How can we design new living spaces?

“Making the best out of the time available to us”—this is Maximilian Hurler’s life philosophy. In an interview with us, he offers an insight into his personal experiences and what drives him to bring a company steeped in tradition into the future.

INTERVIEW

 

F R A N K   W A G N E R

O N E

Mr. Hurler, where does your interest in design and
architecture come from?

MAXIMILIAN HURLER

I believe that a fundamental appreciation for design is something we all have. Personally speaking, cities and metropolises have always inspired me. Their squares, spaces and buildings are fascinating in terms of design and architecture.

However, the truly special thing about cities is their vibrancy of life. Who are these people and what are their stories? What are their needs? What trends can be observed in society? How can city life be reconciled with increasing awareness of environmental and health factors? Where are new opportunities for art and culture emerging?

Today, in our role as project developers, we are working together with architects, engineers, designers and other partners to come up with the answers to the question of how to better create—or rather design—the spaces in which we live.

 

T W O

 

Why did you not become a designer? There is an intense discussion taking place as to whether or not design can decisively improve people’s living environments. What is your view on this? Is this a naïve stance or a relevant question to pose?

 

Well, what is a designer?

According to a renowned Munich-based design and brand agency, “designers anticipate and shape the future”.

As Silicon Valley-based entrepreneur and investor Peter Thiel once said, “An entrepreneur is first and foremost a designer”.

Perhaps design and entrepreneurship can be understood to be methods of taking a situation or condition or state, for example, and improving it. Human life. People. These are at the centre of this process. Time is a precious and finite concept for us all. It is therefore likely that we all ask the same question. Namely, how can we make the best of the time available to us? This issue transforms what we do from a mere job to a calling in life.

Squares, buildings and spaces provide the framework for life, for human activity. As project developers, we are given the wonderful task of playing a part in shaping the areas in which we live our lives. We moderate and coordinate a common and fair process anchored in brainstorming processes, design, structural implementation and business.

In this way, design and the process entailed help us to achieve our goals and, in doing so, meet our responsibilities head on.

It is up to each individual as to whether they perceive themselves to be a designer. However, what’s for sure is that nobody can ignore the social relevance of design.