi

Martin Josst

Delugan Meissl Associated Architects, Partner

The implementation of sustainable buildings following the modern „state of the art“ often neglects the complexity of urban systems. We consider sustainability as part of a general context, which may not be reduced to its ecological and economical aspects. It is a highly-complex, flowing process, going far beyond the design aspect of individual buildings. In our understanding of cities as organisms in constant change, buildings represent interacting and communicating parts of an overall system. The impact of sustainable interventions is therefore a question of a large-scale concept including numerous aspects such as social or individual needs.
We see our task in reflecting the existing circumstances in our work and to implement them in such a way to accommodate the constantly changing living conditions. We create our projects within the framework of the existing cultural and social aspects, which we take into account and develop further – not only in terms of aesthetics but also with the goal of achieving the best possible result for its users, whose individual needs guide us throughout the whole design process.

Description:
Our concepts mostly break down the order of conventional rooms into flowing, functionally defined spatial sequences, which intensify visual and sensual communication between sectors and spaces of different functions: between private and public space, between the interior and the exterior, or between free space and residential areas. Beyond that, a sustainable design is one, which is rooted in as many relationships with its context as possible and which takes into account the future activities of its users and enables their identification with the building. The architectural concept should enter in a dialogue with its surroundings, insert itself into the existing urban fabric and become a part of the overall organism of the built environment.

© Interviewed by 2A Magazine, Summer 2015