On January the 1st 2026, Stefan Rappold joined our Stuttgart studio as Business Director. We sat down with him to talk about how he views his new position, what drives him as an architect, and the opportunities and challenges he sees ahead for the studio in Stuttgart.
For Stefan Rappold, joining White Arkitekter is driven by a desire for collaboration, international exchange and a deeper connection to the practice’s architectural values – something he reflects on when describing his professional journey.
“I managed an office with several employees for many years, and then spent two years working independently on smaller projects. During that time, I missed both working within a larger group and being part of an international context.”
Being part of a larger team motivates me and creates opportunities to shape ideas through collaboration across offices.
“It’s also important to me to gain a deeper understanding of White Arkitekter’s architectural DNA, and to help strengthen the practice’s presence in the German market as an internationally active office with Swedish roots.”
A look at Stefan’s background adds further context. Stefan grew up in Stuttgart, where he also studied architecture at university. After completing his studies, he joined Behnisch & Partner a branch office of Günter Behnisch‘s firm. The practice, known, among other projects, for the Plenary Hall of the former German Bundestag in Bonn and the Munich Olympic Stadium, made a strong impression on Stefan through its socially driven approach to architecture.
“Take the Munich Olympic Stadium, for example. It’s not just a building; it’s a powerful statement for democracy.”
Stefan was then a partner at Behnisch Architekten for several years and was responsible for numerous projects on a wide variety of scales. One particularly special and certainly unique project was the ‘ARENA’ administration building for adidas in Herzogenaurach.
Social values continue to be a key driving force in Stefan’s work as an architect. He describes his motivation as making a positive impact on the world by prioritising social values and sustainability, while also exploring new approaches and with a genuine enjoyment of the process.
My motivation is to make a positive impact on the world and to explore new ways of working. That is also why I find White Arkitekter’s vision, that by 2030 all our architecture will be regenerative and climate-neutral through design excellence, so important.
Leadership based on openness and dialogue
For Stefan, leadership is not only about responsibility and representation, but also about listening, trust and shaping ideas together.
“As a leader, you are responsible for certain things, but you can also creatively shape processes and structures and actively influence them. You can take on representative tasks for an office and a project. A leading position therefore means conveying content, taking a stance and being able to take in opinions and reflections.”
”However, leadership also means being able to listen openly so that you can then develop a new strategy or a new concept for a building as a team. This should then create trust that decisions are always supported by many and that you can rely on each other in all kinds of situations.”
How do you view the market today?
“Due to the economic situation in Germany and wider global political and social upheavals, many sectors are under pressure. Conditions are no longer as they once were, and a rethinking is needed, particularly in response to climate change. I believe that by addressing CO₂ neutrality, climate-responsive architecture and a built environment that is both robust and diverse, we can contribute positively and be recognised as taking urgent issues seriously.”
Stefan also notes that competitive architectural procedures are in decline and emphasises the importance of actively upholding architectural competitions as an integral part of building culture.
Against this background, Stefan outlines how White Arkitekter’s experience and approach provide a solid foundation for working in Germany.
“Through its work in Scandinavia, the practice has built up a strong body of experience and reliable references – essential for gaining visibility in Germany among clients, engineers and fellow architects alike. Collaboration with our studio should be both enjoyable and enriching, defined by openness, curiosity and a shared interest in exploring the unfamiliar.”
“At the same time, it is important to recognise that in Germany commissions are primarily awarded on the strength of well-founded concepts. This is precisely what architectural competitions, in their classic form, are designed to encourage.”
New Medical Clinic of the University Hospital of Tübingen
What is the studio’s current focus in terms of projects?
“The current focus is on developing ongoing projects in a way that allows them to serve as strong references, demonstrating White Arkitekter’s capacity to deliver ambitious and forward-looking work in Germany. One particularly important project in this context is the NMK project in Tübingen, a future-oriented hospital scheme that explores healing architecture in a thoughtful and compelling way. Having emerged from a competition, the project has already gained recognition beyond the Stuttgart region and is widely regarded as pioneering.”
Stefan also highlights the value of developing the studio’s portfolio in Stuttgart across a range of project types, all approached with a strong emphasis on sustainability and a people-centred understanding of long-term social sustainability.
What is your long-term vision for the Stuttgart studio?
“Many believe that visibility comes only with growth, and that expansion is seen as a sign of vision. Growth, however, does not have to be measured solely in numbers. While the studio is open to becoming larger, including, potentially in terms of staff, the primary ambition is to grow in architectural substance and depth, enriching the work and identity of Studio Stuttgart, also by strengthening the exchange with the other offices and contributing an international focus.”
