Hagener Straße, Düsseldorf.
Klagesmarkt, Hanover.
STEFAN FORSTER ARCHITEKTEN: A PASSION FOR URBAN LIVING
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Issue 12 8
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April 2025
Stefan Forster founded his architectural practice in 1989 during his time as a research assistant for the Chair of Housing Construction at Darmstadt Technical University. After reunification, the office's work gained national importance, particularly through sensational transformations of the typical prefabricated ‘Plattenbau’ buildings in East Germany. These were recognized with numerous prizes and awards, such as the German Urban Design Award, the European Urban Design Award, the German Builder-Owner Award, the World Habitat Award and the UIA Robert Matthew Prize for Sustainable & Humane Environments. At the same time, trend-setting projects were developed for the conversion of office to residential buildings: The 2008 conversion of a former high-rise office building at Lyonerstraße 19 in Frankfurt for example is still regarded as a
Stefan Forster Architects strongly benefited from the construction boom of the new millennium up to 2022 – also in Russia, where several major projects were completed with great speed. However, the war in Ukraine and the subsequent economic crisis put an abrupt end to this development. As a result, the architects' field of work has become more diverse: In addition to residential construction, various conversion and office projects are also in the planning. The architect is optimistic: “There are currently first signs that the economy is recovering and that the upturn will begin in 2026 – until then, we simply have to hold out!” www.sfa.de
PHOTOS: LISA FARKAS
The architects continue to work on the topic of residential construction with great passion and conviction. Only this particular segment of architecture allows direct contact with future users, explains Stefan Forster: “It is still a great pleasure and satisfaction to experience the positive reactions of the residents.” This direct contact is especially noticeable with cooperatives and housing associations – which therefore make for the office’s preferred clients.
AWARD-WINNING ROLE MODEL FOR HOUSING AND CONVERSIONS
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Since the beginning of the millennium, the office has created trend-setting projects that focus on and redefine urban living. “The office's work has had a huge influence on the development of the topic of 'living in the city' in Germany and is often being used as a role model by colleagues,” recalls the architect. Numerous architectural prizes and awards speak for themselves.
much-cited model project. Currently, the office has realized a housing quarter consisting of 16 residential buildings in Düsseldorf for the traditional WOGEDO cooperative. The project is the result of an intensive workshop process, in which both cooperative members and residents were actively involved.
TEXT: CORNELIA BRELOWSKI
Stefan Forster Architekten is regarded as a model pioneer for urban residential construction.