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Where Diversity Creates

Space For us, architecture emerges through dialogue. We listen, ask questions, and develop solutions that grow out of the place, the people, and their needs. We view every project as an opportunity to reconcile contradictions and rethink spaces—with precision, boldness, and an eye for detail.

Diverse perspectives, experiences, and expertise shape our design process and enable us to take unconventional approaches. This is how architecture with character is created—rooted in its context and designed for the people who use it.
We believe that every building has a story to tell. Architecture should not only function but also move people and endure beyond the moment. We are interested in the interplay between memory and change. It is precisely in the tension between diverse requirements that unexpected possibilities arise for us. Picking up on traces and leaving new ones behind. Continuing to write history with sincerity and care.

Collective curiosity and a spirit of experimentation are integral to our design process. Sketching, building models, exploring materials, and testing ideas. Not every attempt leads to the goal. But each one moves us forward. Experience provides confidence; an open mind gives us the freedom to take unconventional paths.

We don’t specialize in any one area. We get to the bottom of things. That’s led us to take on a wide variety of construction projects. Whether it’s sensitive interventions in historic buildings, striking cultural structures, or residential projects with a lasting impact—our work ranges from small-scale interior renovations to soccer stadiums.

The President’s Chamber of the UN General Assembly in New York, the Historical Museum of Bern, the Swiss Ornithological Institute in Sempach, and the Stade de la Tuilière in Lausanne demonstrate just how diverse our projects can be. In addition, we work on schools, residential buildings, workplace environments, and projects in public spaces. What unites these buildings is our commitment to finding a unique architectural solution for every project.

The history of :mlzd is closely tied to architectural competitions. They gave us the opportunity early on to take on challenging construction projects and to steadily expand our scope of work.

The idea of separating architecture into interior and exterior is foreign to us. We view architecture as a whole—from the building to the interior, and sometimes even down to the furnishings. The breadth of our work would not be possible without our trust in specialists and our collaboration with experts in their fields.

:mlzd was founded in Biel in 1997. Today, approximately 30 employees from a wide variety of countries work at our offices in Biel and Berlin.
As a cooperative architecture firm, we share knowledge, responsibility, and decision-making. Diverse perspectives and lively internal discourse are part of our daily work life. Over 25 years of firm history have shaped us. Using resources carefully and considering the environmental and social impacts of our construction projects are integral to our architectural philosophy. We aim to create long-term value for society and the environment.