“An understanding architecture is always a quiet architecture”

“With the design and realisation of the ClassiCon building, Joachim Jürke succeeded in constructing an absolutely timeless building. To this day, architects and retailers from around the world come to visit us and can hardly believe that it was built at the end of the 1990s.” When ClassiCon owner Oliver Holy talks about the architecture of the company headquarters, the admiration for its creator is immediately obvious. He was considered the insider’s tip among Munich’s architects, despite his many successful and international projects. The focus on the essential not only applied to his aesthetic design processes but was also reflected in his personality.

From 1981-1988, he studied at the Technical University of Munich. Following collaborations in various project and office communities, he founded the office Jürke Architekten in 1999. At the time, a joint project with Herzog & de Meuron was in its final stages, and the ClassiCon headquarters came into being. In 2002, he received the Bauherrenpreis der LH München (Clients’ Award of the State Capital of Munich) in the category “Distribution Building”. For the German fashion manufacturer Strenesse, he developed international store concepts, not only the architecture but also the interior design. He delivered the same services to the renowned kitchen manufacturer Bulthaup.

“For the ClassiCon brand, he placed a building in the east of Munich that made it into all of the architecture journals and met the standards for erecting a monument for both the client and the architect,” Andreas Lukoschik once wrote in his portrayal of Jürke, about whom, however, one can hardly find any other information – so little that it is unavoidable to think of a quiet personality once again. The fact that in addition to his design tasks he was also committed to education fits in with the picture: teaching position at Munich University of Applied Sciences, teaching position at the Academy of Fine Arts Munich, professorship at the Academy of Fine Arts Munich.  

“An understanding architecture engages in the power play of opposites, is both active and passive at the same time,” states the philosophy of Jürke Architekten. It is anticipatory instead of counteractive, but it is permissive instead of directing. Perhaps this explains the timelessness of his designs. Recently, he and Oliver Holy had contact “regarding the conversion to optimise energy consumption. Joachim Jürke and I always had a good relationship, I always appreciated him very much.”

Joachim Jürke died at the beginning of the year in January 2023. Our sincere condolences and empathy go to his family, friends, employees, and colleagues.