Berlin: Building Together, Building Better

Architecture and interior design for the common good – this is how IFUB*, the „Institut für u. Baukunst“, describes its own philosophy. Since 2012, the Munich, Berlin and Lake Constance locations have not only been planning and building, but also designing their own offices to be as fair and grandchild-friendly as possible.  

In their architecture, and particularly in the design of residential buildings, they seek above all to promote sufficiency as the most important element of sustainability. In housing construction, this means using as few square metres per person as possible. This works best when done collectively. Sharing facilities saves space and energy whilst improving quality of life.

In their lecture, the studio’s founders Johannes Krohne and Bernhard Kurz will discuss how communal housing has evolved in Berlin and across Germany. Using examples such as the Baugruppe D2 and the Skawiener 20/4 project, they will illustrate the challenges “Baugruppen” (building groups) face in securing central plots and the subsequent shift toward surrounding areas, as seen in the Schöner Hof project. They will also explore the rising popularity of non-privatized co-operatives like Werkdorf Billberge and new approaches by state housing associations, shown in the Angler-Heimeran neighborhood project in Munich.

The studio was established in 2012 by Johannes Krohne and Bernhard Kurz, and its work, characterized by their focus on trying to design for the common good, has been recognized with various prices like the Heinze Architektur Award in 2025, the „Bayerischer Denkmalpflegepreis“ in 2022 or the „Goldenes Haus“ award in 2021. Both founders are graduates of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and members of the Chamber of Architects. Johannes Krohne, who also studied at TU Delft, has shown particular interest in developing housing concepts and typologies focusing on sufficiency and flexibility. Bernhard Kurz, whose studies included a stay at the Oslo School of Architecture and Design, has a particular interest in existing buildings, the preservation of historic buildings, and in recent years has developed expertise in the field of circular construction.