20250627 Konrad Merz

Konrad Merz graduated in civil engineering in 1984 and in industrial engineering in 1995. Between 1984 and 1986, he worked for a manufacturer of glued laminated timber. Merz taught under Julius Natterer at EPF Lausanne (1986–1990). Between 1990 and 1993, he worked as a senior structural engineer at MacMillan Bloedel Research in Vancouver. In 1994, Konrad Merz and a partner founded the engineering firm merz + kaufmann, which was renamed merz kaufmann partner in 2000 and merz kley partner in 2007. The engineering firm has offices in Dornbirn, Altenrhein, Heilbronn, Karlsruhe and Nuremberg. Its speciality is timber construction. In this way, they support architects and builders. They help to successfully realise buildings. Konrad emphasises that cooperation that begins as early as possible – ideally during the competition – has proven its worth. The interplay between his technical know-how and the architect’s ideas is the basis for a good design.

2025 03 21: Presentation by Verena Konrad, vai, to HOUSE EUROPE!
HOUSE EUROPE! is the European Citizens’ Initiative for new EU laws that make renovations and conversions easier, cheaper and more social.

Yes to renovation! No to demolition!
HOUSE EUROPE! wants to preserve homes and communities, create a fairer and more localised construction industry, save energy and resources and preserve the history and memories of our building culture. Renovation and remodelling should be the norm in the future, because the potential of existing buildings is enormous! The system is designed to demolish buildings and build new ones. This approach is encouraged by a lack of regulations and incentives in favour of new construction. Progress is important for society, but it must also be ensured that it does not come at the expense of existing communities, local economies, our environment and our building culture. The goal is to shed light on the property development practices that are the reason for demolition and impact each and every one of us.

Cast your vote HERE.

20241122 Martin Mackowitz

Martin Mackowitz is an architect specializing in adobe construction and sustainable building. He is a member of Lehm Ton Erde Baukunst GmbH, co-founder of Erden Studio and Lehmit, which focus on wood and adobe building systems. Since 2013, he has been teaching at the University of Liechtenstein. Martin initiates projects that address the social and political aspects of construction and implements sustainable projects in collaboration with Tortenwerkstatt, Kompott, Wanderkiosk, and ma_ma. In his lecture at the CN-Dialog, Martin, together with Lorenz, the adobe structural engineer, discussed central themes of their work, particularly building with adobe – an eco-friendly and sustainable building material. We thank Martin and Lorenz for their inspiring lecture.

20240315 Manfred Draxl, conceptlicht.at

Manfred has been working in lighting design for many years and has literally brightened up several projects with us. These include the basilica in Rankweil, the Zehntfeld nursing home in Widnau, the Sülchenkirche church in Rottenburg and the vorarlberg museum. Without light, humans would have no visual perception at all. But perhaps we only realise how important light is for us when we realise that we can see and also feel it. A lighting situation always has a direct influence on our mood. When it comes to lighting design, particular attention should therefore be paid to ensure that the lighting provided corresponds to the natural perception of light. The room should be perceivable as a whole and the lighting should also provide orientation for visitors – guiding them into the building or through a site. We would like to thank Manfred very much for being with us and for his fascinating talk.

20240112 Mario Sammer

After many years as an IT manager and business consultant, Mario founded Triami over 20 years ago – a passion project for him. Triami has been with us for many years and through the most diverse phases, which have always been linked to increasing demands on IT. For us, it was and still is essential that all employees are well trained in dealing with IT and can easily recognise any threats and thus avert dangers. We would like to thank Mario and his team for supporting us for so many years and for always making everything possible.

20231201 Monika Heiss

As the daughter of a textile manufacturing family, Monika came into touch with the subject of colour at an early age. By chance, she took part in a colour course later in her career – and she can now look back on 25 years as a specialist planner for colour design. Monika works with colour charts, samples and originals and mostly without a computer – and she seems to know a story for every shade of colour. Colour is an elementary component of our perception and always has an immediate effect on us. When designing the colour scheme of rooms, facades or public spaces, it is important to avoid overstimulation and monotony. Contrasts are needed that are both diversified and calming. The more pleasantly designed rooms are, the more considerate the people who spend time in them will act. We would like to thank Monika for her always colourful, cheerful appearance, her enthusiasm spread directly to us.

20231006 Sigi Ramoser

Sigi Ramoser from Büro Sägenvier visited us for a lecture on wayfinding and signage. Signage is more than a guidance system. Signage is orientation in terms of thought and content. Good signage gives a building its own identity. Sägenvier has already been with us on several signage projects and competitions: the Vorarlberg Museum in Bregenz, the headquarters of Gebrüder Weiss in Lauterach, the headquarters of Schelling in Schwarzach, the fire station in Thuringia, RWT in Kirchberg, the competition for Doppelmayr Rickenbach. We thank Sigi for his visit and the extremely interesting, entertaining and vivid lecture.

20230616 Urs B. Roth

Urs B. Roth works in the area where architecture, mathematics and art meet, and all his work is based on strictly mathematically generated form. His expertise is in demand when it comes to solving spatial problems in building projects with the help of mathematical laws. One of Urs B. Roth’s largest projects is the façade structure of the Vorarlberg Museum in Bregenz. Other important interventions were made at the Landesgedächtniskapelle in Rankweil, at the bishop’s tomb in Rottenburg, at the retirement and care centre in Widnau and at the concert hall in Munich. We thank Urs for his visit. We were all thrilled by his talk and fascinated by his way of thinking and working.