Helmut Jahn Quotes

A collection of quotes by Helmut Jahn.

Helmut Jahn (1940-2021) was a renowned German-American architect known for his innovative and striking designs. Born in Germany, Jahn studied architecture at the Technische Hochschule in Munich and later at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago. He began his career working for architect C. F. Murphy Associates before establishing his own firm, Murphy/Jahn, in 1981.

Jahn gained international recognition for his unique architectural style characterized by his use of glass and steel, creating iconic structures that merged functionality and aesthetic appeal. He was a prominent figure in the postmodernist movement, pushing the boundaries of design with his progressive ideas. Some of his notable projects include the Sony Center in Berlin, the Messeturm in Frankfurt, and the United Terminal at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago.

Throughout his career, Jahn received numerous prestigious awards, including the Richard J. Neutra Medal for Professional Excellence and the Rolf Schock Prize in the Arts. His contributions to the field of architecture extended beyond his own designs, as he also taught at the University of Illinois at Chicago and the Harvard Graduate School of Design.

Tragically, Helmut Jahn passed away in 2021 due to a bicycle accident near his home in Illinois. His creative vision and architectural legacy continue to inspire architects and shape skylines around the world.

The American attitude towards efficiency and execution shoul

The American attitude towards efficiency and execution should always underlie architecture.

Helmut Jahn


You don't know what the Chinese expect in the way of beauty.

You don't know what the Chinese expect in the way of beauty. The presentation is just a farce. You come into a room filled with 50 people and they don't talk to you. There's very little interaction.

Helmut Jahn

Beauty

Every building is a prototype. No two are alike.

Every building is a prototype. No two are alike.

Helmut Jahn

Architecture

It's my goal to make a building as immaterial as possible. A

It's my goal to make a building as immaterial as possible. Architecture is a very material thing. It takes a lot of resources, so why not eliminate what you don't need as long as you're able to achieve the same result?

Helmut Jahn

Architecture

We are creating a unique experience. It's starts with how yo

We are creating a unique experience. It's starts with how you see the building from a distance.

Helmut Jahn

Experience

A city building, you experience when you walk a suburban bui

A city building, you experience when you walk a suburban building, you experience when you drive.

Helmut Jahn

Architecture

The architecture profession has lost a lot of its integrity,

The architecture profession has lost a lot of its integrity, especially in the USA. The general architect here has no scruples, no ambitions.

Helmut Jahn

Architecture

I strive for an architecture from which nothing can be taken

I strive for an architecture from which nothing can be taken away.

Helmut Jahn

Architecture