Thomas Kraubitz appointed to German BDA

The Association of German Architects (BDA) unites architects and urban planners whose goal is to promote the quality of architecture within the built environment. 

Members are committed to further the interests of their profession. They distinguish themselves through the quality of their projects as well as by high personal integrity and collegiality.

We spoke to Director and Head of Sustainability and Climate in Europe Thomas Kraubitz about his appointment to the BDA.  

Congratulations, Thomas, for being called up to join the BDA. What does this appointment mean for you personally?

Thank you. It’s a great honour and recognition that shows that the work we do at Buro Happold is seen to be significant to the industry. While we don’t design in the traditional sense, it’s the full engineering and consulting package that we bring to projects to make the vision viable. We are great team players and are lucky to work with fantastic architects and planners to create futures together. Personally, I’m looking forward very much to unbiased discussions beyond disciplinary boundaries that tackle the many pressing questions of our time. Doing so, outside day-to-day operations will allow for blue-sky thinking, new alliances and friendships. I am confident that it will also be a lot of fun on the way.

What is the reason for your appointment? 

Membership is given on recommendation and after giving a lecture and podium discussion at a BDA event in 2020 on “The digital and the city” the curiosity and exchange with the BDA and its members intensified leading towards the nomination. It is also the right time to include fresh and new views on sustainability, taxonomy, lifecycle, smart and resilient cities and other topics that can increase the quality of buildings and cities alike.  

What do you hope to achieve as a member of the BDA?

Good design needs to be fair, responsible and justifiable. We have an obligation to be smart, resourceful and purposeful with all that we build. We need new ideas for old buildings and old construction methods for new buildings and I hope to contribute to such a future of construction. We must act together! 

How will your membership in the BDA inform your team’s work at Buro Happold? 

The exposure to and collaboration with great architects and planners will trigger many ideas on how to better cooperate, discuss and build for the future. We have wonderful projects at Buro Happold that are often testing beds for the future, and I am supremely confident that the work with the BDA will bring impulses to my team. 

Good design needs to be responsible and justifiable. We have an obligation to be smart, resourceful and purposeful with all that we build.

Thomas Kraubitz, Director and Head of Sustainability and Climate in Europe Thomas Kraubitz 

What do hope to take away from this membership in terms of personal development? 

The network itself is incredible and the first events I’ve been invited to were outstanding in the richness of topics and ideas. I keep bringing a notebook to events to capture ideas where they take place, in the midst of life. The pages keep filling up which is always a good indicator on the quality of discussions. The richness of topics is very stimulating.