In Conversation With Chris Precht

The co-founder of Penda and India Design ID 2019 speaker reveals his architectural philosophy, what inspires him, and why the industry needs a fresh outlook now more than ever.

- Aman Mehta

“The first time I got really excited about architecture was when I saw that you can really have an impact on people, places, the environment, and even the future as an architect. It can be small or large, that doesn’t really matter, but you can change somebody’s life on a certain level, and I think that is very motivating. We don’t necessarily need to work on the biggest projects, or have the biggest teams, or be the most successful in terms of awards. You can have an impact on a much smaller scale, which, most of the time, is more rewarding than building the next headquarters of a very big company.” Chris Precht’s unique approach to what he terms a now ‘ego-centric profession’ is clear. Architecture, for him, should be about making buildings that have an impact, rather than modern structures enveloped in glass.

Having spent five years in Beijing, Precht decided to relocate his headquarters to the Austrian Alps in the beginning of 2017. Not necessarily off-grid, but certainly far away from the distractions of the city, his aim is to be inspired by nature once again and to use the time he spent in one of the most polluted cities as a blueprint to incorporate a holistically-sustainable approach to his work.