On 30 November 2022, one of Germany’s most prominent and celebrated architects and the founding partner of the renowned practice gmp, Meinhard von Gerkan, died in Hamburg, as reported by his office. Born in Latvia in 1935, von Gerkan grew up as a foster child in Hamburg, owing to the loss of his parents during World War II. After transferring his focus from law and physics and graduating with a degree in Architecture from the Technical University of Braunschweig in 1964, he set up his architectural practice a year later with Volkwin Marg, his business partner, whom he had met during his studies.
In 1965, Meinhard von Gerkan and Volkwin Marg, as partner architects, established von Gerkan, Marg, and Partners, gmp, and since then, have had a holistic professional approach to their work. Simultaneously, Meinhard von Gerkan served as the Chair of Architectural Design at his graduating college from 1974 to 2002. Awarded an honorary doctorate from Philipps University in Marburg in 2002 and Chung Yuan Christian University in 2005, von Gerkan adopted a simplistic and distinct design approach oriented towards variety and uniformity, combining an elegant structural order.
With his interesting professional dimensions as an architect, professor, author, and architecture critic, Meinhard von Gerkan emerged as one of Germany’s most influential designers and made his mark worldwide with his iconic projects. His principles of a design dialogue consisted of perceptive simplicity, unity in diversity, and uniqueness, along with other factors. Contributing significantly to the architectural discipline, he co-founded a non-profit organization in 2007, the Academy for Architectural Culture (aac), which focuses on educating and providing an additional qualification to young graduates and architects.
Reminiscing the start of their glorious career, Volkwin Marg recalls how a classified ad about their inexpensive drawings in a local paper developed into their now well-established practice. Elaborating on their method of working, Volkwin Marg mentions how their approach barely ever changed and continued to design separately, while discussing fundamental matters together, with a shared base of principles and concepts about relevant themes. The partnership was proving its success within the first few years of its inception by winning eight architectural competitions, including that of their earliest prestigious work – West Berlin’s first postwar civilian airport, Berlin-Tegel (TXL), which opened in 1975.
Tracing through his early works completed in the Federal Republic of Germany, the European Patent Office in Munich, done in 1979, is an example of the foundation principles of design the practice has uniquely crafted since the beginning. The Sports Center at the University of Kiel marked the first of many such sports buildings designed by the esteemed firm. Eleven of their early works have been listed as historic monuments, proving their magnificence over time.
Owing to its exponential progress, the firm expanded as branches in Berlin, Braunschweig, Aachen, and Frankfurt in the 1980s. During the same time, the firm won an international competition for the National Library in Tehran and finished its first projects outside of Europe in Saudi Arabia. Following German unification, several public building designs were completed in Berlin, followed by international projects in Turkey, Latvia, and Italy.
Their first work in Asia was marked with the German School in Beijing, yet another project won through competition. Paving the way to expand into more branches, the firm took up various projects across Asia, such as the Nanning Trade Fair and the Lingang New City (present-day Nanhui New City). Dalian Twin Towers was a noteworthy series of highrise designs in China. The Hanoi Museum and the parliament building of the Vietnamese National Assembly were some initial public building works of gmp in Vietnam.
Arenas and sports parks by this time became a specialty design typology gracefully handled by the renowned firm. The engagement with sports and stadium buildings for international events elevated gmp as an expert. Notable works include conversions and newly built stadiums such as the Berlin Olympic Stadium and the ones for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa and 2014 in Brazil, and the UEFA Euro 2012. More areas were done subsequently in Romania, Azerbaijan, India, Ukraine, and Russia.
Presently, after over 50 years of its establishment, gmp by the late Meinhard von Gerkan and his partner has directed the firm to win more than 400 first prizes in national and international architectural competitions. With more than 250 award-winning buildings and about 500 projects in 23 countries, von Gerkan, Marg, and Partners remain an acclaimed practice, even today. Their deep-rooted philosophy to maintain programmatic relevance and preclude obsolescence helps capture the very essence of their every design.
Meinhard von Gerkan’s unshakeable global legacy continues with his contribution through various professional roles. Described as a person with great courage and as an inspiring energy by his peers, his loss is mourned not only by his associates but also by those who’ve admired his outstanding work.
Citations for websites
www.gmp.de. (n.d.). gmp Architekten. [online] Available at: https://www.gmp.de/en/ [Accessed 12 Dec. 2022].
aac Academy for Architectural Culturer. (n.d.). aac. [online] Available at: https://www.aac-hamburg.com/the-academy/aac/ [Accessed 12 Dec. 2022].
Floornature.com. (n.d.). Farewell to Meinhard von Gerkan of gmp | Floornature. [online] Available at: https://www.floornature.com/farewell-meinhard-von-gerkan-gmp-17511/ [Accessed 12 Dec. 2022].
