a+r Architekten

a+r Architekten stand for solid, environmentally compatible and future-oriented architecture with impressive expertise in the field of sustainable building — also in existing building contexts. Founded in 1985 by Professor Gerd Ackermann and Professor Hellmut Raff, the office with branches in Stuttgart and Tübingen has around 100 employees and is today headed by Oliver Braun, Florian Gruner, Alexander Lange and Walter Fritz. a+r Architekten mainly build for public clients, industry and commerce, municipal housing companies and social institutions. The office focuses on appropriate, ecological, functional and the resulting innovative construction methods and has been awarded prestigious prizes for this approach: most recently, DAM Prize 2020, Exemplary Construction Award 2020 by the Baden-Württemberg Chamber of Architects, “best architects 2020” and first place in the Competitionline Ranking 2019/20 as the most successful competition office in German-speaking countries.

Oliver Braun
Born in 1976 in Biberach a.d. Riss; studied architecture at Leibniz University Hannover from 1997 to 1999 and at the University of Stuttgart from 1999 to 2002; worked for Foster and Partners in London, UK, from 2002 to 2004; joined a+r Architekten, formerly Ackermann+Raff, in 2004 and has been a partner since 2010; teaching assignment at the Institute for Lightweight Structures and Conceptual Design, Prof. Werner Sobek, at the University of Stuttgart from 2005 to 2007; honorary lecturer at the Institute of Building Construction 2, Prof. Stefan Behling, at the University of Stuttgart from 2007 to 2013; appointment to the Association of German Architects in 2017; inclusion on the specialist list of jurors and design advisors of the Baden-Württemberg Chamber of Architects in 2020.

Alexander Lange
Born in 1962 in Ludwigsburg; grew up in Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan; from 1977 scholarship of the Evangelical Church Seminar Maulbronn / Blaubeuren; was trained and worked as a journeyman carpenter from 1982 to 1988; studied architecture at the University of Stuttgart from 1988 to 1995. Scholarship from the Carl Duisberg Society for the Sir JJ College of Architecture, Bombay, India; diploma in architecture and urban planning with Kathrine Moore, SOM, San Francisco. Since 1997 project management and since 2010 partner in the office a+r Architekten, formerly Ackermann+Raff; appointment to the Association of German Architects in 2017.

Florian Gruner
Born 1977 in Nürtingen; studied architecture at the University of Hanover from 1998 to 2000 and at the University of Stuttgart from 2000 to 2004; study abroad at the TU-Delft in 2002/2003. Worked with Cheret & Bozic, Stuttgart, from 2005 to 2008; from 2009 to 2015 academic assistant at the University of Stuttgart at the Institute for Housing and Design (IWE) with Prof. Dr. Thomas Jocher. Joined a+r Architekten, formerly Ackermann+Raff, as a project manager in 2010, becoming senior architect in 2017 and partner in 2021.

Walter Fritz
Born in 1958 in Dettenhausen near Tübingen; was trained and worked as a journeyman bricklayer from 1982 to 1987; studied architecture from 1988 to 1992 at the Stuttgart University of Applied Sciences; joined a+r Architekten, formerly Ackermann+Raff, in 1993 and has been a partner since 2010; member of the Association of German Architects.