Darmstädter Architekturdialoge

V | Vertrag als Haltung: Klarheit schafft Freiheit

Architecture is always about relationships: between concept and realisation, client and planner, ambition and reality. As projects become more complex and responsibilities increasingly blurred, design quality alone is no longer sufficient. What is needed is clarity.

Contracts should not be seen as a necessary evil, but as an expression of professional attitude. When understood properly, they create security, define responsibilities and open up the space in which creativity can truly unfold. Treating agreements as part of one’s design culture allows architects to lead projects more confidently, relieve teams and prevent conflicts – without compromising creative ambition.

This talk invites participants to rethink contracts: not as limitations, but as tools for trust, reliability and freedom in everyday planning practice. It addresses key questions of collaboration, role definition and the professional self-image of architects navigating between design, responsibility and law.

The talk will be given by Aleksandra Gleich, architect and lawyer. In her interdisciplinary practice, she advises architectural offices, construction companies and public clients at the intersection of design, law and strategy. With her dual perspective on design and legal frameworks, she offers new insights into how legal clarity can support a sustainable and self-confident architectural practice.

Cost: From €15

Registration: www.formdialog.de/dad

Arriving by bicycle

Rundturmstraße is centrally located in Darmstadt and easily accessible by bicycle. There are several bicycle racks in the immediate vicinity. The Darmstadt–Frankfurt cycle highway leads to the city centre and offers a fast connection for cyclists.

Public transport

By tram: The Schloss (lines 2, 3, 4, 5, 9) and Luisenplatz (all lines) stops are within walking distance.

By bus: Several bus lines stop at Luisenplatz, from where it is about a 5-minute walk to Rundeturmstraße.

By train: From Darmstadt Central Station, you can reach the city centre by tram (lines 2, 3, 5, 9) or bus in a few minutes.

Accessibility

The sanitary facilities in the basement are not accessible.

The Darmstadt Architecture Dialogues are a curated event series for architects and planners who understand architecture as a cultural and societal practice. The series is initiated, curated and moderated by Olya Dikow, a strategic consultant and brand designer with a background in architecture. She works at the intersection of architecture, identity and dialogue.