About us
The two Viennese architecture offices Franz and Sue joined forces in 2017. Since then Franz&Sue has been constantly growing.
Photos: Paul Bauer and Franz&Sue/Louai Abdul Fattah
Today our team of more than 90 people from 18 countries represents one of the most successful and innovative architecture practices in Austria. Our architecture is clear, reduced, and committed to quality. For us, dialogue at eye level is of utmost importance.
Philosophy
»We stand by our words. Always. This is what makes us a reliable partner, ready to walk short or longer paths, and winding roads, too.«
»We pay great attention to quality. That’s why we invest just as much time, energy, and devotion at the end of a project as in the beginning. And any point in between.«
»We believe in relevance beyond fashion trends. That’s why our architecture is clear, radical, and sustainable. Made by people for people, not for prestige or short-lived vogues.«
»Contradictions and differences are essential to our approach, for they reveal new perspectives and potentials and keep us self-critical.«
»We stick to our values and take our responsibility to everyone who encounters our architecture very seriously. Therefore, a No is just as important to us as a Yes.«
From Architects with Love
We, the five founding partners at Franz&Sue, first met during our studies in architecture at TU Wien. After graduation we founded two independent architecture practices in Vienna: one as Franz, the other as Sue. In our legendary Fight Club discussion rounds we realised that not only do we share the same approach to architecture, but we also speak the same language when it comes to our business culture and our commitment to building culture. Then, in May 2017, we merged to form Franz&Sue. Since January 2022, long-time employees Corinna Toell and Björn Haunschmid-Wakolbinger have strengthened the management team of Franz&Sue as new partners.
The seven partners of Franz&Sue are Harald Höller, Björn Haunschmid-Wakolbinger, Michael Anhammer, Erwin Stättner, Robert Diem, Corinna Toell und Christian Ambos (FLTR). Photo: Max Kropitz
Stadtelefant
Our city quarter house and architecture cluster Stadtelefant is a project that’s close to our hearts: an office building right beside Vienna Main Station in the new Sonnwendviertel neighbourhood, which we designed, developed, financed, and built together with affiliated architecture offices, institutions, and companies in the sector. We have been working here since the end of 2018.
Mimi im Stadtelefant cooks fresh food for us every day. We eat lunch together in our in-house cafeteria and network with other architectural enthusiasts at events.
Photo: Andreas Buchberger
Success
»We are general planners who work in big interdisciplinary teams. We have learned to listen carefully and give the best idea priority over hierarchical structures. We’re convinced that architecture can truly succeed when there is a common vision and everyone puts their vanity aside now and then.«
»We believe that good architecture must be able to survive in the world on its own. This means withstanding changes and proving its adaptability, no matter how it is used. When we let go of our designs in the end, they must be able exist without us. Only then have we done everything right and can celebrate what we have created.«
After the competition is before the competition
The majority of our projects evolve out of architectural competitions. In the past years we have won more than 50 competitions in the realm of educational, residential, and office buildings. At the moment 25 projects are in progress, including 12 educational facilities, 8 residential projects, and 5 public buildings.
In 2020 Franz&Sue were awarded the Lower Austrian Culture Prize in the category Architecture. Our projects were previously honoured with the Clients Award, the Austrian State Prize for Architecture, and the Fiabci World Prix d’Excellence.
Photo: David Schreyer
| 2022 | »Architektur von Menschen für Menschen« | Interview Architektur Fachmagazin "People" |
| 2021 | »Die neue Bescheidenheit« | Interview im KURIER-Magazin "Architektur" |
| 2021 | »Zum Elefanten fusioniert« | Building Times |
| 2021 | »Quartiershaus Stadtelefant in Wien« | Detail |
| 2020 | »Architektur ohne Eitelkeiten« | Intermezzo mit Franz&Sue auf Radio Ö1 |
| 2020 | »Geschichten aus dem Lockdown« | Video zur Vortragsreihe Stadtansichten |
| 2020 | »Das Nichtperfekte ermöglicht vieles« | Interview mit WohnenPlus |
| 2020 | »Rendezvous mit Franz&Sue« | Interview zum competitionline-Architektenranking |
| 2019 | »Ein Elefant für die Stadt« | Interview im Immo-KURIER |
| 2019 | »Beyond Instagram« | Interview im H.O.M.E.-Magazin |
| 2019 | »Die beste Idee zählt« | Interview mit Zement+Beton |
| 2019 | »Salzburg: Vom Gefängnishof zum öffentlichen Raum« | Justizgebäude Salzburg in Die Presse, Spectrum |
| 2017 | »Sammlungs- und Forschungszentrum der Tiroler Landesmuseen« | architektur.aktuell |
| 2013 | »An Architect’s Eye to the Future« | The Wall Street Journal |
| 2022 | »Einfach (Um)Nutzen« | Vortrag, Architekturzentrum Wien |
| 2021 | »What is measurable in architecture?« | Vortrag, Piran Days of Architecture |
| 2021 | »Design the design process!« | Vortrag, TU Wien |
| 2021 | Architekturumtrunk | Vortrag, Hochschule RheinMain, Wiesbaden |
| 2021 | »Combining digital and analogue working methods« | Vortrag, Graphisoft Building Together |
| 2021 | »Stadtbausteine für lebendige Quartiere« | Vortrag, DETAIL-Kongress 2021, München |
| 2020 | »Franz&Sue und die vielen Geschichten« | Vortrag, architect@work Wien |
| 2020 | Ausstellungseröffnung ZV Bauherrenpreis | Vortrag, Architekturhaus Salzburg |
| 2020 | »Sprechen über Architektur« | Werkvortrag, Zentralvereinigung der ArchitektInnen Österreichs |
| 2019 | »Von Wichtigem und Unwichtigem« | Vortrag, Kunstuniversität Linz |
| 2019 | »Gerecht bauen!« | Podiumsdiskussion und Buchpräsentation, Az W Wien |
| 2019 | TURN ON 2019 | Vortrag, ORF RadioKulturhaus Wien |
| 2018 | YoVA4 - Young Viennese Architects and Landscape Architects | Vortrag und Ausstellungseröffnung, Istanbul |
| 2018 | TURN ON 2018 | Vortrag, ORF RadioKulturhaus Wien |
| 2017 | House of the World 2017 | Lecture, Ljubljana |
| 2017 | »Small-Scale City, Space for Children« | Lecture Days of Architecture ‘17, Banja Luka |
| 2014 | Pecha Kucha Night | Vortrag, Sarajevo |
- All
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We look forward to your application at:
bewerbung@franzundsue.at
Contact
Franz und Sue ZT GmbH
Bloch-Bauer-Promenade 23/3
1100 Vienna
Office
+43 1 941 52 65–0
office@franzundsue.at
Media contact
DI Thomas Prlić
+43 1 941 52 65–52
presse@franzundsue.at
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