Lena Unger

Lena Unger is a Professor of Design and Space at the Academy of Fine Arts Munich (AdBK München), a position she has held since 2023. She co-leads the Chair for Design and Space with Jan Meier. Prior to this, she served as a visiting professor at BTU Cottbus (2022–2023) and as a substitute professor at TU Kaiserslautern (2021–2022). She was also an assistant at TU Darmstadt from 2016 to 2018.

Her research and practice focus on architectural design, spatial composition, and the integration of materiality and craftsmanship in domestic and rural contexts. Her work explores how architecture can reflect changing social dynamics, such as aging and intergenerational living, through thoughtful spatial interventions. Projects like the Stöckli in Selzach and Haus Erler demonstrate her interest in timber construction, detailing, and the creation of meaningful communal spaces.

Lena Unger has been recognized with numerous architectural awards, including the Bauwelt Preis 2023 and the Landbaukulturpreis Schweiz 20/21. Her work has been featured in prominent architecture publications such as AIT, Werk, ba+wohnen, CASABELLA, and DBZ, and she has contributed to edited volumes like Professionalism (2023). She is frequently invited to lecture and conduct guest critiques at institutions including ETH Zurich, TU Munich, and UdK Berlin.

• Bauwelt Preis 2023: For 'Das erste Haus' (Haus Scholl)
• Landbaukulturpreis Schweiz 20/21: 1st Prize
• Pro Holz Solothurn 2021: Special Award
• BDA max40 2021: Recognition
• DAM Preis: Shortlisted and Nominated
• Wüstenrotpreis 2023: Acknowledgement

Lena Unger co-founded the architectural practice Meier Unger Architekten in Leipzig in 2016. The firm engages in both built projects and academic discourse, often blurring the lines between practice and teaching. She has not been noted for formal grant acquisition or student supervision in the provided texts, but her extensive guest teaching and critiques indicate a strong pedagogical presence.

Her work is characterized by a deep engagement with materials, construction methods, and the social narratives embedded in architecture. She continues to explore how design can generate long-lasting value in a region where much construction lacks consideration.