A building is hard to judge. It takes many years to find out whether it works. It's not as simple as asking the people in the office whether they like it.
Helmut Jahn

A city building, you experience when you walk; a suburban building, you experience when you drive.
Helmut Jahn

A good engineer thinks in reverse and asks himself about the stylistic consequences of the components and systems he proposes.
Helmut Jahn

America has always imported history.
Helmut Jahn

Chinese buildings are like American buildings, with big footprints. People don't care about daylight or fresh air.
Helmut Jahn

Creativity has more to do with the elimination of the inessential than with inventing something new.
Helmut Jahn

Critics are entitled to have an opinion, but how can they judge how comfortable a building is? No critic is smart enough to judge how a building will perform over time.
Helmut Jahn

Every building is a prototype. No two are alike.
Helmut Jahn

For me, though, the fun is over when I get the job.
Helmut Jahn

German and English firms operate internationally, while French firms do not. The only place where they all have work is in China. Anybody can sell himself in China!
Helmut Jahn


Higher ceilings allow the use indirect lighting, which is much healthier and reduces glare.
Helmut Jahn

I strive for an architecture from which nothing can be taken away.
Helmut Jahn

I think the younger generation, the people poised to dominate the workforce, are more socially conscious. They are more demanding in terms of environment and how that environment contributes to their life.
Helmut Jahn

I wanted to improve the suburban office building; to create a great urban space in a suburban environment with all that implies about interaction, collaboration and creativity.
Helmut Jahn

I've never looked at a suburban building as being a minor building and an urban building as being a major building.
Helmut Jahn

In Europe, architects consider themselves artists. They think they're special when they win a competition.
Helmut Jahn

In Europe, they're more demanding, the ones that rent the build ings.
Helmut Jahn

It's my goal to make a building as immaterial as possible. Architecture is a very material thing. It takes a lot of resources, so why not eliminate what you don't need as long as you're able to achieve the same result?
Helmut Jahn

Most architects say: I want to use this type of glass, even if it's too reflective or doesn't let enough light in. However, the use of a certain type of glass might change the comfort level.
Helmut Jahn

Sometimes I have to accept a job I don't really want. Hardly anybody comes up to you with a commission; it's all competitions these days.
Helmut Jahn