24/007
Luftschloss
Render Studio
Berlin
«It’s a lot of fun to imagine how someone is using the space and what that would look like.»
«It’s a lot of fun to imagine how someone is using the space and what that would look like.»
«It’s a lot of fun to imagine how someone is using the space and what that would look like.»
«It’s a lot of fun to imagine how someone is using the space and what that would look like.»
«It’s a lot of fun to imagine how someone is using the space and what that would look like.»
Please, introduce yourself and your studio…
Hey there, my Name is Marten Herma Anderson and I’m an Architect / Artist based in Berlin, Germany. Apart from Residential Architecture and sculptural Work I’ve been doing Visualsations professionally for over 10 years now – the Render Studio is called Luftschloss.
Portrait Marten Herma Anderson
How did you find your way into the field of architectural visualsation? Why are you fascinated by your work/architecture in general?
To be honest I only studied Architecture because I wasn’t brave enough to just study fine arts or painting when I was 20 years old. Coming from a working-class background I’d always have my family in my ear telling me to do something real in life. Once I started at Architecture school I quickly developed a passion for illustrating architecture in all it’s different ways. After starting to work in an architecture office I wanted some more creative less serious counterpart to balance out the serious work.
What I really like about architectural Illustrations is the possibility of telling a story or a concept. It’s a lot of fun to imagine how someone is using the space and what that would look like.
What are your experiences founding your own practice?
As I guess with every new business no one is really waiting for you to start your own thing. I had to be patient and even did some cold calling in the beginning (which is literally the worst for me). But eventually you will get some clients and if you’re doing a good job they will come back and bring friends. Obviously it’s also way easier if you’re financially a little independent. Having a full time architecture position in the beginning wasn’t the easiest when it comes to time management but enabled me to wait things out (as in clients calling me back…).
What does your desk/working space look like?
I have a cute little storefront in Kreuzberg. It’s 4 rooms, the front is my office where I do visualsations, but also work on freelance architecture projects. Once or twice a year I move my desk out and host an open studio with my cermic work. In the back upstairs I paint and do my lunch naps and downstairs is my ceramics atelier.
Working Space – Luftschloss
What is your favorite tool to design/create architecture and why?
Sketchup4life
What is the essence of a good architecture visualsation for you personally?
I had a little teaching job at TU Dresden for 4 years and came up with 5 criterias for a good rendering to help the students making cute images:
- Quality of 3D Model
- Textures
- Light and shadow & atmosphere
- Image Concept
- Storytelling through props
Sometimes if a picture doesn’t really look right to me but I can’t put my finger on it I also use these 5 points to double check what could be improved in the picture.
What needs to change in the field of architecture according to you? How do you imagine the future?
Honestly, I can easier tell you what I don’t want the future to be like. ChatGPT making my Job ;).
Creating Images to visualize the ideas of architects and designers seems to be a delicate thing. How important is the relationship and communication between you and your clients?
So so important. At the end of the day I’m offering a service and have to make sure to understand my client really well. Most of the time the architect already has a pretty specific image in mind but can’t 100% communicate his or her idea or find the perfect reference. So part of my job is to get an idea of what my clients wants to achieve or transfer with the image and what the aesthetics should be. So there is a lot of talking…
Do you think AI will change the way architectural imagery is produced?
Ehm I hope not cause I really like my job. It’s hard for me to tell cause the whole AI development process seems to be exponential – so maybe I’ll have to focus on some of my other work pretty soon. As for now I tried some AI features in photoshop recently and it really didn’t do it for me which means I either didn’t give the right commands or I’m safe for now.
What person/collective or project do we need to look into right now? Recommend any office/architect/artist that you find inspiring:
When it comes to renderings I always get really inspired by painters such as David Hockney, Graham Little, Kris Night, Bo Bartlett and Brian Rideout.
Project 1
Renderings
Studio Frege
2023 / 2024
I had the pleasure working with Studio Frege* together on two projects who with their great design and concept made it very easy for me to create nice pictures and really tell a story. Specifically I’m quite fond of the interior pictures because it was so much fun to come up with the composition and the props for the concept they had in mind.
Stans – Studio Frege in partnership with Landscape Architect Ludivine Gragy
Zuoz – Studio Frege
Website: luftschloss.org
Instagram: @luftschloss_pics
Photo Credits: © Luftschloss
Interview: kntxtr, kb, 06/2024
*Transparency > Katharina Benjamin is part of Studio Frege