Andreas Quednau

Andreas Quednau is a full-time university professor of urban design at Leibniz University Hannover (since 2015), affiliated with the Institute for Design and Urban Planning under the Faculty of Architecture and Landscape. His academic career includes previous roles as full professor at the State Academy of Fine Arts Stuttgart (2009–2015) and research associate at TU Berlin (2005–2009/2008–2009). He co-founded SMAQ (Sabine Müller & Andreas Quednau), an architecture and urban design practice based in Berlin since 2005.

• Education: Diploma in Architecture (TU Berlin), Master's with Distinction in Advanced Architectural Design (Columbia University)
• Professional Experience: SMAQ (2001–present), Diller Scofidio + Renfro (NYC), KCAP (Rotterdam), Arata Isozaki (Berlin)

Research focuses on molecular urbanism, climate-responsive design, sustainable infrastructure, and narrative-driven urban strategies. Notable projects include the Xeritown masterplan in Dubai and the Charter of Dubai manifesto. His work explores intersections between ecology, technology, and cultural narratives in urban systems.

Key awards include the Holcim Award for Sustainable Construction and Architectural Review Award for Emerging Architects. His theoretical contributions are showcased in books like Charter of Dubai (2012) and Giraffes, Telegraphes, and Hero of Alexandria (2016).

Teaching and research emphasize:

• Integration of design, ecology, and technology
• Critical urban transformation in global contexts
• Climate-adaptive urban systems

Labs/Teams: SMAQ practice integrates academic research with professional projects, focusing on urban design innovations that balance ecological imperatives with cultural narratives.