Thomas Gantner studied architecture at the University of Stuttgart and the Accademia di architettura in Mendrisio. For his final degree project “the Venice cemetery”, he received his diploma as well as the Taut Award 2006 for the best diploma project in Architecture in Germany.
Thomas Gantner has gained professional experience working in London with Florian Beigel and Philip Christou in the Architecture Research Unit – aru. Apart from his work on design and research, he contributed to teaching Unit One at London Metropolitan University. He then returned to Paris where he continued to work as a freelancer at Renzo Piano Building Workshop.
In 2014, he began teaching at KIT Karlsruhe Institute of technology, and set up workshop Gantner Neuried Germany in the same year.
Mei Ying Gantner received her Master in Architecture from the Chinese University of Hong Kong. In the first Master year, she was chosen as the exchange student to the Paris-Belleville School of Architecture. During her stay in Paris, she worked as an intern in Métra and associates and Atelier Jean Nouvel. After finishing her stuides in 2005, she joined Foster and Partner in London for the project Terminal Heathrow East. In 2008, she worked in Patrick Berger and Jacques Anziutti Architects on the projects “The canopy” and “Pole Exchange Châtelet Les Halles” in Paris. In 2014, she joined Atelier Gantner.
Helmut Gantner works in the region since 1976. He has multiple experience in the economic and technical aspects of various buildings.
Working method
We believe that every project should be well thought-out from beginning to end. We will not follow strategies, styles or concepts without deep and careful consideration. Our architectural process begins with the place and its context.
For us, our work is not just a service, it is also a contribution to the culture of architecture. Certainly, it has to fulfill functional requirements – such as deadlines, cost, techniques and construction standards and also a good working relationship with our customers and partners. We are trying to enrich our working and our living environment through the beauty and sensuality in architecture.
We see each project as unique in terms of context, program, the needs of the client and sustainable development. We try to bring our ideas and experiences to every part of the project, and we appreciate the exchange of ideas with clients during all phases of the project.
Sketches by hand, physical models, computer assisted drawing and three-dimensional images are our tools to convey our ideas to clients and team members. Real materials and samples are often used for presentations.
Research / Teaching
We believe that it is important to see each of our project as a research project as to find the most appropriate response in terms of design.
We have both taught architecture and town planning over the years at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Architectural Research Unit in London and at KIT Karlsruhe Institute of technology in Karlsruhe. We have been invited as critics at the National Academy of Fine Arts in Stuttgart and the Ecole Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture Paris-Belleville in Paris.
Our research focuses on subjects such as “Cemetery – City of the Dead”, “The city and cinematographic spaces”, “The espace between”, “Monuments, Timber-framed buildings”, “Monuments, Tobacco Barn”.
Publication
Books (as editor)
‚Update Wolfach‘, Karlsruher Institut für Technologie, November 2016, ISBN 9783930092109
Articles
‚Solitude Atlas‘, Edition Solitude, July 2015, Stuttgart, ISBN 9783937158938
‚Because of Solitude‘, Edition Solitude, 2014, Stuttgart, ISBN 9783937158822
Deutsches Architektenblatt – EDITION 08/2008. „Moderne und Tradition“
Project Publications
Bordeaux respire : new life in Bordeaux, Project “Le Trait”, ISBN 9782871433293
Deutsches Architektenblatt, Edition 08/2006. „Friedhofsanlage in Venedig“
Stuttgarter Uni-Kurier Nr. 98/2006. Taut – Preis. Julia Alber
Stuttgarter Zeitung, 03/07/2006. Taut – Preis. Klaus Krueger
Taut – Preis, 2006, „Bundesarchitektenkammer“
Project Publications (as an employee)
Deutsche Bauzeitschrift “energie” ISSN- 0011-4782, “Ein fast energieautarkes Haus”, Andrea Rayhrer, p. 46 – 51.