aac Academy for Architectural Culture

One Park, Four Strategies

We’re concluding the series with the proposal of group 04 for the WAI Woods Art Institute in Wentorf, which was developed during the aac Autumn Workshop 2024.

Four groups, four distinct approaches — all demonstrating how intuitive movement through space can result from design diversity rather than standardisation.

Together, these projects provide valuable insights for future park design and raise new questions about perception, orientation and long-term spatial experience.

Group 04 explores the use of timber columns as spatial and programmatic markers. Their proposal features wooden stelae arranged in various geometric formations to create activity zones spread across the site, guiding visitors with subtle spatial cues.

Members: Conor Matthew Ryan, Jovan Theophilus Amin, Anna Ławecka, Simon Spliethoff
Tutor: Annika Göttle

Explore the full documentation and all project outcomes here: https://tinyurl.com/bddfv8cz

Interested in joining the next challenge? There are just a few days left to apply for our Autumn Workshop 2026! Further information here: ttps://tinyurl.com/2tnst6dt

Only one week left to apply for the next aac workshop! Don't miss out!

Join us in Athens and Hamburg to work on the future of Athens Central Station, with activities ranging from on-site exploration to intensive studio work.

Real site.
Real design challenge.
International group.

1–25 September 2026.

Scholarships covering travel, accommodation and course fees are available.

Apply now: https://tinyurl.com/3jyvtf4v

This image shows a charrette from Zhu Mengyuan, a participant in the 2016 Altona Nord workshop, and gives you an insight into the design process in which you would be involved.

The Power of Collaboration

Collaboration is key to progress in design. Since the beginning, the aac workshops have thrived on interdisciplinary and international exchange.

The aac Autumn Workshop 2024 'Art Architecture Nature' brought together participants from different countries and disciplines. This sparked ideas that turned into bold, context-sensitive proposals for the WAI Woods Art Institute in Wentorf, just outside Hamburg.

Group 03 responded with a system of striking landmarks. Placed precisely, these landmarks make key areas of the park visible from afar and improve orientation within the landscape.

Members: Fabian Frosch, Mouawya Al Abdullah, Eunate Etxebarria Abad, Anastásia Burneuskaya
Tutor: Prof. Philipp Kamps

Explore the full documentation and all project outcomes here: https://tinyurl.com/bddfv8cz

Interested in joining the next challenge? Apply now for the aac Autumn Workshop 2026: https://tinyurl.com/3jyvtf4v

✨ Spoiler Alert: Topic of the upcoming Autumn Workshop 2026 ✨

The site:
An ancient city, named after a goddess, the cradle of democracy

The task:
How to connect this city's motion - working at the intersection of national mobility and urban space.

Can you guess where (and what) we’re talking about?

You can still apply until June 10, 2026.

Further information here: https://tinyurl.com/z272s6d6

Curious to know more? Stay tuned – more details coming soon.

Image: Annika Göttle

Let the design speak for itself!

At the aac Autumn Workshop 2024: Art, Architecture, Nature, participants explored how subtle design can guide visitors without overwhelming the natural environment. Our real-world case study took place at the WAI Woods Art Institute in Wentorf, just outside Hamburg.

Rather than relying on fences or signage, the workshop examined how gentle interventions, such as landmarks, lightweight structures and natural elements, can orientate visitors while blending seamlessly into the landscape.

Group 02’s contribution beautifully illustrates this approach. Their concept involves delicate, lightweight structures that guide visitors through the park in an intuitive way, enhancing the experience without disturbing the site.

Members: Giang Bui Thi, Martin Brem, Leonardo Silvera, Reece Oliver
Tutor: Sona Kazemi

Download the full documentation with all project outcomes here: https://tinyurl.com/bddfv8cz

Ready to tackle the next challenge with us? Apply now for the next aac Autumn Workshop 2026: https://tinyurl.com/2tnst6dt

Alumni Talks with Konstantin Greune

For this edition of Alumni Talks, we speak with Konstantin Greune, who joined the 2016 workshop “From Module to Urban Quarter”. During that time, he also met Benno Schmitz — a connection that later led to the founding of SXG Architektur.

Here are some of his reflections on the experience:

Which is your best memory from your time at aac?

What made it truly memorable, was the mix of people participants from all over the world, each bringing their own perspectives, and the carefully selected tutors who somehow managed to be both highly professional and refreshingly approachable.

Did you learn something at aac that is still useful this day?

It taught me to see different perspectives not as obstacles, but as opportunities. In everyday architectural practice, where collaboration and complexity are the norm, this ability to embrace diverse viewpoints has become incredibly valuable.

On which interesting project are you working at the moment?

Right now, we are working on the transformation of a former heating plant into a community meeting space for a neighborhood. It’s a project that’s as much about social interaction as it is about architecture, reimagining a purely functional, industrial structure as a place where people actually want to spend time. It’s about recognizing and preserving what’s already there while carefully creating something new.

Meet your business partner in one of our future workshops here: https://tinyurl.com/2tnst6dt


Image: SXG Architektur

Do you start your studies with a clear plan for when to gain new skills, meet new people, and join workshops? Or do you prefer to decide spontaneously and see what fits your schedule?

At aac, we try to make planning easy for everyone. That’s why we publish our workshop dates well in advance — so you can organise your studies, internships, or thesis phase around them.

Join us at one of our upcoming workshops:
- Autumn Workshop 2026: 2 September – 25 September
- Spring Workshop 2027: 10 February – 5 March
- Autumn Workshop 2027: 1 September – 24 September

To support your planning even further, we have fixed application deadlines:
- 10 June for the Autumn Workshop
- 10 December for the Spring Workshop

We look forward to receiving your application! Further info: https://tinyurl.com/2tnst6dt

Image: Here’s a a glimpse of the spirit of our aac studio! Jochen Stüber

Alumni Talks with Benno Schmitz

It’s a pleasure to speak with aac alumnus Benno Schmitz, who took part in the 2016 workshop “From Module to Urban Quarter”. Together with his former aac workshop peer Konstantin Greune, he went on to co-found SXG Architektur.

Here’s what Benno took from his experience:

Which is your best memory from your time at aac?

Definitely the people I met during the workshop. Spending so much time together, working intensely, and having deep conversations allowed us to connect really quickly. I look back on that time very fondly, and I’m actually still in touch with some of them today.

Did you learn something at aac that is still useful this day?

I learned how to rapidly define the "DNA" of a project within a team. Having a clear, shared vision right from the start makes all subsequent decisions much easier to navigate and leads to results everyone is happy with.

On which interesting project are you working at the moment?

We are currently future-proofing a traditional single-family home by focusing on the existing structure. Through minimal interventions and an extension on already sealed ground, this renovation preserves embodied energy, minimizes the ecological footprint, and applies circular design principles to create contemporary living spaces.

Meet your business partner in one of our future workshops here: https://tinyurl.com/2tnst6dt


Image: SXG Architektur

Managing Crowds Through Design

The aac autumn workshop 2024 “Art Architecture Nature” focused on how architectural interventions can enable sustainable visitor management in high-traffic parks.

With visitor numbers on the rise, traditional tools such as guided tours are no longer sufficient. The workshop investigated how architectural features, such as carefully planned access points, pathways and sightlines, can guide movement while preserving the natural environment and the integrity of the art on display.

As a real-world case study, we worked with the WAI Woods Art Institute in Wentorf, just outside Hamburg.

Here’s how Group 01 addressed the challenge: by redirecting existing watercourses, they created a gentle, natural guidance system. Visitors are led intuitively through the site by the flow of water—an organic approach to spatial navigation.

Members: Alessandro Ghersi, Louis Aston, Lisa Schneider and Corentin Georgel
Tutor: Anja Meding

Download the full documentation with all project outcomes here: https://tinyurl.com/bddfv8cz

Ready to tackle the next challenge with us? Apply now for the next aac Autumn Workshop 2026: https://tinyurl.com/2tnst6dt

Best of aac terrace moments 🌞

Spring has arrived, and the sun is shining over Hamburg—something the city does very well.

In this seasonal mood, we’re celebrating one of our participants’ favorite places: our terrace overlooking the port.

A place to work, to exchange ideas, and to pause—all with a view.

Would you like to experience it for yourself? Apply now for the aac Autumn Workshop 2026 and discover the terrace for yourself. The application deadline is 10 June 2026. Further information here: https://tinyurl.com/2tnst6dt

We hope you’re enjoying the sunshine wherever you are, perhaps with an ice cream in hand. 😎