Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Ludger Brands

Urban architecture and its materialisation

The central topic of teaching at the Department of Architecture and Urban Design is the architecture of the city. Starting from the historical and contextual reference in the architectural design process, the detection of the local typical, its interpretation, transformation and rethinking, the creation of identity-forming spaces of the city, the construction theory is about the integration of various tasks – supporting, separating, opening, connecting – into the whole, about the rules of solid craftsmanship and about tectonics, structure, profiling and appearance. After all, the design of a house is decided based on different dimensions by the material and immaterial quality of the building. Sustainable construction is reflected in the striking materialisation, which should relate to the typical features of the region, the use of natural, i.e. predominantly mineral, building materials and at the same time the avoidance of chemical, environmentally harmful building materials and the consideration of sustainability.
Analogies to the architectural creation process can be found in literature, where the right choice of words is important, in symphonic music, where the right choice of notes is important, in painting or sculpture, where symbolism is important, in culinary arts, where the right choice of ingredients, their use and their coordination are important. Architecture as a composition of harmonised materials.

• 1957 Born in Münster
• 1975 - 1981 Studied at the University of Dortmund
• 1981 - 1991 Employed architect with Prof. Josef Paul Kleihues and Sir James Stirling
• 1991 - 1996 self-employed architect in Berlin
• since 1997 independent architect in Potsdam
• 1993 - 1994 Substitute Professor for Building Construction and Design in the Department of Architecture and Urban Planning at the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam
• since 1995 professorship for building construction and design
• 1996 - 1998 Dean of the faculty
• 2001 - 2004 Development and introduction of the new Bachelor & Master 6+4 degree programmes at the Potsdam School of Architecture
• 2006 - 2012 Head of study programme
• 2009 - 2013 2nd reform of the BA and MA degree programmes, change to 8+2
• since 2013 further sharpening of the profile of the degree programme

Practice

• Realisation of various building construction projects, residential, office, commercial
• Urban planning reports and master plans
• Participation in competitions, involvement in prize juries and expert procedures
• - Public lectures and press articles on urban architecture in Potsdam

Important university projects in the diploma and bachelor's degree programmes

Ein Masterplan für Potsdam, 1997, mit Prof. Bernd Albers und Prof. Klaus Theo Brenner
    •    Potsdam StadtMitte, 1999, mit Prof. Bernd Albers und Prof. Klaus Theo Brenner
    •    2020 Potsdam-Mitte, Plan Landeshauptstadt von Berlin-Brandenburg, mit Prof. Bernd Albers & Prof. Klaus Theo Brenner, 2006
    •    Masterplan für die Breite Straße Potsdam, 2013
    •    Luftschiffhafen Potsdam, 2007
    •    Hotel Am Holzmarkt in Berlin, 2008/09
    •    Wohnquartier “An der Plantage“ Potsdam, 2009
    •    Wohn- und Geschäftshaus Leipziger Platz, “Berliner Lücken“, 2009
    •    Gymnasium Zum Grauen Kloster, Berlin-Mitte, 2009/10
    •    Wohnquartier “Alter Markt“, Potsdam, Haustypologien im Kontext der Leitbauten, 2010
    •    Wohnen im Synagogenblock, Potsdam, 2010
    •    Haus der Wissenschaft Potsdam, 2010/11
    •    Palais am Schlossplatz in Berlin, 2012
    •    Kunstdepot für die Schlösserstiftung SPSG, 2013
    •    seit 2004 interdisziplinäre Seminare zur Großstadt Europa und USA, insbesondere Chicago
    •    Kunsthaus SansTitre Potsdam, 2015
    •    Waisenbrücke Berlin, 2016
    •    Fouragemagazin Potsdam, 2017
    •    Kalte Börse im Lustgarten, Berlin, 2018
    •    Hochhäuser für Chicago, 2019
    •    Tempelhofer Feld, 2020
    •    Generalzug Berlin, 2021
    •    B96 Mehringdamm, Tempelhofer Damm, …, 2022
    •    Berlin - Stadt am Wasser, Der Landwehrkanal, 2023

Important university projects in the Master's programme

    •    Vorlesungsreihe zur Geschichte der Europäischen Stadt
    •    STADT-WOHNEN-BERLIN (2016), 
    •    TURIN PORTA NUOVA - INVERSIONE DELLA CITTЋ / STADTUMKEHR (2017), 
    •    MARSEILLE  - EINE EUROPÄISCHE GROSSSTADT AM MITTELMEER  (2019),
    •    HANSESTÄDTE AN DER NORD- UND OSTSEE, BREMEN - HAMBURG - LÜBECK - STRALSUND  (2021), 
    •    METRO.POLIS BERLIN-BRANDENBURG (2022), 
    •    PALMA DE MALLORCA (2023)