Melanie Zirn Karin Renner
- Site : www.rhwzarchitekten.de
- Adresse : Bernstorffstraße 69, 22767 Hamburg, Germany 22527 Hamburg
Karin Renner and Melanie Zirn, together with their partner Stefan Wirth, are co-leaders of the Hamburg-based architecture practice RENNER HAINKE WIRTH ZIRN Architekten. Their work is defined by a strong sense of contextual sensitivity, a commitment to social sustainability, and a clear, contemporary design language. With backgrounds in both architecture and urban planning, they navigate complex urban environments with a focus on dialogue—between old and new, public and private, built form and open space. Their approach often emphasizes participatory processes, integration of historic structures, and the creation of resilient, community-oriented spaces. Whether designing cultural institutions, housing, or hybrid urban typologies, their architecture reflects a deep interest in how people inhabit and shape their surroundings.
Karin Renner studied architecture at the RWTH Aachen and the TU Delft with a scholarship under Herman Hertzberger. Her early professional experience includes working for Ton Alberts in Amsterdam and Adele Naude Santos in Philadelphia with further stops in London and Berlin before settling in Hamburg and founding her own architecture firm in 1997. Over the years she has been judge to numerous national and international competitions for urban planning, architecture, design and student competition. She is a member of the Convention on Building Culture and part of the Design Advisory Board of the City of Eckernförde. After being tutor at a winterschool in Moskow, she held positions as a guest lecturer at the RWTH Aachen, TU Braunschweig, TU Hamburg-Harburg, TU Hannover, University Muenster and the HCU Hamburg.
Before joining the firm in 2011 Melanie Zirn studied at the HAW in Hamburg and collected international work experience. After working in Amsterdam and Aarhus, where she worked on several competitions at 3XN, she worked for Beyond in Cambodia and several offices in Hamburg.
In 2017 she became partner and is since working on executing diverse projects like the House of Entertainment. She is also part of national jurys for architecture and urban design competitions.
Both are active in the representation of women in the architectural field and are part of the PIA network. In 2025 they took part and showed their work at the Women in Architecture festival in Hamburg.
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Hamburg Reception Building Lufthansa Technik
The former entry area of Lufthansa Basis, a rather dreary checkpoint from the 1950s, no longer reflected the identity of an international company. The challenge was not only the redesign of the 300 sqm reception building itself, but the creation of a spatially generous entrance complex that restores the visual connection to air traffic—both from the ground and from the sky. A plaza-like widening of the approach, framed by distinct tree rows, shifts the high-security fences into the background. The topography emphasizes the staging of the reception, while the building asserts itself as a new landmark and icon of the company.
The reception building serves as the centerpiece and gateway to the site. Its striking silhouette gives it a strong identity, while the roof form and materials evoke associations of lightness, flight, and dynamic movement. Visitors immediately sense the innovative spirit and technological competence of an advanced aerospace enterprise.
The roof structure maintains the impression of a floating form. Its geometry follows the structural system, balancing varying spans and climatic conditions. The fire-galvanized steel truss construction consists of three prefabricated parts, with three of ten columns fixed as rigid supports to avoid visible bracing. Market-standard steel profiles were chosen to stay within budget, while the distinctive Y-shaped columns received a duplex coating.
A continuous galvanized steel edge pipe ensures the seamless curvature of the roof perimeter, composed of eight different radii segments manufactured in England.
A large-scale media wall defines the northern edge of the site, screening technical facilities while showcasing Lufthansa’s diverse activities. At the center, a glowing installation of blue recycled glass highlights the building and creates a striking contrast between natural surroundings and technological precision.
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