Querkopf Architekten: Holistic visions and new perspectives

TEXT: CORNELIA BRELOWSKI | PHOTOS: QUERKOPF ARCHITEKTEN

Hamburg-based Querkopf Architekten thinks out of the box, ensuring that its architecture closely reflects its visions and holistic attitude.

“Our architecture arises from a desire to first question the tasks at hand,” explains Querkopf founder Fionn Mögel. “Querkopf (Maverick) is less of a label and more of an attitude. We consider things from various perspectives and in various roles – to make sure that the resulting structures stay close to our visions.”

Querkopf Architekten embraces a holistic approach to development, planning, and construction. Apart from heading the architectural studio, Mögel is also the managing director of a construction company with over 30 employees and acts as a project developer for his own projects. “We’re not only architects. We still embrace a holistic approach to development, planning, and construction.” The architect started out even before leaving college. “Actually, I started working while I was still sort of in the middle of my master’s programme,” he recalls. While experience may have lacked at first, the necessary passion was there in abundance. “My former partner and I didn’t know much at first, but we worked hard and were full of love for what we did. We made up for our lack of experience by putting in a hell of a lot of hours!” The goal was to build a broad portfolio over the first decade, essentially covering every genre, the architect says. “We managed to work together for ten years, after which I took over on my own. Well, not entirely on my own – the team is amazing,” he marvels.

Villa Neo.

Architecture that stirs emotions

Querkopf Architekten works for clients that are looking for visionaries whose buildings can stir emotions. “We want to create butterflies in the stomach!” The team worked hard over the past 15 years – mostly without any marketing, reveals the architect: “We’ve always let our work speak, and now it’s time for growth. We mean to go international in the near future. We want to blur the lines between genres, break with convention, and offer new perspectives worldwide.” To this end, they will soon be enlarging their team, focus on certain sectors and set priorities – especially on high-end villas, hotel developments and new living concepts.

Wäschereiquartier – modern living in historic surroundings

A recent, award-winning project in Kassel offers a successful blend of past and present. The Vorderer Westen neighbourhood in Kassel’s western outskirts combines historic buildings with modern structures and offers a new residential experience. Known for its well-preserved Art Nouveau buildings, the borough also offers a lively café and restaurant scene. In an idyllic courtyard not far from Bebelplatz square lies an industrial laundry building from 1900, surrounded by old fruit trees and wildflowers. Here, 30 residential units were created, ranging between 35 and 320 square metres of floor space.

A new building on Dörnbergstraße forms the entrance to the Wäschereiquartier: Corten steel façades and exposed concrete interiors define the character of the units while drawing conceptual inspiration from the old industrial charm of the complex. The addition to the red brick factory building meanwhile incorporates historical elements such as exposed steel beams and vertical bands of windows. The historic chimney acts as a particular eye-catcher while a rooftop terrace in the courtyard offers views of green roof plantings, inviting residents to relax. The project combines old industrial charm with modern living comfort, creating a new and innovative residential complex.

Entrance hall, Hanse Merkur, Hamburg.

Villa Ferro – luxurious family estate with distinct identity

Located in a quiet residential neighbourhood near Bremen, the villa embodies a harmonious blend of contemporary architecture, spacious interiors and a deep connection to nature. Spanning 720 square metres of living space on a 4,600-square-metre lot, it was designed as a luxurious family estate with a distinct architectural identity. Clean horizontal roof lines punctuated by vertical walls of natural stone lend the building both strength and a timeless character. The entrance area features a pivoting wooden door that appears to float between glass elements, creating a grand yet inviting first impression. Generous, frameless glass surfaces open towards the garden, allowing interior and exterior to merge seamlessly.

The interior design concept features bright and spacious areas: an open kitchen, a 90 square metre master suite, children’s rooms, a wellness area with a spa and fitness room, and a private cinema. Double-height ceilings and clear lines emphasise the sense of spaciousness and elegance, mirrored by an exterior with equally generous terrace areas and a pool.

Villa Ferro, Bremen.

Villa Neo – sculptural architecture in nature

Nestled in the middle of a 2,300-square-metre wooded plot near Hamburg stands a villa that breaks with traditional conventions and blazes new trails with its sculptural architecture. The villa has 403 square metres of floor space and was a direct commission. It embodies the vision of sculptural, minimalist, and modern architecture that reinterprets classical principles and offers a unique living experience surrounded by nature.

Villa Neo.

The villa resembles an artistic installation rather than a building, set on a natural stone pedestal that forms the underground garage. The two-story structure is clearly oriented toward the forest and follows the design concept of an L-shape that nestles against the slope, creating a sheltered interior space for the terrace. From the street side, the ground floor presents a minimalist appearance with three striking forms of exposed concrete, protecting the interior from view. Toward the forest however, the rooms open up through large-scale glass elements, creating an intense connection to the surroundings. The upper floor forms a design contrast with an imposing, twisted concrete structure above a transparent glass-and-steel construction – ensuring privacy and directing the view toward the forest. Steel slats wrap around the building and harmoniously connect the levels, while an atrium in the centre of the house provides additional natural light.

ParkTower, Offenbach.

ParkTower Offenbach – living the future

The ParkTower ensemble symbolises the connection between nature and forward-thinking urban development. Located directly on Büsingpark and adjacent to the Büsing Palais, the ParkTower offers an impressive view of the river to the north and a spectacular view of the Frankfurt skyline to the west.

A key objective of the project was to break through the barrier created by the major thoroughfare and establish a connection between the city centre and the riverfront, thereby enabling seamless integration into the urban landscape. The architecture is inspired by the natural form of the horsetail plant, with the different stems representing various functions. The lower section contains student housing units, followed by a hotel area above and residential apartments for the upper section. The base level provides space for public uses and revitalises the neighbourhood with a comprehensive cultural and recreational area. The second standalone building houses office space. Green terraces not only create an oasis in the midst of the urban environment but also improve the quality of life for both residents and visitors. The ParkTower thus stands not only for architectural innovation, but also for a sustainable and liveable future in urban development.

Hanse Merkur-Lobby – blending historical heritage with modern architecture

The new lobby for the Hanse Merkur-building at Hamburg’s Siegfried Wedells square combines modern architectural elements with functional features – a sculptural design created to meet both aesthetic and practical needs. The entrance hall connects the architectural ensemble, comprising the historic Wedells building, a 1990s structure and the atrium situated between them. The lobby flows into the urban space as an expressive extension of the glass atrium, opening up with a widely cantilevered roof that appears on the forecourt like a sculpture.

Club design – lighting the night

Across two floors, situated high above the rooftops of the Reeperbahn at Nobistor, the Hamburg Noho Club draws the crowds with stylish decor, a high-quality sound system, and first-class lighting: 2,000 individually controllable LEDs flash across the room while 100 black mirrors refract the light in all directions like a sparkling diamond. The sophisticated GAGA Club concept meanwhile seamlessly blends a restaurant and a nightclub. The tactile materials and coordinated colours in the restaurant area contrast with the acoustic dynamics and the play of light in the nightclub: a high-end design concept, enabling versatile use.