June 2017

BUILD / June 2017 143 , CODE UNIQUE Architects was established as a two-man office in 1998. Presently it has around 60 employees. Our architectural office can provide the necessary expertise in all service phases of building construction, from initial design sketches through to site and construction management. The Code of Uniqueness Our projects embrace new buildings, as well as the demanding reconstruction of protected historical buildings. We regard it as important that we do not specialise in any single field of building construction, but that our participation in architectural competitions always leads to new design approaches and building challenges. The winning of an architectural competition and the contract resulting from it offer, as a rule, are an excellent basis for collaboration with a building client. In a well-chosen competition jury, one finds from the onset the required balance of interests of the building client, the user and the public position. In further intensive dialogue, the initial solution is then developed more deeply. A good building is created only through constructive cooperation, which may also include controversial positions regarding specific aspects. By this, I mean that the suggestions of the building client and the user are extremely important, to arrive at the best possible result. A good architect reveals himself not by clinging stubbornly to a solution, but by having the capacity to develop a design concept further. This requires a flexibility which does not lose sight of the desired goal, an exacting solution. This means that a readiness for dialogue and staying power is a prerequisite. For example, we take part in conferences concerning the development of inner cities, where we relate our experiences in the development of inner city projects. In this case the building of universities, it is an important catalyst in the role of city development. Indeed, we regularly hold lectures at a variety of academic institutions and are professional judges in architectural competitions. In our office, we cultivate an emphasis on teamwork and communication. New ideas are just as important as experience so we thrive on intensive exchange. Design and planning is, for us, an intensive search for a uniquely right solution for a given architectural building problem. We develop an individual design in response to the specific requirements of the situation and location. Every location, every space, every house is not simply areas and cubic metres contained in information, but possesses a certain uniqueness. We define this individual complexity as the code of uniqueness, hence the company name CODE UNIQUE. We generate approximately 90% of our contracts through the successful participation in architectural competitions. We develop our individual designs very early in comparison to other architects. This establishes an individual approach to the building projects, in advance, and encourages innovative solutions. For us, all our buildings are equally important and we try again and again to attain an optimal result. For us, success is when the building client and the user still express enthusiasm for the building, many years later. Architectural offices today are unfortunately faced with increased risks and responsibilities that have nothing to do with their actual area of service competence. They are, for example, at a very early stage held responsible, regardless of fault for independent costings and quality guarantees. This is particularly critical if a budget does not correspond to the scope of the desired building requirements. At present, help only exists in the form of an intensive clarification and negotiation process. In the long term, we believe that trade associations and client representatives must reach agreement over sensible forms of contract. Our aim is simple - architecture must make one happy. We would like to continue working on our projects, with a much enthusiasm. Company: CODE UNIQUE Architekten GmbH Name: Martin Boden-Peroche, Volker Giezek Email: [email protected] Web Address: www.codeunique.de Address: Katharinenstr. 5, 01099 Dresden, Germany Telephone: +49 351 850 743 00 1702BU27