Jan Kleihues

Prof. Jan Kleihues is a Professor for Design, Construction, and Space Unit at the Department of Architecture and Urban Design, University of Applied Sciences Potsdam, since 2011. His career spans over three decades, including collaborations with renowned architects like Peter Eisenman, Daniel Libeskind, and Rafael Moneo, and founding his own architectural office in 1992. He has held visiting professorships at Technische Fachhochschule Berlin, University of Bologna, and Beuth University of Applied Sciences Berlin.

• Major Projects: Guardiola-Haus Cádiz (1988), Jewish Museum Berlin (1989-1991), Kursaal San Sebastian (1991-1992).

Research Focus: Kleihues explores the interplay between architectural identity, material application, and urban cultural spaces. His work emphasizes contextual design, functional aesthetics, and the role of public space in democratic societies. Key themes include the Ortsbezug (site-specificity) and the Identität der Architektur (architectural identity) through material and spatial narratives.

Publications: Kleihues has contributed to texts on urbanism, building culture, and architectural philosophy, including works on the Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND) headquarters, WerkBundStadt Berlin, and modernist architectural theory.

Leadership Roles: He served on advisory boards for urban design in Münster (2011-2016), Munich (2006-2012), and the Berlin Building Committee (2012-2017). He was a juror for the Deutsche Akademie Rom Villa Massimo (2019-2021).