ICH BIN EIN FRANKFURTER

摘要

'He'MoreGerman than the Germans'. That's what they say: colleagues, clients and friends. It's a little weird, I'm a Mancunian, but it is flattering: German architecture is all about exacting standards and tectonic precision. They call it 'Baukunst' - the recognition of building as an art form - and this is what we aspire to in our projects. Ian Shaw Architekten was established in 1998. There are six of us and I am the only Englander. We are based in Frankfurt, but we receive commissions from all over the country. We have also completed projects in the US, Russia and India. Before moving to Germany, I spent three years in London, having graduated from Liverpool University in 1989.1 worked first with Ken Armstrong - which was quite an experience. Although the firm was small, its architecture was widely published and won numerous awards for design excellence.