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Helmut Jahn Biography

Helmut Jahn (born January 4, 1940) is a Chicago-based German-American architect, known for designs such as the Sony Center on the Potsdamer Platz in Berlin, Germany, the Messeturm in Frankfurt, Germany, the One Liberty Place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (formerly the tallest building in Philadelphia), and the Suvarnabhumi Airport, an international airport in Bangkok, Thailand. Recent projects include a residential tower in New York City, 50 West St in 2016 and the Thyssenkrup Test Tower in Rottweil, Germany in 2017.

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Helmut Jahn Quotes

I've never looked at a suburban building as being a minor building and an urban building as being a major building.

Urban, Building, Minors, Minor, Looked, Suburban

Transparency is not the same as looking straight through a building: it's not just a physical idea, it's also an intellectual one.

Inspirational, Inspiring, Ideas, Same, Idea, Transparency

We are creating a unique experience. It's starts with how you see the building from a distance.

Distance, Unique, Creating, Starts, Building

I find if my body feels well and I exercise regularly, I think better, work better and feel better.

Exercise, Feel Better, Thinking, Body, Regularly, Feels

We prefer synthetic rather than natural materials. Natural products are almost too valuable. Wood is much harder to produce than metal. And metal is recyclable, while wood isn't.

Natural, Products, Recyclable, Recycling, Valuable, Woods

Sometimes I have to accept a job I don't really want. Hardly anybody comes up to you with a commission; it's all competitions these days.

Jobs, Competition, Up To You, Competitions, Job, Accept

It's my goal to make a building as immaterial as possible. Architecture is a very material thing. It takes a lot of resources, so why not eliminate what you don't need as long as you're able to achieve the same result?

Long, Goal, Needs, Resources, Make, Result

A building is hard to judge. It takes many years to find out whether it works. It's not as simple as asking the people in the office whether they like it.

Asking, Judge, People, Simple, Years

You don't know what the Chinese expect in the way of beauty. The presentation is just a farce. You come into a room filled with 50 people and they don't talk to you. There's very little interaction.

People, Chinese, Farce, Beauty, Interaction

When I think of some of my earlier work, it really seems a fortunate coincidence that I succeeded.

Coincidence, Fortunate, Succeeded, Thinking, Work, Working It

Critics are entitled to have an opinion, but how can they judge how comfortable a building is? No critic is smart enough to judge how a building will perform over time.

Smart, Judging, Opinion, Critic, Building, Judge

A good engineer thinks in reverse and asks himself about the stylistic consequences of the components and systems he proposes.

Consequences, Propose, Reverse, Thinking, Thinks

You'd never think of taking a cab if you had to walk a mile down Chicago's Michigan Avenue. But in a bad city you take a cab just to go around the corner.

Thinking, Cities, Chicago, Avenue, Michigan, City

I think the younger generation, the people poised to dominate the workforce, are more socially conscious. They are more demanding in terms of environment and how that environment contributes to their life.

Thinking, Young Generation, People, Contributes, Think

Higher ceilings allow the use indirect lighting, which is much healthier and reduces glare.

Ceilings, Healthier, Higher, Indirect, Use

Chinese buildings are like American buildings, with big footprints. People don't care about daylight or fresh air.

Air, People, Chinese, Big

When I came to America in the '60s, it was the place to be. I wonder if I'd come here today.

America, Today, Wonder, Came, Come

Most architects say: I want to use this type of glass, even if it's too reflective or doesn't let enough light in. However, the use of a certain type of glass might change the comfort level.

Comfort, Glasses, Light, Say, Use

I strive for an architecture from which nothing can be taken away.

Architecture, Nothing, Strive, Taken

German and English firms operate internationally, while French firms do not. The only place where they all have work is in China. Anybody can sell himself in China!

China, Firm, Sells, French, Operate, Internationally

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