Studio

sub is a Berlin-based architecture office designing spaces that register and reframe contemporary culture. We advance a synthetic approach to design that integrates emerging technologies, semantic and behavioral research, to traditional architectural techniques. Our practice is driven by the study of contemporary sociocultural dynamics and by a commitment to precision at every stage of design, from concept to afterlife.

Led by Creative Director Niklas Bildstein Zaar, sub comprises practitioners from diverse disciplines, organized into four closely collaborating departments: Architecture, Entertainment, Digital, and Research. Research is intrinsic to our work, spanning fields from the humanities to fabrication technologies, and enabling us to design across scales while integrating diverse media and materials.

Our projects range from cultural to commercial commissions, united by a focus on creating spaces where culture takes place and transforms. sub is global, with projects across Europe, North America, and the Asia-Pacific region, and a network of collaborators that facilitate efficient project development and sensitivity to regional differences. We pursue spaces that achieve optimal relevance - designing not just for the present moment, but for the emerging future that shapes it.

Niklas Bildstein Zaar

Was born in Sweden. With broad experience across fashion and cultural production, he is the Creative Director and lead designer of sub. He founded the studio in 2017 in Berlin, together with Andrea Faraguna.

Management & Administration

Ilaria Peloso (COO), Roula Assaf (Principal Architect), Chris Blohm (Digital Director), Sophia Kuhn (Design Director), Florencia Russildi (Studio Administrator), Stanley Omabu (Senior Finance Officer).

Clients

Gucci, Balenciaga, Anne Imhof, Tom Ford, Serpentine Galleries, La Biennale di Venezia,Travis Scott, Ye, Marni, Maison Margiela, Holly Herndon & Mat Dryhurst, Ottolinger, Mercedes Benz, Ferragamo, Anonymous Club, Palais de Tokyo, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Tate Modern, Mugler, Kering, Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam.