Denkstatt is focused on the transformation and repurposing of former industrial sites in Switzerland and abroad. With the existing site as a starting point, and in a dialog with the place and its users, the development process itself is the focus.
Denkstatt develops projects with an interdisciplinary team of architects, city and regional planers, landscape architects, traffic and mobility planers, energy experts, finance and communication specialists, and social scientists. This is how, solutions to complex challenges can be discovered by consulting diverse perspectives. Our work starts with the project requirements and goals - and includes the interplay of profitability and financing, planning and construction, communication and participation.
Denkstatt cooperates with various partners and the Baubüro in situ AG to provide holistic consultation and support for transformation and repurposing processes. Starting with the relevant questions and tasks, our work includes investigating the possibilities and finding partners for the new / further use / repurposing of the specific site. In cooperation with the associations 'Verein unterdessen' and 'Raum auf Zeit', denkstatt offers property management for temporary solutions.
Denkstatt moderates projects in a dialogue with the place and applies a participatory planning processes. The perspective continuously changes between the developers, residents, owners and future users of the area. As a result, the constantly changing conditions and necessities of this process can be reacted to effectively. A social, ecological and economical development is thereby the focus.
Denkstatt looks directly at, looks backwards, and looks forwards to. We reflect on questions regarding contemporary living and working forms, in an urban as well as a suburban setting.
Denkstatt directs special attention to the spatial qualities and the «genius loci», trying to identify the history of a place, recognizing social and spatial characteristics and eventually integrating the results in the design.
Denkstatt understands space as a dynamic process which constantly has to be negotiated and adapted to the actions of involved actors. The role of denkstatt is to mediate between the place, its buildings and materials, the residents and the ideas of the developers.
Denkstatt plans renovations and constructions to be low cost and resource efficient. This is achieved by identifying a suitable use for the existing buildings. Rather than constructing new buildings as a stockpile for future needs, the existing buildings are adjusted to meet the actual needs. City planning originates in the use and need, while good economics result from the suitable and sustainable usage of the existing.