Image Courtesy of HKWN.
SLEEK Magazine’s Creative Impact List recognises groundbreaking talents from a range of disciplines, including fashion, art, health, architecture, design, technology, social responsibility, green energy, food, and more. It illustrates a gathering of ambitious, forward-looking minds, whose originality has led to meaningful change and offers inspiration to others. Each person on this list embodies the power of human potential and serves as a testament to the incredible things that can be accomplished through passion, resilience, and unwavering commitment.
So, prepare to be inspired, captivated, and motivated as we unveil the ranking of these inspiring individuals. Their stories serve as a reminder that when passion and purpose align, the impact created can transcend generations and inspire a brighter future for all. In the next issue of SLEEK we will introduce in SLEEK’s rubric‚ 10×10 architecture’s ten extraordinary, pioneering, contemporary, internationally well known architects and some of their projects.
Image Courtesy of Michael Moran / HWKN.
Finding inspiration in the urban landscape, HKWN uses future-forward thinking to address the challenges of today and meet the needs of tomorrow. For their project Wendy, a temporary installation in New York City’s MoMA PS1 courtyard, HKWN used an innovative material called “smog-eating” paint, which helps to purify the air by breaking down pollutants. Sustainable materials such as recycled steel and aluminum were used in the construction of the installation. Wendy stands tall as a testament to the power of inspiration.
Designed to challenge traditional notions of public spaces, this temporary installation invites visitors to interact with its innovative form and vibrant aesthetic. HWKN drew inspiration from the iconic shape of the classic Wendy’s hamburger, infusing the structure with playfulness and a touch of whimsy. By reimagining a familiar object, Wendy sparks the imagination and encourages people to see the world in a new light. In a world where inspiration and meaningful change are increasingly sought after, Wendy emerges as a beacon of creativity and transformation.
HWKN’s visionary project inspires us to dream bigger, challenge the norm, and reimagine our cities as vibrant, sustainable, and engaging spaces. Wendy stands as a testament to the power of art and architecture to shape our lives, provoke conversations, and ignite positive change. As we continue to navigate the ever-evolving urban landscape, let Wendy serve as a reminder that inspiration can be found in the most unexpected places and that meaningful change is within our reach.
Image Courtesy of Michael Moran / HWKN.
HWKN, in collaboration with OSA Ochs Schmidhuber Architekten and Holger Meyer Architecture, has also unveiled its audacious vision of a new urban future with the opening of Die Macherei. This groundbreaking project, featuring six multi-purpose buildings, including the stunning Scandic München Macherei hotel, has breathed life into a once-barren industrial area, transforming it into a vibrant, welcoming, and emotionally charged neighborhood.
Die Macherei embodies the essence of future urbanism in a post-pandemic world, as envisioned by Matthias Hollwich, the founder of HWKN. Rather than merely designing buildings, the project focuses on creating engaging spaces in between them, drawing people into a revitalized neighborhood. Lead designer Jessica Knobloch-Arscott explains, “By slightly offsetting the buildings, we have crafted an authentic and intimate European experience, offering people space to relax, engage, and work.”
The buildings, plazas, and rooftop lounges within Die Macherei are thoughtfully designed to enhance well-being and foster personal communication. According to Hollwich, those who work in this neighborhood will be inspired, happy, and productive. The emphasis on creating an enriching environment for individuals reflects a vision that goes beyond conventional urban development.
Images Courtesy of Art Invest and Accumulata / HWKN.
Die Macherei pays homage to Munich’s brick-making heritage, as it is an area once renowned for its brick production, including the bricks used in the iconic fifteenth-century Frauenkirche. The project’s expressive use of brick, particularly the glossy red-to-orange brick adorning the office building facade and canyon sides, evokes joy and beckons people to explore. Die Macherei offers a new neighborhood experience, complete with small stores, coffee shops, and inviting spaces to work or relax. Over 50 percent of the entire complex is accessible to the local community.
It’s radical design, earning it the distinction of being Europe’s first LEED-approved neighborhood, emerged from a collaborative effort between architects from HWKN Architecture in New York, Holger Meyer Architektur in Frankfurt, and OSA Ochs Schmidhuber Architekten from Munich. Through late-night brainstorming sessions, sketches on envelopes, and model iterations, this diverse team refined the concept into the winning formula that shapes Die Macherei today.
With the opening of Die Macherei, the neighborhood’s residents now have the opportunity to fully embrace and enjoy the promises of this exciting creative endeavor; the project signifies a renaissance.
As featured in SLEEK 77 – TRUST. Available in print and digital here.