Thirty-one distinguished designers, architects, and interior designers based in Germany have been recognized in the prestigious AD100 2026 list, showcasing the country's most innovative creative minds. From Berlin to Munich, Hamburg to Düsseldorf, these professionals are setting international standards in architecture, interior design, and creative excellence with their bold ideas and stunning projects.
Architectural Digest annually honors the most important architects, designers, and interior designers who shape the aesthetic landscape. Germany's creative scene proves remarkably diverse, with professionals working on projects ranging from private residences and restaurants to major public buildings and cultural institutions across the globe.
Among the notable Berlin-based studios, Affin, founded by Win Amnueypornsakul and Bettina Böhm in 2022, creates cosmopolitan private homes, restaurants, and boutiques. The duo regularly travels between Berlin and Bangkok, spending winters in Thailand for construction site visits and meetings with local craftsmen. Their recent projects include the Pi Shop pizzeria in Bangkok and a bright apartment renovation in Berlin's Prenzlauer Berg district.
Melissa Antonius and Lena Schimmelbusch of Antonius Schimmelbusch have transformed from magazine editors into interior designers and vintage furniture treasure hunters. They make annual spring trips to the Mercanteinfiera in Parma and recently discovered a Biedermeier-era secretary desk in Berlin that once belonged to former U.S. Ambassador John Kornblum. Their recent work includes redesigning a music studio in Berlin-Prenzlauer Berg.
Leipzig-based Atelier ST, led by Silvia Schellenberg-Thaut and Sebastian Thaut, is currently converting their own farmhouse into a hotel in the Kohrener Land, often called 'Saxony's Tuscany.' The architectural couple, who have worked together for over 20 years, are simultaneously managing several villa projects in northern and eastern Germany while restoring an 11th-century church.
Hamburg's Birg Man Koen studio, operated by Birgit and Tillmann Köhn, specializes in collectible design that captivates international collectors. After completing the interior design of a spectacular panoramic apartment in the Elbphilharmonie, the duo plans to focus on sculptural works in the coming year, bringing long-held creative visions to fruition.
Several internationally renowned architects maintain significant operations in Germany. David Chipperfield, the Pritzker Prize winner with offices in Berlin, London, Milan, Shanghai, and Santiago de Compostela, has produced over 100 major works since 1985. His current projects include a new government building complex in Ottawa, social housing in Lyon, and hotel conversions in Qatar.
Francis Kéré, another Pritzker Prize-winning architect based in Berlin, views architecture as a means of knowledge exchange and social connection. While his office operates from Berlin, his work spans globally, with current projects in Burkina Faso and Saudi Arabia, including the impressive Thomas Sankara Mausoleum in Ouagadougou featuring a 34-meter-high dome.
Munich's creative scene is represented by several notable studios. Holzrausch, founded by Sven Petzold and Tobias Petri in 1998, operates both woodworking workshops and an interior architecture studio, designing homes across Italy, Mallorca, and Germany with innovative wood applications. Seven Elohim, led by Mela Gruber and Florian Dressler, maintains their showroom in Schwabing and is currently designing what they describe as Munich's smallest bar.
Interior design expertise shines through several specialists. Justin Howlett, known as the 'uncrowned king of bachelor pads,' recently designed a two-story loft near Munich's Isar River that resembles an exclusive members' club, complete with a fully equipped bar and impressive city views. Regina Hoefter specializes in small spaces, demonstrating her expertise in her own 40-square-meter apartment in Munich's Schwabing district.
Berlin continues to attract innovative talent. Christopher Sitzler focuses on renovating existing structures, particularly post-war architecture, recently transforming a 1990s penthouse into a casual mid-century loft. Davide Rizzo, originally from Milan but Berlin-based for over 25 years, maintains remarkable team loyalty while developing comprehensive lighting collections alongside his architecture and interior work.
Several studios emphasize sustainability and historical preservation. Düsseldorf's Nidus, operated by Ana Vollenbroich and Annelen Schmidt-Vollenbroich, specializes in finding potential in overlooked spaces, currently completing their live-work studio in a former glass painting manufactory. Their approach to sustainability prioritizes meaningful longevity over mere numerical metrics.
The German creative landscape extends to innovative design practices and international collaborations. Studio Oink from Leipzig, led by Lea Korzeczek and Matthias Hiller, recently completed a decade-long renovation of a 200-year-old half-timbered house while preparing for new projects in upstate New York. Berlin's SUB studio, directed by Niklas Bildstein Zaar, investigates sociocultural dynamics through surreal fashion and art worlds, recently creating installations for the Venice Architecture Biennale.
These German-based AD100 honorees demonstrate the country's position as a significant force in contemporary design, combining traditional craftsmanship with innovative approaches while maintaining international perspectives and collaborations that influence global architectural and design trends.
