We transform identities. As a transdisciplinary collective, we have been cultivating open and creative processes for almost 15 years, working in studios in Munich and Vienna. At the interface between space and society, we are looking for the specific aspects of daily life. Our approach of new projects is always prototypic, often playful and includes a strategic view from the outside. We think that both design and use represent phase shifted interpretation processes and require each other. The built result is directly linked to its specific development process. Our goal is to develop and realize complex “spaces of possibilities”.
Our Vienna studio completes the Munich workshop, contributing innovative developments with an interplay of exploring and design. Together, we act as a think tank for our clients, accompanying urban spaces from conception up to handover to the future user, and even beyond. We participate in open and invited competitions as well as expert evaluation procedures, where we contribute our concepts and projects in an international environment, regarding socially relevant issues and transformation processes.
We see ourselves as mediators between space and society. Our demands on specific, transdisciplinary and hybrid design requires the combination of appropriate resources. We refine our design concepts with the analog and digital construction of models on multiple scales and use participatory walks for exploring a city as a tool for analyzing. Our projects are professionally realized using the latest hardware and software techniques. Depending on the project and key competences required, we expand our team by experts experienced project partners.
Our awarded key projects include wagnisART, a project that has just recently won the German architectural prize „Deutscher Städtebaupreis“, the bridge crossing the Mur river in Bad Radkersburg (border AT-SI), the conversion of the Bahnhofstraße in Böblingen (DE) into a pedestrian zone, the Chaponnière park in Bern Wankdorf (CH), the Habsburger Platz in Munich (DE). One of our current projects is the development of our open-air supermarket: based on the Agropolis project, “Freiluftsupermarkt” is applied as a strategic tool for the transitional use of the urban development area Munich-Freiham.
bauchplan ).( is an open collective and was founded in Munich in 2001, the Vienna hub was opened in 2004.
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conversion of bahnhofsstrasse böblingen (d) into a pedestrian zone in a participatory process, 2013-2015
the neue meile böblingen interprets a classical railway station street setting in a completely new way. since spring 2015 the neue meile, a public pedestrian boulevard, is backbone for public space in downtown böblingen. the design concept conceives versatility and cyclic continuation as intrinsic qualities of the space. the spatial arrangement enables a unique choreography between the dialectic of commuters quickly passing through and others leisurely strolling around. the key objective of the design process was to invent an independent, atmospherically intense identity. street luminaries play a significant role: striking light rings dance freely above the urban space and act as important markers of the new identity throughout the whole day.
the elbenplatz, known as one of the busiest street intersections of böblingen, is redefined as a window to the old town: a dry deck fountain that is embedded into the new street level interacts with traffic and overlays it in a visual and acoustic way. new qualities of meeting and recreation space create a unique atmospheric sequence. iberian granit-stone spans a long pixel floor from façade to façade. specifically designed drainage channels and tree grids now break the linearity of the former street.
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redevelopment of the bridge over the mur river between bad radkersburg (at) and
gornja radgona (si)
2008 – 2012
after the schengen border had shifted, the border crossings between the two municipalities gornja radgona and bad radkersburg became obsolete. the goal of the design of the bridge was to transform it into a place where people would meet. the parts of the town that used to belong together were joined and can be reached by foot. this reinforces europe as a region, which merges cultures and offers a high extent of identity and life qualities for inhabitants and visitors. the walkways on the sides of the bridge expand in form of balconies and pulpits over the river. the mur river that runs along the border can now be accessed and offers a waterside platform.
the bridge now wears a new dress made out of a versatile balustrade: air currents and cars driving by move the thin rondels, made out of translucent plastic and freely attached to the netting. the way they move can be compared to a wave and they cast changing shadows onto the light colored concrete surface. a light whirr provides a direct acoustic accompaniment to the noise of traffic. the bridge on the former border crossing appears a bit unseizable when looked at from the outside, due to sun reflections on the plastic rondels the refined engineering structure therefore becomes a versatile place and represents the merging of both neighboring municipalities.
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designing the living environment as a participatory process on the former domagk grounds, munich (de)
since 2012
participation is a central part of the philosophy of wagnis eg, a housing cooperative. their current project is situated on the grounds of the former barracks, the domagk grounds in the north of munich. after the barracks were closed, artists from all around the world settled on the grounds. since, 2012, a housing project with specific demands on art and culture has been developing west from this artistic residency. community is a key factor, future inhabitants are able to try out and contribute to their living environment. a lively living atmosphere has been created, paired with an extraordinary architecture and open space planning.
the members of the cooperative have been included in the planning process from the very beginning. they developed the content and different programs in work groups and during workshops, the future inhabitants of the building were included in the design process. the focus of the project lies not only in the final quality of the product, but furthermore in the process of developing it. in september 2016, the project was awarded with the renowned architectural prize “deutscher städtebaupreis 2016”.
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2014 – 2016
the university campus in grafenau (bavarian forest) is situated on a square of the town hill, a location that is simple and challenging at the same time in terms of the topography. the trees planted in the north of the courtyard provide shade and open an unlimited view of the bavarian forest towards the south. seating areas beneath the trees connect different levels and include an integrated fountain and chessboard. the south and west side of the court is completed with a wooden balustrade, similar to a curtain, covering the openings of the parking garage below. this ensemble creates a lively façade. furthermore, light as a design element is included through the playful approach to wood. sunshade stands are integrated in the concrete surface, which can also be used as a café terrace. the open space of the courtyard furthermore includes a bocce lane as part of a waterbound covering.
the square features a pergola out of wood, representing an essential tool for future urban development. this piece of furniture is an observation deck, a resting area, a platform for communication, an info point and includes a storage unit for modular furniture. the pergola will continue carrying out the participatory process with the inhabitants of grafenau and can be used as a “request box”, where comments and wishes for the further development of the town are collected. the request box serves as a link between the campus environment, the people of grafenau and tourists. the ensemble of the courtyard and the pergola provides a space of various possibilities leading to a high identification potential for the town of grafenau.
