The new WIPO building
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When and why did you decide to become
an architect?
My father was a well-known architect in Germany.
You could say architecture was in the family –
my sister and two cousins are also architects, so
everybody expected me to follow suit. I resisted
this at first and studied philosophy and econom-
ics instead, but I soon came to realize that not
studying architecture was as illogical as doing so,
so I went on to study it in Karlsruhe, Germany.
What inspires you when you set about designing
a new building?
When we embark on a project, we first try to un-
derstand what the purpose of the building will be
and its geographical, environmental and cultural
contexts. The client and the project context are,
I would say, our greatest inspiration. By under-
standing these key elements we can find the best
possible solution. The actual process of designing
a new building is a collaborative effort involving
one or several partners and the young architects
that work with us in our office.
What does architecture mean to you and
what is its role in society?
Architecture makes a key contribution to human
heritage. It identifies culture, space and time and
creates the environment in which we spend a
good part of our lives. In addition to its techni-
cal aspects, architecture can reveal many things
about a culture, its sensitivities and social and po-
litical structures. Architecture provides a record of
the technical state-of-the-art and of our cultural
history – showing where we came from, and to
some extent, where we want to go.
For me, architecture is a tool, a cultural asset and
an art, but it is also a very functional element of
our daily lives.
What inspires you?
I am inspired by many things – by people, the
developments we see in our societies, music, a
beautiful building. Nature is a great inspiration. I
like to look at the architecture of our ancestors,
from the early Greek and Roman periods through
to the last century. I also like looking at what my
contemporaries are doing. This can sometimes
be an inspiration or even a useful warning about
what not to do, helping me avoid mistakes in my
own work.
Which projects appeal to you most?
While I find all new projects interesting, I am par-
ticularly drawn to those where people live, work
or gather, such as a concert hall, a conference
center or a place of learning. I like creating spaces
where people can work and live together; where
they can communicate, interact and work in an
interdisciplinary way. Such buildings have a great
impact on our society, and designing them is a
great honor.
What are the major factors that influence
a building’s design?
Many factors influence architecture. While we have
mastered some of the techniques that challenged
our ancestors, such as structure and the physics of
building, new challenges emerge every day. Today
we cope with those associated with the excessive
energy use of buildings. These new factors greatly
influence the design of new buildings.
Whenever a new factor emerges, such as the
structural change that characterizes the Eiffel
tower, it tends to dominate the visual appear-
ance of a structure until the technique has been
mastered. At that point it becomes just another
instrument in the symphony of architecture.
STEFAN BEHNISCH
ON ARCHITECTURE
1 See “Jury chooses
winning design for
new WIPO building”
– www.wipo.int/
wipo_magazine/
en/pdf/2000/wipo_
pub_121_2000_03.pdf
In March 2000, the German firm, Behnisch Architekten, Stuttgart, won the international architectural com -
petition to extend WIPO’s premises.
1
In its final report, the international jury which oversaw the contest said
that the winning design was “a project for a new generation,” noting that the building “plays with the existing
landscape and brings the outside in.”
WIPO Magazine
recently interviewed Stefan Behnisch, who led the
project, to find out more about the man behind the design of WIPO’s new building which was inaugurated in
September 2011.
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