Living in and for Architecture
Interview with Sergei Tchoban, managing partner, TCHOBAN VOSS Architekten
From adaptive reuse to hybrid timber construction, TCHOBAN VOSS Architekten is redefining Germany’s urban landscape through groundbreaking sustainable practices. With a team of over 150 professionals across three locations, the company has established itself by blending innovative design with environmental responsibility. Managing Director Sergei Tchoban discusses the firm’s guiding philosophy, current projects, and forward-looking vision for the future.
European Business: Mr. Tchoban, your company has a long history. Could you tell us about its evolution and current structure?
Sergei Tchoban: We’re a generational company with roots going back to post-war Hamburg. The firm evolved through various partnerships, from Neve and Partner to NPS, then NPS and Partner, then NPS TCHOBAN VOSS and now TCHOBAN VOSS. Currently, I am the owner, supported by ten partners across our locations and two managing directors in Hamburg. We have a total workforce of 150 employees representing over 20 nationalities.
European Business: Sustainability seems to be a major focus of your work. How does this influence your architectural approach?
Sergei Tchoban: The world around us is being shaken both politically and ecologically. We must think increasingly sustainably about what we produce. Sometimes, this means creating buildings that might be less sustainable in their initial construction but will last much longer in the city center and require minimal maintenance. We also need to consider the rapidly changing nature of office spaces – how deep should offices be, how many workplaces should be maintained, how do we accommodate hybrid working models? This leads to new organizational philosophies for office spaces, sometimes requiring transformation from office to apartments or hotels.
European Business: How do you incorporate this flexibility into your designs?
Sergei Tchoban: We think carefully about floor heights and try to create spaces with minimal supporting columns that might restrict usage. We consider the sustainability of load-bearing materials and design façade structures that can be more easily updated than the supporting structure. We work with layered façades that can be assembled and disassembled like sandwiches. The raw building structure should be the most sustainable part, allowing for technical installations to be replaced while maintaining the core structure.
European Business: What types of projects form your current portfolio?
Sergei Tchoban: Market demands currently focus on hotels and apartment buildings, with some continuing demand for residential construction. Office buildings are less frequent than five years ago. Cultural buildings, while not as frequently commissioned, remain a specialized highlight for any architect. We recently completed the EDGE office complex at Südkreuz for Vattenfall, certified as the most sustainable office building in Germany according to DGNB certification. We’re also working on the adaptive reuse of a 1960s building at Ernst-Reuter-Platz 6, demonstrating our commitment to building preservation rather than demolition.
European Business: How do you acquire new projects? Do you have regular clients?
Sergei Tchoban: Many clients come to us after seeing our previous work. It creates a chain effect – one client recognizes the quality of our work, which leads to another, and so on. We also participate in invited competitions, which result in many projects. While we maintain a social media presence, I believe our main advertising comes through our work itself.
European Business: What role does digitalization play in your firm?
Sergei Tchoban: BIM (Building Information Modeling) has long been implemented in our office, as has artificial intelligence in various facets. These are tools that we must use, but they complement rather than replace traditional methods. I still believe in hand drawing for initial design phases, as humans think not only with their heads but also with their bodies and hands. While computers provide greater accuracy in dealing with details, everything begins with spontaneous decisions about which direction to take.
European Business: What drives you personally in your work?
Sergei Tchoban: I love my profession and want to continue perfecting myself within it. I love drawing, designing, and even the challenging aspects of this profession. I believe I’m well-suited for it, and most importantly, I haven’t exhausted my potential yet. It’s about the joy of discovering, progressing, learning anew, and reinventing oneself. That’s what keeps us young.
European Business: What’s your vision for the future of TCHOBAN VOSS Architects?
Sergei Tchoban: While we must follow market signals, which are currently very clear, the goal isn’t any specific project. Rather, it’s about realizing and discovering our strengths – including those we haven’t yet discovered. Our aim is to continue developing our capabilities while maintaining our commitment to sustainable, innovative architecture that serves both our clients and society.