We design spaces that are harmonious, adaptable, and purposeful.
Whether a residential building, office fit-out, medical practice, horse stable, pop-up store, or treehouse — our aim is to create solutions for our clients that are appropriate in every sense: the function should be fulfilled, the budget respected, and feasibility kept in mind. And of course, the solution should suit the personality of the client, the needs of the users, and the context.
A harmonious design — one with balanced proportions that fits naturally into its context and strikes the right balance between restraint and pleasant surprises — is also more enduring, and therefore more sustainable.
We want our architecture and design to bring lasting joy, to ideally remain adaptable and buildable-upon over time, and in doing so to conserve resources — material, labor, and money — in the long run.
To achieve all of these goals, we continuously work on refining our process. We listen, observe, and experiment. We typically build all our projects in 3D on the computer and/or as physical models, to explore the various options from different angles before (often) significant resources are invested to bring the project to life.
Where does the name 'Brick Poetry' come from?
Just as a poem assembles words to express an idea, a thought, or an observation, we use our architectural tools — light, material, rhythm, proportion — to design a building. With our architecture, we want to engage the senses and emotions, tell a story, and create the stage for beautiful moments and lasting memories. "Brick" should not be taken literally (we love building with wood too!). It stands for durable and natural materials that have a pleasing texture and develop patina over time.
What else sets us apart?
Clients appreciate our German reliability and high standards, as well as the warm Scandinavian minimalism and client-centered approach we have adopted from American colleagues. As generalists and team players, we tackle every challenge together with our clients, users, specialist planners, authorities, and neighbors — approaching each with respect, openness, and a collaborative spirit, always in pursuit of the best possible project outcome.
We embrace our clients' wishes, ideas, and of course their budget and timeline requirements — not as constraints, but as creative challenges.
Our international professional and life experience is a source of inspiration for our creative work and nurtures our empathy and openness. We continuously expand our technical knowledge — including in the areas of ecological and sustainable construction — through ongoing professional development that crosses borders and languages.
Team
Julia Schütz, Architect + Founder
Julia first studied economics and social sciences at Leuphana University in Lüneburg, then architecture at KIT — Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. After graduating, she moved to Hamburg, where she spent several years designing multi-family residential buildings. Her next stop was Sweden — her dream destination, the home of "not too much, not too little, but just right," a philosophy that perfectly mirrors Julia's own approach to life. From the land of unlimited cinnamon bun consumption and coffee drinking, she moved on to the land of unlimited opportunity, with San Francisco as her destination. There she earned the coveted title of Licensed Architect, designed office interiors and luxury second homes, and also stepped into the world of academia as a instructor at the Academy of Art University.
Today she lives in her adopted home of Munich — closer than she has been in a long time to her hometown in Franconia.
Her strengths are those of a generalist architect: combining creativity with technical understanding, communicating and coordinating until everything falls into place, and never losing sight of the bigger picture — or of costs and timelines — amid all the details. She has a particular interest in simple, ecological building methods, such as construction with clay or timber. Julia is also a certified Passive House designer.
When Julia is not designing architecture, developing her practice, or being taught by her two children to live in the present moment, she finds her greatest peace in the art of baking Swedish cinnamon buns or going out for a ride on an Icelandic horse.
Frank Schütz, Business Coach + Guest Critic
Frank aspires to become a polymath — and perhaps one day even an architect. So far he has "merely" been the founder of several companies and non-profit organizations, a part-time philosopher, business coach, and data scientist. This bouquet of skills makes him the ideal sparring partner for all things business and IT, whether mundane or exciting.
But that is not all: Frank is also a self-taught art history enthusiast, and his fresh perspective from outside the "architecture bubble," his experience in the software startup product world of Silicon Valley, his calm and structured approach, and his strong empathy make him a valuable team member in the design process — whether as a guest critic or in direct interaction with clients.
To balance out everyday life, Frank does triathlon and learns languages through audiobooks.
Depending on the requirements of each project, we collaborate with additional freelance (interior) architects and architecture firms from our network whose expertise complements our own — among them Ipsen Architekten, with whom we share an office.