People

Chris Blackbee has joined Studio Gugger since 2012. Since 2018, he is an associate partner and member of the management, responsible for IT and acquisition. He is a member of the employees’ cooperative.

Chris is leading residential development in Birsfelden and the Fowlescombe Farm hotel project in Devon, south-west England. He has been instrumental in the execution of the Housing Allschwil project, the Limmatfeld in Zürich, Private House Bottmingen, Transitlager in Basel, as well as for projects in Ireland and the United Kingdom.
Chris has previously worked in architectural practices in Australia, Belgium, and Switzerland, including Santiago Calatrava, 51N4E and The Buchan Group.
His experience covers a wide range of projects, including a warehouse-to-office conversion in Australia, the C-Mine, a conversion of an abandoned mine into a cultural centre in Belgium, the TID Tower in Albania, the Marina d'Arechi sailing club in Italy and the Museu do Amanhã in Brazil.

Chris graduated with honours from Curtin University, Australia, in 2004 and has been living in Basel since 2008.

chris.blackbee@studiogugger.ch

Henriette Gugger founded Studio Gugger together with Harry Gugger in 2010. She is an associate partner, member of the board of directors and management. She is responsible for finance, communication and documentation. Henriette is a member of the cooperative and the board of the employees’ cooperative.

She manages projects and competitions focusing on urban development and housing construction and has been supporting the municipality of Binningen in the specialist group for construction and planning issues since 2025. She has been a member of the BSA Swiss Architects Association since 2023.
Prior she worked at AFF Architects and Herzog & de Meuron as well as holding teaching positions at the EPF Lausanne and the Bauhaus University Weimar, Germany.

Henriette studied architecture at the Chalmers Tekniska Högskolan in Goteborg, Sweden, and at the Bauhaus University in Weimar where she graduated with honours in 2000. She then gained professional experience in London, Weimar and Havana, Cuba, before moving to Switzerland in 2005.

henriette.gugger@studiogugger.ch

Harald Schmidt has been working with Studio Gugger since 2018. He has been a. associate partner and member of the management since 2024 and is responsible for HR and facilities. He is a member of the employees’ cooperative.
Harald has worked on numerous completed projects, such as the residential building on the Kunzareal site, the Hirtenweg modular housing estate and the multi-storey timber construction for Medisuisse in St. Gallen.

Previously, Harald worked at Miller & Maranta on various projects including the Paradiesstrasse kindergarten in Riehen. Until 2016, he was involved in numerous competitions at Burckhardt Architektur. From 2006 to 2013, Harald worked with Herzog & de Meuron in Basel on projects such as the VitraHaus in Weil am Rhein, the Naturbad Riehen and the Ricola Kräuterlager.

Harald is a trained carpenter and worked as a journeyman carpenter in Bavaria before studying architecture at the Regensburg University of Applied Sciences and subsequently completing a master's degree in timber construction at the Rosenheim University of Applied Sciences in Germany. He is a member of the Baden-Württemberg Chamber of Architects.

harald.schmidt@studiogugger.ch

Michael joined Studio Gugger in 2012 and has been an associate partner and member of the management since 2015. He heads up project management and organises our working environment. Michael is a member of the cooperative and of the board of the employees’ cooperative.
He is responsible for projects of various uses and sizes, from competition to execution, including the conversion of the historic silo building on the Erlenmatt site in Basel, the Spenglerpark high-rise in Münchenstein, the Rösslihof centre extension in Sissach and the high-rise on the site of the former Müller brewery in Baden. In his work, he specialises in sustainable construction and building in existing buildings.

From 2016 to 2019, Michael taught design and construction at the Faculty of Architecture at Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences. From 2007 to 2011, he worked as a project manager at Schneider Schneider Architekten in Aarau and SSA Architekten in Basel.

During his studies, he completed practical semesters in Beijing and Karlsruhe. He graduated with honours in architecture from Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences in 2006.
Michael has been a member of the SIA Swiss Association of Engineers and Architects since 2025.

michael.zink@studiogugger.ch

Harry Gugger studied architecture after an apprenticeship as a toolmaker and stopped studies in machine engineering and German literature. From 1984 to 1989 he studied at the ETH Zürich with Flora Ruchat and at the Columbia University in New York with Tadao Ando. 1990 began his collaboration with Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron. As a partner he helped to develop Herzog & de Meuron from a small office to a global company.

Among many other projects, he was in charge of: Signal boxes I and II (1991-1994 / 1995-1999) and Engine Depot (1991-1995) in Basel; Library of the University Eberswalde (1994-1999); Tate Modern in London (1995-2000); Schaulager Basel for the Laurenz Foundation (1998-2003); Caixa Forum, Madrid (2001–2008) and the Laban Dance Centre in London (1998-2003), which was awarded the RIBA Stirling Prize 2003.
In 2004 Harry Gugger received the Swiss Art Award Prix Meret Oppenheim.

From the outset, his practice was paired with manifold academic work. Since 2005 Harry Gugger was tenured professor at the EPF Lausanne (EPFL) where he founded the Laboratoire pour la Production d’Architecture. His laboratory was in charge of the National Participation of Bahrain at the Venice Architecture Biennale 2010 winning the Golden Lion award. In 2011 Harry Gugger transformed his laboratory into Laboratoire Bâle a satellite laboratory of the EPFL dedicated to urban and architectural design situated in Basel.
Harry Gugger became emeritus professor at EPFL in 2021.

In 2010, Harry Gugger and Henriette Gugger founded Studio Gugger, which works on projects of all scales with a focus on urban design. From this practice synergies emerge with the research of his laboratory at the EPFL. Besides many other engagements in juries and commissions Harry Gugger acts as a board member of the LafargeHolcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction since 2010 and a member of the board of SIA Switzerland since 2025. He has been a member of the BSA Swiss Architects Association since 1997.

From 2025, Harry Gugger will remain Chairman of the Board of Directors of Studio Gugger AG and will continue to be involved in project work, supporting the project teams and clients with his expertise. He is stepping down from operational management. He is a member of the employees’ cooperative.

harry.gugger@studiogugger.ch

Kyra Ahier joined Studio Gugger as an architect in 2022. She is a member of the employees' cooperative.

Kyra received her master's degree from the Accademia di architettura di Mendrisio in 2022 and her bachelor's degree from the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada, in 2020.
During her studies, she completed internships at offices in New York City, Paris and Toronto, with Andrew Berman Architect, Marchi Architectes and LAMAS.

Kyra is Canadian and has been living in Switzerland since 2020.

kyra.ahier@studiogugger.ch

Giovanni Calderaro is an architect and joined Studio Gugger in 2023. He is a member of the employees' cooperative.

In his home country of Italy, Giovanni worked as a carpenter for several years and gained experience in the construction of shell structures and interior fittings. This is how he discovered his passion for architecture.

In 2022, he completed his studies in architecture at SUPSI in Mendrisio with a bachelor's degree. Giovanni has been living in Switzerland since 2019.

giovanni.calderaro@studiogugger.ch

Silke D'haenen is an architect and joined Studio Gugger in 2023. She is a member of the employees' cooperative.

Silke completed her master's degree at KU Leuven Campus Sint-Lucas Gent, Belgium, in 2022 and spent a year in Lucerne as an exchange student at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts.

Prior to that, she gained experience in Belgian architectural firms. She completed an internship at KRAS Architecten and worked as a draughtswoman at van Cronenburg.

silke.dhaenen@studiogugger.ch

Caroline Schmidt joined Studio Gugger as a senior architect in 2016. She is a member of the cooperative and of the board of the employees' cooperative.
As project manager, she is responsible for the execution planning of Building 744 at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts – Design and Art in Emmenbrücke.

She gained her wealth of experience in execution at weberbuess, where she managed projects through all phases as an architect and construction manager. After completing her studies, she initially participated in various award-winning competitions.

Caroline studied at the Technical University of Darmstadt and EPF Lausanne, graduating in 2011. She has been living in Switzerland since 2012.

caroline.schmidt@studiogugger.ch

Gunnar Stachmann is a senior architect and joined Studio Gugger in 2017. He is a member of the cooperative and the board of the employees' cooperative.
Gunnar has acquired his expertise in planning and execution through projects of varying scales. His wealth of experience ranges from furniture detailing to developing and executing a housing estate.

His professional career has taken him into brand architecture at Dan Pearlman and Mutabor Design, as well as into building construction at Holzer Kobler, weberbuess and Bauart Architekten, where he has worked for many years on the planning and execution of various buildings.

Gunnar studied at the University of Kassel in Germany and graduated in 2007. During his studies, he tutored the interdisciplinary foundation courses in architecture, urban planning and landscape architecture.

He has been living in Switzerland since 2007.

gunnar.stachmann@studiogugger.ch

Victor Wichrowski is a senior architect and has been working at Studio Gugger since 2017. He is a member of the employees' cooperative.
Victor is the project leading architect for the private house in Thalwil, the summer house in Antiparos and the competition for the commercial building on Centralbahnplatz in Basel.

From 2014 to 2017, he worked as an architect and project manager at DeA architectes in Mulhouse, where he was involved in several renovation and new construction projects from design to execution.

He graduated with honours in architecture from the French university INSA in Strasbourg in 2014.

victor.wichrowski@studiogugger.ch

Gareth joined Studio Gugger in fall 2025.

He completed his Masters degree in spring 2025 at the EPFL supervised by Éric Lapierre and a Bachelors Degree at the University of Waterloo in Canada in 2023.

He has completed multiple internships during his studies including at Karamuk Kuo in Zurich, Moshe Safdie in Boston, Arup in Toronto, as well as others in New York and Canada. In 2021 he joined Studio Gugger for the first time as an intern during his bachelor studies.

Gareth is currently working on a housing development in Frenkendorf.

gareth.bracewell@studiogugger.ch

Luisa Durst has been working as a junior architect at Studio Gugger since 2025.

She studied for her bachelor's degree at HTWG Konstanz in Germany and the University of Seville in Spain, graduating with honours. She then moved to the Technical University of Munich, where she completed her master's degree with a focus on architectural technologies.

She also gained professional experience at Wulf Architekten in Stuttgart, Auer Weber in Munich and in smaller offices in the Black Forest and Lake Constance. Most recently, Luisa worked at Hirner und Riehl Architekten in Munich.

luisa.durst@studiogugger.ch

Katja Fiebrandt has been supporting the management and team at Studio Gugger in all administrative matters since 2025. She is also responsible for communication and documentation.

The versatile architect completed her studies in 1992 at the University of Applied Sciences in Regensburg, Germany. After working in Germany, where she collaborated on public buildings, led a pilot project to inventory the properties of LMU in Munich and was responsible for publications, among other things, she joined Herzog & de Meuron in Basel as a management assistant in 2004. From 2011 to 2016, she headed the marketing department at Burckhardt Architektur in Basel, and from 2016 to 2024 she was responsible for communication and marketing at ZPF Ingenieure.

Katja has lived in Switzerland since 2004. She has been a member of the Frau und SIA network since 2018 and a member of the SIA since 2024.

katja.fiebrandt@studiogugger.ch

Tim Ganssleben has been working as a junior architect with Studio Gugger since 2024.

After completing a commercial apprenticeship in the construction industry, he earned a bachelor's degree in interior design from RheinMain University of Applied Sciences in Wiesbaden, Germany. He then gained his first professional experience as an intern and later as a freelance architect at the interdisciplinary architecture firm 3deluxe in Wiesbaden.

He completed his International Master of Interior and Architectural Design at the University of Applied Sciences in Stuttgart, Germany, with several awards. An exchange semester took him to SUPSI in Mendrisio for six months, and practical hands-on projects took him to Thailand, Malaysia and Ingersheim, Germany.

tim.ganssleben@studiogugger.ch

Lulu Huang has been working as a senior architect with Studio Gugger since 2025.

Her work to date has encompassed a wide range of tasks in various phases and areas of architecture, from project development to execution, from building construction to urban planning, and from general planning to construction management. She also has experience in client representation and project management in building construction in the public sector. Lulu has been involved primarily in large-scale projects, including the Children's Hospital in Zurich, the Cantonal Hospital in Frauenfeld and the Helvetia Campus in Basel. She has professional experience in Switzerland, Germany and China.

She completed her architecture studies at the Technical University of Darmstadt in Germany with a diploma and previously at Tongji University in Shanghai, China, with a bachelor's degree. In addition, she completed further training in construction project management at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts.
Lulu is from China and has been living in Switzerland since 2014.

lulu.huang@studiogugger.ch

Paul Machedon has been working as an architect with Studio Gugger since 2023 and, in addition to his project work, is responsible for our IT support.

Paul completed his bachelor's degree at the Technical University of Munich in Germany in 2016 and his master's degree at the Accademia di Architettura di Mendrisio under Valerio Olgiati in 2019. During his studies, he spent two Erasmus semesters at the Politecnico di Milano in Italy.

He supplemented his design work by assisting at the Chair of Representation and Design at the Technical University of Munich and later at the Chair of Design Fundamentals at the University of Architecture in Bucharest, Romania.

He then worked at BAUKUNST under Adrien Verschuere in Brussels, Belgium, GrilloVasiu in Zurich and MOD Architecture in Bucharest, Romania.

paul.machedon@studiogugger.ch

Jiri Meijers has been working as a junior architect at Studio Gugger since 2025.

He completed his architecture studies in the summer of 2024 at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands. As part of his bachelor's degree, he completed an internship at Dondervink, where design and construction are closely linked. There, he worked on wooden structures on a 1:1 scale. During his master's degree, he spent a semester in Florence, Italy, focusing on architectural sociology.

Alongside his studies, Jiri gained practical experience as a freelancer and worked as a furniture maker, deepening his understanding of materials and craftsmanship.

jiri.meijers@studiogugger.ch

Furio Montoli joined Studio Gugger in 2016.

Among other things, he worked on the design of the new building for the Faculty of Art and Design at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts in Emmenbrücke and managed the competition for the German Wallpaper Museum. He is currently working as a freelancer, handling communication and publication for the firm's projects.

Previously, he worked with Eric Lapierre Experience in Paris, France, and completed an internship at Atelier Bow-Wow in Tokyo, Japan, during his studies.

In 2015, Furio completed his master's degree in architecture at the Accademia di Architettura di Mendrisio under Valentin Bearth.

furio.montoli@studiogugger.ch