You don't know what the Chinese expect in the way of beauty. The presentation is just a farce. You come into a room filled with 50 people and they don't talk to you. There's very little interaction.
- Helmut Jahn
Beauty, Come, Very, Farce
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
Generation, Think, I Think, Workforce
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
Work, Anybody, German, Internationally
Working is actually a pleasure. It's just very time-consuming. It's a way of life. I find that I can work when I travel and work when I run. There is nothing like, on a rainy day, to work.
- Helmut Jahn
Pleasure, Like, Very, Rainy
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
Want, Sometimes, Anybody, Competitions
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
Why, Achieve, Very, Why Not
A good engineer thinks in reverse and asks himself about the stylistic consequences of the components and systems he proposes.
- Helmut Jahn
About, Components, Proposes, Stylistic
When I think of some of my earlier work, it really seems a fortunate coincidence that I succeeded.
- Helmut Jahn
Think, Some, I Think, Coincidence
The architecture profession has lost a lot of its integrity, especially in the USA. The general architect here has no scruples, no ambitions.
- Helmut Jahn
Here, Profession, Lot, Scruples
When I came to America in the '60s, it was the place to be. I wonder if I'd come here today.
- Helmut Jahn
America, Here, Come, I Wonder
Every building is a prototype. No two are alike.
- Helmut Jahn
Architecture, Alike, Every, Prototype
We prefer synthetic rather than natural materials. Natural products are almost too valuable. Wood is much harder to produce than metal. And metal is recyclable, while wood isn't.
- Helmut Jahn
Natural, Rather, Prefer, Wood
Chinese buildings are like American buildings, with big footprints. People don't care about daylight or fresh air.
- Helmut Jahn
Big, Like, About, Fresh Air
Higher ceilings allow the use indirect lighting, which is much healthier and reduces glare.
- Helmut Jahn
Allow, Which, Indirect, Glare
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
Great, Office, About, Implies
I think there will be a 200-story skyscraper someday. However, it will require a developer who will not think in conventional terms and for whom economic restraints won't apply.
- Helmut Jahn
Think, I Think, However, Developer
We are creating a unique experience. It's starts with how you see the building from a distance.
- Helmut Jahn
Experience, Distance, Unique Experience
You'd never think of taking a cab if you had to walk a mile down Chicago's Michigan Avenue. But in a bad city you take a cab just to go around the corner.
- Helmut Jahn
Think, Bad, Cab, Chicago
For me, drawing generates thinking and vice versa.
- Helmut Jahn
Me, Drawing, Vice, Vice Versa
When I work, I work very hard. When I don't work, I have to do something where my endeavor can totally take me off what I do professionally, like sailing. It takes all your attention.
- Helmut Jahn
Work, Like, Very, Sailing
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
Glass, Level, However, Reflective
I used to buy nice clothes and drive a nice car when I couldn't afford it. But I spent all my money doing it, and now I don't have to. I like nice things. I like to travel in a certain style. I like to live in a nice place.
- Helmut Jahn
Doing, Used, Buy, Nice Things
In Europe, they're more demanding, the ones that rent the build ings.
- Helmut Jahn
More, Build, Rent, Demanding
America has always imported history.
- Helmut Jahn
History, America, Always, Imported
We want our buildings to work like a machine that will create a pleasurable environment.
- Helmut Jahn
Environment, Pleasurable, Machine
Transparency is not the same as looking straight through a building: it's not just a physical idea, it's also an intellectual one.
- Helmut Jahn
Through, Idea, Also, Intellectual
IBM has a very solid business image.
- Helmut Jahn
Image, Very, Solid, IBM
In Europe, architects consider themselves artists. They think they're special when they win a competition.
- Helmut Jahn
Think, Special, Artists, Architects
Creativity has more to do with the elimination of the inessential than with inventing something new.
- Helmut Jahn
New, More, Than, Elimination
A city building, you experience when you walk; a suburban building, you experience when you drive.
- Helmut Jahn
Architecture, City, Suburban, Walk
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
Will, Over, Entitled, Judge
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
Asking, Like, Works, Judge
I've never looked at a suburban building as being a minor building and an urban building as being a major building.
- Helmut Jahn
Never, Urban, Minor, Suburban
The American attitude towards efficiency and execution should always underlie architecture.
- Helmut Jahn
Execution, Always, Should, Towards
Success on one project does not necessarily mean success in the next project. You've got to be prepared in everything you do.
- Helmut Jahn
Success, Next, Does, Be Prepared
I'm ashamed to be German.
- Helmut Jahn
German, Ashamed
I strive for an architecture from which nothing can be taken away.
- Helmut Jahn
Nothing, Away, Which, Strive
I find if my body feels well and I exercise regularly, I think better, work better and feel better.
- Helmut Jahn
Think, I Think, Feels, Regularly
I don't consider myself a star or a celebrity. I'm a simple guy who works a lot.
- Helmut Jahn
Star, Lot, Works, Celebrity
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