"Architecture is Permanent" by Baumschlager Eberle

Prof. Deitmar Eberle, one of the founding partners of the international applied architecture firm Baumschlager Eberle, remarks on the specific aspects of their approach to practice: "In the art of building, architecture encompasses the abstraction of real utility value on a cultural level. Going beyond the concrete requirements of a building means transitioning into a cultural positioning and individual foresight in architecture."

At Baumschlager Eberle, the analysis of a building begins from the urban development dimension and proceeds to the resolution, thus a planning is made that develops "from the outside to the inside." Architects first decide what the front of a building will be and what the main material of that facade will be, which frames all functional and technical specifications. The ultimate goal of such a method is to produce buildings that have the capacity for change and sustainability, and are economical in terms of use. New buildings should aim to create an identity for the space they occupy rather than just for the architects who create them. Taking forms seriously as a means of expression is crucial; it is a necessary condition for buildings to be socially and culturally accepted and ensures the longevity of a structure. The concept of urbanity in the context of a building's interior and surroundings also brings about a cultural positioning in architecture: foresight and responsibility, expression and utility value, appropriate materials and spatial definition, all of which Baumschlager Eberle constantly keeps under review.

The exhibition showcases various plans, photographs, and models illustrating the detailed interaction between architecture and context: new buildings at Vienna airport, the polytechnic school in Zurich, the hospital in Kortrijk, Belgium, are examples of completed and ongoing projects. All these bear witness to the appropriateness of the decisions made and reflect the empathy, which is a distinguishing feature of Baumschlager Eberle's architectural work. Founding partners Deitmar Eberle and Carlo Baumschlager, who are focused on the future, are also not indifferent to the issue of education: Eberle teaches at the Zurich Polytechnic School, while Baumschlager works at the Munich Academy of Fine Arts, particularly on project-oriented design methodology.

Established in 1985 in Lochau, Austria, Baumschlager Eberle has completed the construction of approximately 300 buildings worldwide to date. The seven teams in Europe and China (in Lochau, Vaduz, Vienna, Beijing, St. Gallen, Zurich, and Hong Kong) shoulder the responsibility for a sustainable and aesthetic understanding of architecture.

Information about Baumschlager Eberle architects:

Baumschlager Eberle architects, who have built more than three hundred buildings, are considered among the most successful architects in the world. Various awards and accolades received are evidence of the quality of work done by the office since its establishment.

Baumschlager Eberle, who has been able to directly correlate utility value with users' demands and cultural sustainability, has managed to establish itself on a large scale thanks to this feature. Working in six locations in Europe and one in Asia, the seven teams assume certain special responsibilities as part of their architectural duties: the client, regional context, and social environmental responsibilities. However, there is ample room for the realization of aesthetic concerns. The trust placed in Baumschlager Eberle is based on this comprehensive approach: an architecture that allows the production of buildings with energy consumption values significantly lower than those required by local regulations.