Formsociety

KI als Designmedium? (2025)

Daniel Grünkranz — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 13:23:16 +0000

KI als Designmedium?
Eine kritische Betrachtung der KI-bedingten Bildgenerierung im Produktdesign (2025)

Dieser Artikel von Daniel Grünkranz von FORM SOCIETY reflektiert den Einsatz von bildgenerierenden KI-Systemen im Produktdesign. Diese verändern nicht nur die ästhetischen Eindrücke von Entwurfsdarstellungen, sondern greifen tief in den gestalterischen Prozess ein und schaffen neue Erfahrungen in der Designpraxis. Diese Analyse basiert auf Erfahrungen, welche Studierende des Lehrgangs Produktdesign an der NDU New Design University St. Pölten bei der gezielten Nutzung von KI-Systemen im Designprozess gemacht haben. Dabei wurden zentrale Spannungsfelder zwischen maschineller Bildproduktion und der Arbeit von Designenden deutlich. Die Untersuchung geht der Frage nach, ob und wie bei KI-generierten Bildern die Kompetenz zum Vermitteln von bewussten Designentscheidungen überhaupt gegeben ist.

Im Fokus stehen dabei fünf Aspekte: die Geschlossenheit von KI-System, die schwierige Kontrollierbarkeit von Bildkompositionen, die nicht mögliche Reproduzierbarkeit von Bildergebnissen, die Überästhetisierung von Bildern, und die Schwierigkeit, Sinnhaftes in Bilder zu übersetzen. Ausgehend von ihrer Konditionierung neigen KI-Bildgeneratoren dazu, eigenen ästhetischen Standards zu folgen und visuelle Extreme und gestalterischen Übertreibungen zu erzeugen. Trotz Intransparenz der Bilderzeugung und Zufälligkeit der Bildergebnisse können sich KI-Bildgeneratoren im Designprozess als Inspirationsquelle etablieren, sie stellen jedoch grundlegende Herausforderungen an die Gestaltungslogik, das Verständnis für Kontexte und die bildbasierte Kommunikation im Design.

Der vollständige Artikel ist erschienen in:

Grabbe, Lars C. (Hg). 2025. Designforschung und KI. Ästhetische Transformation im Zeitalter artifizieller Systeme. Wiesbaden: Springer

Community Hall „Um Breil“ Greiveldange

FSY — Wed, 08 Oct 2025 13:50:14 +0000

Community Hall „Um Breil“ Greiveldange

The new community hall in Greiveldange replaced its predecessor, which could no longer meet the current needs of its users. The two-story building serves as a rehearsal space for the local music ensemble and as a meeting venue for various community groups. Next to the building, the design comprises a terraced open space with plants and wooden seating areas, creating a new quality of public space. Together with its outdoor area, the community hall forms part of the rebuilt town centre of Greiveldange. The building’s crystalline outline is determined by its location at the intersection of several streets, and the resulting narrow construction site, and by the primary function of the large hall as a music rehearsal space. The roof’s shape creates the required ceiling height for the hall, defines the building’s form, and allows for the southern exposure of the photovoltaic system. The building’s large-format, patterned façade panels give it a striking design, reflecting its dynamic form. The building is located on a slope and is accessed via entrances on the ground and upper floors, which are connected by an exposed concrete staircase. The upper level contains the large hall, a small hall with a bar, and sanitary facilities integrated into the space as a box. The lower level houses the technical and archive rooms, as well as a multi-purpose room for the clubs to use. The building is naturally lit by its frameless glass façades. The combination of sun protection glazing and shading of the glass surfaces by loggias and cantilevered building sections means that external mechanical sun protection is not required. The building’s primary energy supply comes from renewable sources such as geothermal energy, which is used for heating. A photovoltaic system integrated into the roof, coupled with a battery storage system, ensures an independent power supply.

Client: Commune de Stadtbredimus

What: Culture

Where: Greiveldange, Luxembourg

When: 2019-2025

Status: Built

Ecology: Hybrid concrete-wood-construction. Solar and geothermal energy supply

Project Team: Kirsten Bour, Tom Diederich, Daniel Grünkranz, Panajota Panotopoulou

Structural Engineering: Schroeder & Associés SA

Building Physics: Siegel Schleimer

Ingénieurs-conseils s.à r.l.

Photos: Ralph Mousel

Pedestrian Zone Lebach

FSY — Tue, 01 Jul 2025 11:27:38 +0000

Pedestrian Zone Lebach

As part of the revitalization of the town center in Lebach, Saarland, FORM SOCIETY and Ernst & Partner Landscape Architects designed the new pedestrian zone. The project creates an inviting meeting point for residents and visitors alike, encouraging them to rediscover the town center as a place to spend time. The upgraded public space caters to all generations and offers room for events, culture, and relaxation. The project strengthens the town’s adaptability, supports local businesses and commercial facilities, and contributes to the implementation of ecological strategies. The town center of Lebach consists of a built ensemble from the 1970s, with buildings aligned along an axis that alternately expands into a sequence of small squares and narrows again. Along this axis, a variety of zones were developed to provide a foundation for flexible and diverse use of the public space. A central design element is the adaptable open areas suitable for various events, as well as the traditional weekly market. Green spaces, tree plantings, and water features create areas with high amenity value and mitigate summer overheating. The local topography was also taken into account when furnishing the public space, with seating steps and niches integrated into terrain shifts. To reinforce the commitment to an attractive town center for all generations, a large playground was created between the town hall and the public swimming pool. Cycling infrastructure was improved by providing bike parking in front of shops and installing e-bike charging stations. This project improves everyday use and sets the stage for Lebach’s town center’s long-term revitalization and upgrading

Client: Stadt Lebach

What: Public space design

Where: Lebach, Saarland, Germany

When: 2017-2025

Status: Completed

Project Team: Daniel Grünkranz, Elizaveta Karpacheva, Panajota Panotopoulou

Landscape Architecture: Ernst & Partner

Aspects of the Theorisation of Ruins (2025)

Daniel Grünkranz — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 17:30:10 +0000

Authenticity, Paradox and Reflection.
Aspects of the Theorisation of Ruins by the Use of the Example of the Moselle Position (2025)

This paper examines the intersection of fortification architecture and ruin theory through the lenses of authenticity, paradox, and reflection. Fortification ruins, as remnants of military architecture, embody a transformation over time, resulting from abandonment and decay. The Moselle Position, a series of fortifications built by the German Empire, serves as a case study, illustrating how these structures have transitioned from functional military installations to modern ruins. The concept of authenticity is explored not as a claim to originality but as a reflection of individual encounters with ruins, highlighting the emotional connections that arise during exploration. The paradox of restored versus open ruins is discussed, emphasising the tension between the spectacle of restoration and the authentic experience of decay. Finally, reflection is positioned as a critical tool for understanding the historical significance of ruins, linking them to broader narratives and historic contexts. Through this analysis, the paper contributes to a nuanced understanding of ruins as complex entities that provoke both aesthetic appreciation and critical inquiry.

Read the Article here:

Aspects of the Theorisation of Ruins (2025)

This article was published in:

Pop, Florina (ed.). 2025. Super Ruins. Dialogues between Past, Present and Future. Innsbruck: innsbruck university press

Shared Space Belvaux

FSY — Fri, 29 Sep 2023 14:15:48 +0000

Shared Space Belvaux

The project to rebuild the public space in the center of Bevaux’s old town was developed through a process of citizen participation. The
new shared space calms traffic and ensures equal use for all road users. To this end, the cycling infrastructure was improved, and bike
rental stations were set up. The shared space’s design aims to enhance the attractiveness and comfort of the surrounding public spaces by planting additional shade-giving trees and providing seating for hikers and cyclists. The use of light-colored asphalt also helps prevent overheating during the summer months.

Client: Commune de Sanem

What: Public space design

Where: Belvaux

When: 2013-2023

Status: Completed

Project Team: Tom Diederich, Daniel Grünkranz, Panajota Panotopoulou

Villa FLa

FSY — Sun, 23 Jul 2023 12:11:07 +0000

Villa FLa

We are delighted to announce that construction of Villa FLa is almost complete. The design of the villa is based on an intrinsic geometric principle. The main construction area of the villa measures 15 x 15 m, and the floor plans are developed by rotating the base area by 5° within these dimensions. This enables the floor plans to be organised without being restricted by the orthogonality of the plot. The ground floor has been cut away to the north and south in order to create covered spaces for the entrance and terrace. The upper floor comprises four rooms connected by a communal area with an atrium placed in the middle. The atrium creates a spatial connection between the ground and first floors. The upper end of the building volume is shaped by the recessed storey. The shape of the facades is defined in depth by the boundaries of the building site, the rotation of the internal spatial organisation and the cut-outs in the building volume.

Client: Private

What: Housing

Where: Junglinster, Luxembourg

When: 2021 – 2025

Status: Under construction

Ecology: Air source heat pump and solar thermal energy system

Project Team: Kirsten Bour, Tom Diederich, Daniel Grünkranz, Panajota Panotopoulou

Structural Engineering: Schroeder & Associés SA

Energy Engineering: Anastasios Tsomtsos

Villa F_nk

FSY — Wed, 28 Jun 2023 07:18:44 +0000

Client: Private

What: Housing

Where: Wasserbillig, Luxembourg

When: 2021-

Status: Planning phase

Ecology: Air source heat pump and solar thermal energy system

Design Team: Kirsten Bour, Tom Diederich, Daniel Grünkranz, Panajota Panotopoulou

Structural Engineering: Daedalus Engineering s. à r. l.

Energy Engineering: Anastasios Tsomtsos

Big Living in a Tiny Space: The Smaller, Simpler, and More Sustainable Way of Life with Tiny Houses / Luxembourg

FSY — Thu, 25 May 2023 06:33:50 +0000

Big Living in a Tiny Space: The Smaller, Simpler, and More Sustainable Way of Life with Tiny Houses / Luxembourg

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Villa SP

FSY — Tue, 29 Jun 2021 13:18:14 +0000

Villa SP

Villa SP is the implementation of small house on the countryside. The form of the house evolves around the economic use of space. The ground floor contains the living spaces and is designed as an open floorplan. It is zoned by steps creating a horizontal differentiation. Part of the ceiling is opened up to extend the space vertically and to reveal the dynamic flow of the roof line. The top floor contains the private rooms with an adjoined terrace. On the ground floor, a terrace is extending the living room into the green. Here, a curtain wall works as sun and wind protection and is used to hold off mosquitos.

Client: Private

What: Housing

Where: Colbette, Luxembourg

When: 2017-2021

Status: Built

Ecology: Air source heat pump and solar thermal energy system

Project Team: Daniel Grünkranz, Panajota Panotopoulou

Structural Engineering: Schroeder & Associés SA

Energy Engineering: Energeia Solutions

Photos: Serge Ecker

Pavillon Source Bel Val

FSY — Fri, 06 Nov 2020 08:59:41 +0000

Pavillon Source Bel Val

Design of a thematic pavilion by FORM SOCIETY in cooperation with artist Serge Ecker. The exhibition of the pavilion addresses the history of the again unearthed mineral spring of Bel Val in Luxembourg. In the late 19th and the early 20th centuries the water of the spring has been bottled and sold as Bel-Val table water in many parts of the world. In the second half of the 20th century the spring has been overbuilt by the ARBED steelworks and rediscovered after the demolition of the works. The pavilion is located in a park which is now part of the former industrial area.

Inspired by the circles formed by a drop on a water surface, the design of the pavilion is based on a diagram of interacting concentric circles defining the organization of the programmed areas of the pavilion. Links to the park, the local surroundings and the establishment of a visual axis to the location of the original spring add to the force field affecting the formal articulation of the pavilion. The exhibition is structured into five thematic sections with the spatial installation of “the hidden spring” in its center.

The pavilion is composed of three independent and demountable components: The exhibition, the canopy and the kiosk. This concept follows the idea of a phased re-use of the pavilion. After the exhibition is dismantled, kiosk and canopy can be used as a unit. The kiosk continues to serve the visitors of the park or it can be dismantled and rebuild somewhere else.

Client: Commune de Sanem

What: Thematic Pavillon

Where: Bel-Val, Luxembourg

Status: Competition

Project team: Kirsten Bour, Serge Ecker, Daniel Grünkranz, Panajota Panotopoulou