Naked and proud: System 180 bares all

With its ingenious, yet simple, joint engineering, System 180 makes a virtue of its construction, delivering an archly architectural, highly aesthetic means of lending form to products and shape to projects. Architonic caught up with CEO Andreas Stadler to learn more.


How would you describe System 180's DNA?

Our DNA is most identifiable in the unique "node connection" of the System 180 construction system. The node operates like a truss: it’s where the individual rod members meet, meaning there’s no need for any additional constructional component. This feature gives System 180 a highly geometric form, and in doing so, significant freedom when it comes to functionality and aesthetics. That said, we’re also able to work to the specific needs of our customers, thanks to our in-house production, quickly and cost-effectively.

System 180's pride in its special joint engineering is clear to see. (You even use it in your logo.) Why and how was it developed?

Professor Jürg Steiner began applying his experience as a stage technician and workshop manager to exhibition design at the end of the 1970s. The modular construction systems of the time didn’t appear to him to be universal enough. So he decided to create his own building system, which later became System 180. Stable, as simple as possible, using as little material and energy as possible, but nonetheless aesthetically pleasing.

How does your system benefit architects in particular?

From a design point of view, it’s the clarity and legibility of the system, as seen in the projects that have been realised with it. From a technical perspective, it would be the application-specific scalability of the connection principle: for furniture construction, we use stainless-steel rods with a 20mm diameter; for stairs and light roofs, 28mm rods; and 48mm and 60mm rods for heavy-duty structures, such as the 5,000 square-metre temporary facade at Tempelhof Airport or geodesic domes.

How is R&D set up at System 180? How do you ensure you remain innovative?

Here System 180 has a cultural advantage: our development has always been user-centric and iterative – which is what makes start-ups strong today and what large companies often have to relearn. The most important projects and product concepts in our history have been developed in direct dialogue with our customers. These solutions and prototypes we’ve then developed into series production.

Where do you personally work best? And where do you feel most relaxed?

Believe it or not, I can work brilliantly in the System 180 factory in Berlin Adlershof! Functional production halls and offices that face inwards towards the showroom ensure proximity to colleagues from different departments – which, in turn, provides the foundation for great collaboration and new impulses. That said, the best ideas sometimes come when relaxing at one of Berlin’s lakes!

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