«The most important task of us designers and architects now is to push the change towards a sustainable system.»

Stephan Hürlemann is a Swiss architect and designer with his own studio in Zurich. His goal is to create environments and things that help people move into a positive future in a self-determined and graceful way.

Born in Appenzell, he studied architecture at ETH Zurich and subsequently worked for six years as managing director with designer Hannes Wettstein, who introduced him to the world of product and furniture design. After Wettstein’s death in 2008, Stephan Hürlemann reinvented the studio and evolved into an author.

During the past 14 years, more than 90 design concepts by Stephan Hürlemann have been realised. His works are often systemic and have an holistic approach. Examples of this are the modular sofa family DS-21 (2016) for de Sede or the handle collection Appenzell (2018) for Glutz. The latter was in incorporated in the design collection of the Museum für Gestaltung Zürich in 2019.

«I long for clarity in this chaotic world. That moment when everything falls into place and no questions remain unanswered is simply magical.»

In 2017, Stephan Hürlemann and his studio created a flexible architectural environment called Dancing Office for the Experience Center of PwC. The main protagonist of this adjustable concept is the Dancing Wall, a mobile wall in various versions with which different rooms and spaces can be built within a matter of minutes. Vitra recognised the potential of this new furniture typology early on and developed with Stephan Hürlemann the prototypes for the PwC project. These caused such immense worldwide demand that Vitra launched a beta version of the Dancing Wall in 2019. In 2020, its series production hit the market. In November 2019 Hürlemann realised the innovative Dancing Office concept in his own new studio in Zurich.

Until today Stephan Hürlemann has created more than 20 installations for brands. With his work «Giants with Dwarf» (2016) for horgenglarus he established himself as a sought-after author for the scenographic design of spaces. In 2018, he was honored with the Milano Design Award for the movable figures made of chair and table parts.

The same year saw the installations «A Piece of Sky» for Sky-Frame and «Play Blocks» for Ginza Maison Hermès. In 2019, «A Piece of Sky» was shown at the Milano Design Week, where it was enthusiastically received.

So far, Stephan Hürlemann’s most comprehensive architectural and design project was the complete refurbishment and redesign of the UBS headquarters at Bahnhofstrasse Zurich (2019), which he and his studio realised in collaboration with the primarily responsible architects of EM2N.

«I need a good reason to design something. Beauty alone is not enough for me.»

Nonetheless, when it comes to smaller architectural projects, his standards concerning the design are equally high. In 2011, he developed an award-winning showroom concept for Bauwerk whose clear formal language is still valid today. And with his POS and shop concept for Sky-Frame (2019), he succeeded in creating an architectural context, which elevates the manufacturer’s products from frameless sliding windows to valuable objects.

Stephan Hürlemann has juried various international design awards. In 2008, he lectured as visiting professor at Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK). He also acts as a critic for student works in schools and mentors students in the process of their diploma thesis.