OFFICE PROFILE
Topotek 1 was founded in 1996 by Martin Rein-Cano in Berlin. Since 1999, he has run the studio in equal partnership with Lorenz Dexler. Carsten Schmidt has been an associate partner of Topotek 1 since 2021. In 2017, Topotek 1 Architektur was founded by Martin Rein-Cano, Lorenz Dexler and Dan Budik.
Topotek 1 is a diverse, lively, and multidisciplinary office composed of a highly qualified international team of architects, landscape architects, and administrative staff. The studio draws upon this wide range of experience during all stages of the design and construction processes, resulting in exceptionally effective design solutions that produce transparent, efficient, and long-term benefits for its clients.
Working at the intersection of the fields of landscape architecture, urbanism, and architecture, Topotek 1 considers itself a traveller that explores the fringe areas of typologies and scales. Each project strives to respond to the given context and programmatic necessities with a compelling concept, extraordinary design quality, and efficient implementation. Some of the studio’s key strategies for maintaining an awareness of and vital link to general contemporary discussions include the hybridization of topics and disciplines; the removal, transmission, and re-imagining of objects and design features from their original context to another; and the design and emplacement of scenographic sequences.
Global movements in society and culture continually redefine a broad spectrum of possibilities in relation to the design and constitution of public space. Driven by its conceptual approach, Topotek 1 considers public spaces to be an expression of visions and of society as a whole. The studio develops design concepts through a critical understanding of extant contemporary realities as well as of cultural and historical references. Through this holistic strategy, Topotek 1 generates solutions that fulfill the modern requirements of variability, communication, and sensuality, creating contemporary spaces for contemporary uses.
Topotek 1 Partners
Martin Rein-Cano, born in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1967, studied art history at Frankfurt University and landscape architecture at the Technical Universities of Hannover and Karlsruhe
Lorenz Dexler, born in Darmstadt, Germany in 1968, studied landscape architecture at Hannover Technical University.
Martin Rein-Cano and Lorenz Dexler both teach and lecture at internationally known universities and cultural institutions and participate regularly in competition juries.
Dan Budik, born in Zurich, Switzerland in 1974, studied architecture at the ETH Zurich and the ETSA Madrid. He worked as project manager in Brussels and Rotterdam for several years. Between 2009 and 2016 he ran his own office in Zurich and taught as a lecturer at ETH Zurich at the Department of Architecture.
Carsten Schmidt, born in Essen, Germany in 1991, first studied political science, Chinese studies, and communications at the University of Tübingen, then landscape architecture and city and regional planning at Cornell University. After working with Cornell University on a Climate-Adaptive Design initiative, he joined Topotek 1 and has been partner since summer 2021.
Selected Awards:
2021
Polis Award, Social Neighbourhood Development, 3rd Prize |
Educational Landscape Historical Center North, Cologne, Germany
2020
LILA – Landezine International Landscape Architecture Office Award
2019
Building and Garden Culture World Heritage Upper Middle Rhine Valley, 2nd Prize |
Entrance Park Ehrenbreitstein Fortress, Koblenz, Germany
Saxon State Prize for Building Culture, Honorable Mention |
Conversion of Chemnitz Central Station
2018
AILA National Landscape Architecture Award |
Project „HOTA Outdoor Stage (QLD)“, designed by Topotek 1 with CUSP and ARM
Queensland Institute of Landscape Architects Award
2017
FIABCI 2017 Prix d’Excellence Germany, Gold Prize |
Puhlmannhof Berlin, Germany
WohnbauPreis Hamburg, 2nd Prize |
Maritime Living at Kaufhauskanal, Hamburg, Germany
Brandenburgischer Baukulturpreis, Honourable Mention |
SAP Innovation Center 2.0, Potsdam, Germany
2016
The Aga Khan Award for Architecture |
Superkilen, Copenhagen, Denmark
European Garden Award, Innovative Design of a Contemporary Garden or Park, 1st Prize |
UNESCO World Heritage Site Cloister Lorsch, Germany
2015
German Landscape Architecture Prize, 1st Prize |
UNESCO World Heritage Site Cloister Lorsch, Germany
2013
Red Dot Best of the Best Award |
Superkilen, Copenhagen, Denmark
Institute Honor Of National AIA Awards |
Superkilen, Copenhagen, Denmark
German Landscape Architecture Prize, Recognition |
Superkilen, Copenhagen, Denmark
IOC/IAKS Award (International Architecture Prize of the Intl. Olympic Committee)
Gold Medal | Superkilen, Copenhagen, Denmark
Bronze Medal | Sports facilities Heerenschürli, Zurich, Switzerland
2011
Hugo Häring Prize, Honourable Mention |
Friedrich-Ebert-Platz, Heidelberg, Germany
German Landscape Architecture Prize, Honourable Mention |
Sports facilities Heerenschürli, Zurich, Switzerland
2010
INNO – Awarded by SLG concrete association road, landscape, garden e.V.
2009
German Landscape Architecture Prize, Honourable Mention |
Kindergarten Griechische Allee, Berlin, Germany
Gustav Meyer Award, Senate Department for Urban Development and Environment Berlin |
Green Corridor Bullengraben, Berlin, Germany
Build a City – Live the City, National Award for Integrated Urban Development and Building Culture |
University Plaza in Halle/Saale, Germany
Gottfried Kühn Prize, Honourable Mention |
Fortress Ehrenbreitstein, Koblenz, Germany
2005
Living City innovative sports facilities, Honourable Mention |
Playground and sports facilities Niebuhrstrasse Berlin, Germany
2003
German Landscape Architecture Prize |
University Campus, Halle/Saale, Germany
2002
German Urban Development Prize by SEB AG |
University Campus, Halle/Saale, Germany