Prof. Christiane Sauer
Christiane Sauer is an architect and since 2013 Professor for Material Design at weißensee school of art and design berlin. Her focus lies on developing and designing innovative material systems for the architectural context based on textile structures, active materials and functional surfaces. In 2018 she co-founded the research facility DXM - Design Experiment Material, since 2017 she is appointed Prorector for Networks and Knowledge Transfer.
In her work she bridges experimental research and design practice. Amongst others she has been teaching at SCI-Arc, Los Angeles and at Cornell University, NY. As an architect she worked for international firms like OMA Rotterdam and founded formade – studio for material and architecture. She is internationally engaged as a lecturer, guest critic and author.
Material Form Function (Principal Investigator)
Object Space Agency (Principal Investigator)
weissensee school of art and design berlin
Bühringstraße 20
13086 Berlin
Articles in Edited Volumes
Sauer, C. 2019. »Design mit Faserstrukturen.« In Materials Research: Inspired by Nature. acatech Discussion. acatech, edited by Fratzl, P., Jacobs, K., Möller, M., Scheibel, T., Sternberg, K. https://www.acatech.de/publikation/materialforschung-impulsgeber-natur/
Sauer, C. 2019. »Entwerfen. Upscaling Textiles. Experimenteller Materialentwurf im räumlichen Kontext.« In Experimentieren. Einblicke in Praktiken und Versuchsaufbauten zwischen Wissenschaft und Gestaltung, edited by Marguin, S., Rabe, H., Schäffner, W., Schmidgall, F. Bielefeld: transcript Verlag, 51-66. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.14361/9783839446386
Sauer, C. 2017. »Perspektivwechsel: Technische Textilien als Quelle der Inspiration.« In Neue Stoffe – New Stuff. Gestalten mit Technischen Textilien, Exhibition catalog, Textilmuseum St. Gallen, edited by Fehr, M., Reichel, M., Textilmuseum St. Gallen Baden: hier und jetzt, Verlag für Kultur und Geschichte, 121-129.
Sauer, C. 2015. »Soft matter.« In Sculpture Unlimited 2 – Materiality in Times of Immateriality, edited by Grubinger, E., Heiser, J. Berlin: Sternberg Press, 40-50.
Articles
Denz, P.-R., Sauer, C., Fransén Waldhör, E., Schneider, M., Vongsingha, P. 2021. »Smart Textile Sun-Shading : Development of Functional ADAPTEX Prototypes.« Journal of Facade Design and Engineering, 9, (1): 101-116. https://doi.org/10.7480/jfde.2021.1.5539
Sauer, C. 2017. »SteinWeich - Experimentelle Strukturen aus Basaltfaser.« md – Interior, Design, Architecture, 72-75.
Conference Proceedings
Rešetar, I., Sauer, C. 2021. »Fibrous Interfaces for Indoor Temperature Modulation Based on Phase Change Materials.« Auer, T., Knaack, U., and Schneider, J. 2021. Proceedings of the 9th PowerSKIN Conference. TU Delft Open. Presented at the PowerSKIN Conference, TU Munich, 9 April 2021. Delft: TU Delft Open / Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment, 187-198. https://doi.org/DOI: https://doi.org/10.47982/BookRxiv.27
Contributions to Exhibitions
Sauer, C. (Project leader), Miodragovic, N. (Project leader, Designer), Beyer, B. (Designer), Rešetar, I. (Designer), Suarez, D. (Designer/Video production), Singer, N. (Designer,), Hengge, R. (Microbiologist), Hathroubi, S. (Microbiologist), Eder, M. (Materials scientist), Bidan, C. (Materials scientist) »Active Curtain.« Humboldt Forum, Humboldt Lab, Berlin, Funded by Cluster »Matters of Activity«. Since 29 April 2021. https://www.humboldt-labor.de/en/projects/clusters-of-excellence/active-curtain-project
Talks & Presentations
Beyer, B., Cubasch, A., Fratzl, P., Hengge, R., Mareis, C., Perraudin, L., Sauer, C., Schäffner, W., for the Cluster »Matters of Activity«. Can Bacteria Spin a Yarn? We Need a New Culture of Materials. Panel Presentation at MitWissenschaft - Spinnen die, die Bakterien?. »Can Bacteria Spin a Yarn? We Need a New Culture of Materials«, Humboldt Forum, Berlin. Hybrid. 29 April 2021. https://www.humboldtforum.org/en/programm/termin/science-humanities/do-bacteria-spin-a-yarn-20472/
Rešetar, I., Sauer, C. Fibrous Interfaces for Indoor Temperature Modulation Based on Phase Change Materials. Talk at Conference. the PowerSKIN Conference, Technical University Munich. Virtual. 9 April 2021. https://www.events.tum.de/frontend/index.php?sub=132/
Sauer, C., Denz, P., Fransén Waldhör, E., Schneider, M. ADAPTEX – shading system with shape memory materials. Keynote at Conference. "Interzum" fair Cologne. Virtual. 5 May 2021. https://www.interzum.de/event/adaptex_-_smart_textile_shading_system
Sauer, C. Textile Potentiale – Funktionale Flächen für Architektur und Innenarchitektur. Talk at Conference. db+md Zukunfskongress 2021. Mut zum Experiment. Bauen Leben Arbeiten, Virtual. 7 May 2021. https://www.arcguide.de/themen/themenseite-zukunftskongress/
Guiducci, L., Kycia, A., Bidan, C., Sauer, C., Fratzl, P. Harvesting geometric and contact non-linearities to design programmable materials: an interdisciplinary approach. Poster presentation at Conference. Multifunctional Materials and Structures. Progression from Integrated Multifunctionality to Neuromorphic Networks for Autonomy, Ventura, CA, US. 19 January 2020. https://www.grc.org/multifunctional-materials-and-structures-conference/2020/
Rešetar, I., Sauer, C. Skin as Environment: Between Softness and Solidity. Talk at Workshop. the Workshop Material as Environmental Device, Cluster of Excellence »Matters of Activity«, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. Hybrid. 10 September 2020. https://www.matters-of-activity.de/en/activities/2249/material-as-environmental-device
Sauer, C., Stoll, M., Beyer, B. Responsive Fibres. Talk at Colloquium. the colloquium »Experimental Yarns«, weißensee school for art and design berlin. Virtual. 16 October 2020. vhttps://www.matters-of-activity.de/en/activities/2643/from-fiber-to-yarn-a-discussion-between-textile-biology-and-design
Sauer, C. ADAPTEX - adaptive textile for the architectural context. Public Debate. ALL GOOD(S) New Materials in Architecture, Design and Fashion for a Future Circular Economy, the opening event of a new programme by ANCB The Aedes Metropolitan Laboratory, in collaboration with the Netherlands Embassy in Berlin. Hybrid. 9 September 2020.
Sauer, C. Future Talks 019 - Keynote Lecture Design. Keynote at Conference. Future Talks 019, Pinakothek der Moderne, Neue Sammlung Future, Munich. 12 November 2019. https://dnstdm.de/en/future-talks-019/. https://dnstdm.de/en/program/
Events & Workshops
Held, M. (conference co-chair), Kimpel, K. (conference co-chair), Mareis, C. (conference co-chair), Perraudin, L. (conference organization), Sauer, C. (conference co-chair), Winkler, C. (conference organization) Material Trajectories. Designing with Care. The 17th Annual Conference of the German Society for Design Theory and Research (DGTF). Conference. Cluster »Matters of Activity«, weißensee school of art and design, Berlin. Virtual. 6 May 2021 - 8 May 2021. https://materialtrajectories.dgtf.de/
Petruschat, J. (organizer), Wiesener, H. (organizer), Sauer, C. (guest critic), Stoll, M. (moderation). Forschungskreis - Magic Circle. Symposium. Kunsthalle, weißensee school of art and design berlin. Organized by the »Forschungskreis« of the weißensee school of art and design berlin (khb) in cooperation with »Matters of Activity«, under the direction of Prof. Dr. Jörg Petruschat. Hybrid. 25 February 2021. http://forschungskreis.com/event/magic-circle/
Sauer, C., Stoll, M., Beyer, B., Fransén Waldhör, E., Schneider, M., Petruschat, J. (organizers). Architectures of Weaving. A Symposium. Conference. Cluster of Excellence "Matters of Activity", Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and weißensee school of art and design. Virtual. 2 July 2021.
Rešetar, I. (organizer), Sauer, C. (organizer), Stoll, M. (organizer) Material as Environmental Device. Workshop. Cluster of Excellence »Matters of Activity«, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. Hybrid. 10 September 2020 - 11 September 2020. https://www.matters-of-activity.de/en/activities/2249/material-as-environmental-device
Sauer, C. (organizer), Stoll, M. (organizer). From Fiber to Yarn: A Discussion Between Textile, Biology and Design. Workshop. Cluster of Excellence »Matters of Activity«, Berlin. Virtual. 16 October 2020. https://www.matters-of-activity.de/en/activities/2643/from-fiber-to-yarn-a-discussion-between-textile-biology-and-design
Sauer, C. (organizer). »MoA Talks«: An interdisciplinary lecture series at weißensee school of art and design berlin to foster an exchange between Gestaltung, Natural Sciences and the Humanities. weißensee school of art and design, berlin. With contributions by Prof. Dr. Peter Fratzl, Dr. Michael Friedman, Prof. Dr. Regine Hengge, Prof. Dr. John Nyakatura, and others. 30 April 2019 - 19 November 2019.
Teaching & Courses
Sauer, C., Fransén Waldhör, E., Schneider, M., Illing-Günther, H.; Scaling Fiber: Experimental Yarn. Design Research Studio. With contributions by Bastian Beyer, Michaela Eder, Iva Rešetar, and Daniel Suarez. weißensee school of art and design berlin. 12 April 2021 - 9 July 2021.
Sauer, C., Stoll, M., Schneider, M., Fransén Waldhör, E., Beyer, B., Rešetar, I. Scaling Fibre. Invited Critic, Weissensee School of Design. 14 April 2021 - 6 July 2021.
Dierichs, K., Sauer, C., Eder, M., Guiducci, L., Razghandi, K., Fransén Waldhör, E., Schneider, M., Stoll, M. Scaling Nature (3) - Growth (MoA Design Research Studio). Design Research Studio. weißensee school of art and design berlin. 14 April 2020 - 17 July 2020. https://www.kh-berlin.de/projekt-detail/Project/detail/scaling-nature-3-growth-i-moa-design-research-studio-3216.html
Sauer, C., Guiducci, L., Razghandi, K., Fransén Waldhör, E., Schneider, M. Scaling Nature (X). MoA Design Research Studio. weißensee school of art and design berlin. 5 October 2020 - 5 February 2021.
Sauer, C., Guiducci, L., Razghandi, K., Fransén Waldhör, E., Schneider, M.; Scaling Nature (1) – Wrinkles. Design Research Studio. With contributions by Agata Kycia, Cécile Bidan, Peter Fratzl, Michael Friedman, Regine Hengge and Mareike Stoll. Student projects from Scaling Nature (1) were presented at NuThinkers during Domotex Tradefair in Hanover, 10-13 January 2020. weißensee school of art and design berlin. 15 April 2019 - 20 July 2019. https://www.matters-of-activity.de/en/activities/1130/moa-design-studio-scaling-nature-1-wrinkles
Sauer, C., Guiducci, L., Razghandi, K., Kycia, A. Scaling Nature (2) – Fibers, Muscles & Bones. Design Research Studio. With contributions by Peter Fratzl, Mason Dean, John A. Nyakatura, Iva Rešetar and Mareike Stoll. weißensee school of art and design berlin. 15 October 2019 - 11 February 2020. https://www.matters-of-activity.de/en/activities/1142/moa-design-studio-scaling-nature-2-fibers-muscles-bones, https://kh-berlin.de/projekt-detail/Project/detail/scaling-nature-2-fibers-muscles-bones-3102.html
(Co)Supervisions of Qualification Theses
Sauer, C., Petruschat, J. 2020. Supervisors: of Nelli Singer »Living Beings«. Master thesis, weißensee school of art and design berlin
Prizes & Competition Awards
Eichler, S., Neyenhuys, J., Sauer, C. 2020. Raumprobe Materialpreis 2020 (Kategorie: Studie) Anerkennung / Recognition. Hydroweave. Raumprobe. "Hydroweave" was designed by Stefanie Eichler and Juni Neyenhuys at weißensee school of art and design in the context of MoA Scaling Nature (1): Wrinkles under supervision of Prof. Christiane Sauer, and others. https://www.raumprobe.com/de/material/quellende-u.-schrumpfende-naturfasern-papier--22083-01-11458
Schedler, R. (design), Sauer, C. (supervision) 2019. Airdapt. 1. prize in category micro-architecture (1. Preis in der Kategorie »Mikroarchitektur«). Airdapt. 15. Studierendenwettbewerb Techtextil, Frankfurt/Main: „Textile Strukturen für neues Bauen“.
Finndottir, B. (design), Sauer, C. (supervision) 2016. Solar Curtain. Fraunhofer-Ideenwettbewerb 2016. Solar Curtain. Fraunhofer Institut IWU, Dresden. Cooperation Partner: Innovationsnetzwerk smart³. http://blog.smarthoch3.de/smart³-idee-gewinnt-fraunhofer-ideenwettbewerb/
Press Articles
Guiducci, L., Sauer, C., Krauthausen, K., for »Matters of Activity«. 2020. »Wir Gestalten. Material World.« »We Are Humboldt«, the New Image Brochure of Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 17 May 2020. https://issuu.com/humboldtuni/docs/wir_sind_humboldt