Jan Glasmeier
Jan Glasmeier, the founder of Simple Architecture. He started Simple Architecture to promote social and eco-architecture – designing and constructing buildings that meet the needs of local communities and businesses using sustainable, low-cost methods. His life in architecture started off at university in Germany, working late nights on student projects, fuelled on coffee and a mad passion for architecture and design. Shortly after graduating, I headed for the bright lights of London, jumping at the chance to work for the world-renowned Foster + Partners. His early career in architecture took him across the world, working on big shiny projects like Masdar City in Abu Dhabi, and the SportsHUB in Singapore. I experienced the highs and lows of corporate architecture: the joy of working in teams, but also a growing feeling of dissatisfaction. Somewhere along the way, his passion for architecture started fading away: He felt he was just another cog in the system, helping to firm up the profits of large corporations.
Escaping the corporate treadmill
On a short career break in 2012, I landed in Mae Sot on the Thailand-Myanmar border. Mae Sot is a hub of community-based organisations (CBOS) and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) serving the marginalised communities of migrants and refugees from Myanmar settled along the border. I met fellow designers and engineers working with these groups, and together we founded Agora Architects to serve the design and construction needs of the local community using low-cost, sustainable methods.
On a short career break in 2012, I landed in Mae Sot on the Thailand-Myanmar border. Mae Sot is a hub of community-based organisations (CBOS) and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) serving the marginalised communities of migrants and refugees from Myanmar settled along the border. I met fellow designers and engineers working with these groups, and together we founded Agora Architects to serve the design and construction needs of the local community using low-cost, sustainable methods.
The power of social design
I bring my experience of working with local communities on the Thai-Myanmar border into the ethos and approach of Simple Architecture. The design process is highly collaborative and consultative at each step, ensuring that the plans are sensitive to the local context, environment, and needs of the client and community.
By using affordable natural materials, we can bring beautiful, functional and sustainable architecture to everyone at a lower cost than conventional architecture and construction firms, while involving local workers and learning about vernacular construction techniques.
Projects that we’ve recently finished include the Araksa Tea House, the new Mae Tao Clinic training centre, a new campus for Champion School and a classroom building for Farmhouse 2 school.
At Simple Architecture, we are passionate about sharing the message of social and eco-architecture around the world. I’ve given lectures about social and eco design for students, academics, and the general public at universities in Thailand, Taiwan, India, Malaysia, Mexico, Austria, France, and Germany.
