Matthias Hollwich

When you were a kid, what did you dream of becoming? Did any of those childhood ambitions lead you to where you are today?
Matthias Hollwich: As a kid I had three phases. Phase 1 was shaping the excitement of new things. My family traveled for every holiday and I always saw new places, new countries, and new people. Phase 2 was a challenging experience in a school that did not fit my personality and talent. It was one of the most challenging years until Phase 3, when I switched schools and from one day to another my grades improved. I had friends and I realized that circumstances are key and we can change them. This is when my curiosity about architecture and urbanism emerged… being able to create a better world for people.

Is there a particular designer, artwork, or design movement that deeply inspires you? How has it influenced your own style or philosophy?
MH: I was influenced by three architects that I had learned about during my education and ended up working for. Diller + Scoficio, Peter Eisenman Architects, and Rem Koolhaas. The most important of the three was Ricardo Scofidio (Ric), who recently just passed.  I met Ric at a summer school in Venice and he invited me to intern in New York. This was the “kick off” of my career.

Which designers do you love following on social media? What draws you to their work or perspective?
MH: I love to follow nature and regular people. There are a lot of designers who are on my radar, but true inspiration for me comes from the everyday and the excotic. And most recently I added AI as some “thing” to follow. The dynamic creations that I can interact with are just incredible. This goes way beyond the static or slow moving evolution of newness that we were used to. Now I can prompt, challenge, enrich, and cross inspire anything that comes into my mind and see what AI makes of it.

How would you describe your design philosophy? Has it evolved over time, and if so, how?
MH: My design philosophy is rooted in curiosity and a belief in the transformative power of architecture. At HWKN, we aim to create spaces that are emotionally engaging and technologically focused. Over time, my perspective has shifted from focusing solely on aesthetics to embracing architecture’s potential to solve complex challenges, whether it’s through integrating AI to explore new possibilities or collaborating with local communities to design spaces that resonate with their surroundings.

Tell us a bit about where you live: How long have you been there, and how does your environment shape your creative process?
MH: I live in New York City, a place that constantly challenges and inspires me. I’ve been here for decades, and the energy of the city is like no other—its diversity, pace, and history push me to think big and embrace innovation. It is also a city of constant change, which can be worrisome or inspiring and I enjoy the inspiration of it – in New York you can learn how to move mountains.

Was there a specific turning point or experience when you realized that design was your true calling?
MH: In my youth, when I first learned about the profession of architecture — coming from a family rooted in veterinary and medical fields — I began to wonder why so many buildings around us were underwhelming. I started walking through cities, imagining places that felt more connected to their history, or that could serve as truly inspiring destinations.

The real turning point came during a summer school in Venice. My university had a strong technical focus, and many of my peers went on to design the very kinds of buildings I had always questioned — and honestly, I might have ended up doing the same.

But in Venice, I was introduced to the idea of bringing poetry into architecture — of using form and space as tools to evoke emotion through endless experimentation. It was there that I met Ricardo Scofidio, and everything changed.

Which of your projects or products are you most proud of, and what makes them stand out for you?
MH: Neo York, a project where we reimagine New York City’s iconic Art Deco landmarks using artificial intelligence and modern techniques. Through the process of leveraging AI to decode the original geometry and design of these buildings, we’ve been able to reinterpret their iconic elements in ways that enhance them for the modern day. But as for built projects, I love Die Macherei, a neighborhood in the city I am from, where our intervention re-invented parts of the city. But I also love Pennovation, Marin, 25 Kent, Journal Squared, and all the others that we have built. It is like with kids.. you can not have a favorite.. all of them are part of you.

In your opinion, what is the most significant challenge facing the design world today? How do you think designers should respond to it?
MH: The most significant challenge today is navigating the intersection of sustainability, technology, and human experience. Architects must embrace tools like AI to drive innovation while ensuring that the designs remain connected to people and places. At HWKN, we see this as an opportunity to rethink how we design, not just for efficiency but for meaningful, long-term impact.

What are you currently working on? Are you exploring any new materials, techniques, or ideas that you’re excited about?
MH: We’re currently working on a diverse range of projects, including a commercial neighborhood featuring 11 office buildings and a mosque — envisioned as a new type of walkable destination. In addition, we’re developing a new hotel brand, several bold and unconventional hospitality concepts, and two residential neighborhoods that are thoughtfully integrated into their surrounding contexts.

Beyond embracing timber construction, dynamic glazing, and biophilic design, we’re pushing the boundaries of innovation by advancing AI’s role from purely visionary to fully realizable applications. One of the most exciting aspects of our work is exploring how communities can actively co-design buildings in collaboration with us — and with AI. It’s highly experimental, but incredibly promising — enabling the creation of places that people have genuinely helped shape from the very beginning.

What’s on the horizon for you? Any upcoming projects, events, or goals you’re particularly looking forward to?
MH: The official launch of our 11 building walkable neighborhood in the UAE is on May 15th, which will be a big milestone since it is the first AI designed neighborhood in the world kicking off. I am also very excited about the opening of the Keith Hering Wing at CCS Bard in the fall. With the speed of things there will be new exciting projects emerging almost on a monthly basis so stay tuned…!

What’s a favorite movie, band, or song that has inspired or shaped your creative mind?
MH: I think I never told anybody before: I love Hans Zimmer’s music. He supported so many movies and shaped the atmospheric quality of many of my favorites. I love listening to his creations when working.. which put me into a concentrated yet varied flow. In fact, I was listening to Interstella while writing this.

To discover more, visit HWKN Architecture and follow on Instagram @hwkn_architecture.

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