Büro Baumeister on Guiding Architecture

VIEW the entire interview on VIDEO!

:: You are a member of Guiding-Architects that is an international network for architectural guided tours.

What exactly do you offer during these tours? How did you decide to work on this?

L. B.: They are tours from architects who guide so the guiding architect guides of architects, people who are interested in architecture and they are specialized, they can really explain the things and know the city.

N. B.: The specialty is that you can go into these buildings that you are guided by architects and they have special knowledge about architecture so they can explain it very well. One thing is we like travelling but the other thing is we also earn money with it. Our office is offering public relation like the classic public relation like presses but also exhibitions, books and anything that belongs to public relation. On the other hand these tours are one part of our professional work. It’s a part of make money but we also like it very much of course. It’s not only about earning money because there is not that much you can earn. We like travelling. We like to show the people contemporary architecture, to show them how interesting it is.

L. B.: To show them off many construction sides, things you normally wouldn’t see, there is someone professional guiding them so they can actually ask questions and get them explained in the way they should. There are architects there who explain their work. It’s something special for the people, to have someone there who actually built the building or who was there when the building was built or on the construction side knows the buildings.

N. B.: We also like to do it for schools. We did some tours for schools and these kids were six years old. That was great because they were really interested. They knew everything before and then they could tell us “We are specialized, more from some of the architects”. It’s a good start, to bring the architect to the people when they in school, they are kids and small because they know when they grow up.

L. B.: The architecture is part of the culture so it’s part of your life everyday especially for the kids.

How would you characterize modern architecture in Munich and Germany nowadays?

N. B.: The city has its identity from Historical architecture. The first buildings which are changing the public opinion are the “Alianz Arena” and the “BMW Welt”. Whether if you like them or not they are really important for the public meaning. It’s new architecture, but it’s so interesting. It’s a place for sports and so it’s not only to have a look but also to feel the atmosphere during a game; it’s a great atmosphere. In the “BMW Welt” there is this market place, so they get a little bit more interested in new architecture.

Normally, it’s said that the people are not so open like in Hamburg or in Berlin for contemporary architecture. On the other side, if you look around, you will find some very good and fine detailed new buildings like the “Pinakotheque der Moderne”. They are all buildings which were built in the last ten years. In Munich there is a change that is not so quick like in Berlin or Hamburg with Hafen City, especially after the war we wanted to have a New Berlin. That’s not a thing you will find in Munich.

Why is this happening? Don’t you want new buildings?

N. B.: Munich has so many tourists and all the tourists are coming here and they like the city part with the old buildings and they are not so interested in the new architecture like the people who are coming to Berlin. These are normally young people from different culture contexts and they are more open – minded from the people here.

But the change is coming and you will see that the new architecture also in Bavaria has a very high level because they are seeking maybe a little bit longer. When we are doing it is normally good architecture. If you are looking to Berlin, there are so many new buildings but many of them are really bad architecture. It’s not only the number of architecture, but also the quality. The quality is as high as in Hamburg and Berlin, but not so much.

Does architecture as a profession need empowerment? In which ways should this be done?

N. B.: Of course; in every profession you need your heart and an open mind. In every profession, if you want to do it good; especially architects who don’t earn much money normally and have a lot of work. You need some more passion. I studied architecture too and it’s something else.

First I worked at a cooperation of German architects and then to the Chamber of architecture. Then I decided to open my own office and do public relations for architects; there are so many ways today, my way is only an example. There are so many ways today you can do architecture that you are not only a builder, not only a planner, you can do so many other things. There are many architects who are doing lectures, who are doing designs. It’s changing. 

Is the world financial crisis an opportunity for everyone to reconsider the ways that we design and construct the buildings and the urban environment?

N. B.: Sustainability is getting much more important. It’s not only about crisis, the architecture is changing. Some buildings who are now ten years old, like the “BMW Welt” , wouldn’t be build in the same way today. Our clients who are making our trips and tours are asking more and more for tours which include the aspects of sustainability.