Since 1996, Jürgen Mayer H. has been leading the architecture firm J.Mayer.H in Berlin, which is internationally known for its innovative and sculptural designs. Among the most famous projects are the “Metropol Parasol” in Seville and various futuristic residential and office buildings worldwide. Since 2014, the firm has been led in partnership with Andre Santer and Hans Schneider. Their work combines architecture, communication, and new technologies, often operating at the intersection of art and space. We designed a website for the firm that makes its wide range of projects accessible and interviewed Jürgen Mayer H. about the role design plays in architecture for him.

What role does design play in architecture?

Design and architecture are primarily terms for two distinct disciplines with their own focuses: design shapes functional objects and experiences, while architecture plans and constructs spaces. However, the boundaries between these disciplines are increasingly blurring, especially through the use of digital technologies and innovative materials. Assigning a work to a specific discipline becomes particularly interesting when it challenges or deliberately occupies the borders between them. It is the context in which a work is viewed and evaluated that ultimately defines the perspective and its classification within a particular discipline. Our approaches to work are relatively similar in structure regardless of the task or scale. Depending on the context, a project can even shift between disciplines, allowing for more complex and layered interpretations.