Helmut Jahn

“Creativity has more to do with the elimination of the inessential than with inventing something new.”

“IBM has a very solid business image.”

“I don't consider myself a star or a celebrity. I'm a simple guy who works a lot.”

“We want our buildings to work like a machine that will create a pleasurable environment.”

“We are creating a unique experience. It's starts with how you see the building from a distance.”

“The American attitude towards efficiency and execution should always underlie architecture.”

“I used to buy nice clothes and drive a nice car when I couldn't afford it. But I spent all my money doing it, and now I don't have to. I like nice things. I like to travel in a certain style. I like to live in a nice place.”

“Success on one project does not necessarily mean success in the next project. You've got to be prepared in everything you do.”

“We prefer synthetic rather than natural materials. Natural products are almost too valuable. Wood is much harder to produce than metal. And metal is recyclable, while wood isn't.”

“When I work, I work very hard. When I don't work, I have to do something where my endeavor can totally take me off what I do professionally, like sailing. It takes all your attention.”

“A city building, you experience when you walk; a suburban building, you experience when you drive.”

“When I think of some of my earlier work, it really seems a fortunate coincidence that I succeeded.”

“Every building is a prototype. No two are alike.”

“Most architects say: I want to use this type of glass, even if it's too reflective or doesn't let enough light in. However, the use of a certain type of glass might change the comfort level.”

“German and English firms operate internationally, while French firms do not. The only place where they all have work is in China. Anybody can sell himself in China!”

“You don't know what the Chinese expect in the way of beauty. The presentation is just a farce. You come into a room filled with 50 people and they don't talk to you. There's very little interaction.”

“America has always imported history.”

“A building is hard to judge. It takes many years to find out whether it works. It's not as simple as asking the people in the office whether they like it.”

“It's my goal to make a building as immaterial as possible. Architecture is a very material thing. It takes a lot of resources, so why not eliminate what you don't need as long as you're able to achieve the same result?”

“I think the younger generation, the people poised to dominate the workforce, are more socially conscious. They are more demanding in terms of environment and how that environment contributes to their life.”