Portrait: Romel Janeski

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Shortly after graduating, Fabian Pauli founded akkurat bauatelier GmbH in 2016. From then on, together with his management colleagues, he prudently led the architecture firm through the growth phase from a micro-business to a respectable SME. Find out in the interview what awaits a young entrepreneur as a small fish in the big pond of Lake Thun and how it is to live and work here.

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What distinguishes the architecture of Thun and the surrounding area? Is there a common denominator at all in the building method/style around Lake Thun?

Building styles per se are basically disappearing, so it is not easy to pinpoint the building style. In the Oberland, e.g. in the Kandertal, Saanenland or Gstaad, the chalet style often dominates. In the city of Thun, of course, the old town with its peculiarities stands out. On the shores of Lake Thun, it is noticeable that the building style is adapted to the added value of the "view" (large windows, balconies).

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How were you received in Thun as a young manager by your business partners, clients, employees, competitors, etc.? Do you have any special memories or anecdotes?

Basically, it was very pleasant to arrive here. Many entrepreneurs met me at eye level right from the start and generally people seemed to appreciate that a young person was "stepping on the gas" and so many opportunities opened up for me/us. Networks such as the Young Chamber of Commerce (JCI) were also important door openers. On the other hand, I experienced a shock during a clarification for my very first project. To my surprise, the authorities rejected the preliminary application with a two-page paper. In the end, it turned out that it was only a problem of understanding and then I was able to realise the project.

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What does an architect dream of? Is there an idea, utopian as it may be, that you would like to realise in the region by the time you retire, your legacy, so to speak?

Most of my countless utopias would go beyond the scope of this interview (laughs). Currently, I am already in the process of realising a dream and building my own home. In the process, I can incorporate my ideas, such as the all-wood construction method using Swiss moon wood. This construction method offers an excellent ecological balance and I expect a very pleasant indoor climate thanks to the diffusion-open construction. In my own home, low-tech and high-tech are combined: as few building services installations as possible, as many as necessary, but a 50.0kWp photovoltaic system that makes the building a plus-energy house. In order for us to achieve the energy turnaround, we need a concrete rethink instead of acting according to dusty standards and immovable labels.