Markus Dochantschi


Markus Dochantschi is a German-American architect based in New York. He is a registered architect in the United Kingdom and Germany, as well as a member of the American Institute of Architects.
As the founder and principal of studioMDA, a New York–based, multidisciplinary design firm, Dochantschi has been recognized as one of the world's preeminent designers of art and cultural spaces. Dochantschi and his firm have designed more than thirty galleries, and over 200 international art booths and exhibitions, earning Dochantschi the title of "the Art World's New Go-To Architect” in 2017. The firm has also designed institutional buildings, auction houses, and private residences.

Education and early years

Dochantschi was trained as an architect in Darmstadt, Germany and received his Masters of Architecture degree in 1995.
He was granted two scholarships including a DAAD scholarship which enabled him to work with Arata Isozaki and Tom Heneghan in Tokyo, Japan. Dochantschi was subsequently invited back to Tokyo by Fumihiko Maki in 1995.

Professional life

Following his time in Tokyo, Dochantschi joined London-based firm Zaha Hadid Architects. He continued to work closely with Zaha Hadid from 1995 until 2002, as a director, project director, project architect, and designer on projects including the Contemporary Arts Center in Cincinnati, Landesgartenschau Germany, Bergisel Ski Jump, and the Vista Master plan Singapore, among many others.
In 2002, Dochantschi established studioMDA in New York.
His work includes high-end and affordable residential, cultural, commercial, institutional, mixed-use, non-profit, and educational projects.
He has designed spaces for New York–based galleries including Andrew Kreps Gallery, Bortolami Gallery, Anton Kern Gallery, Lisson Gallery, Carpenters Workshop Gallery, Richard Taittinger Gallery, Nahmad Contemporary, 303 Gallery, David Nolan Gallery, High Line Nine, and four galleries for Kasmin Gallery, as well as the Copenhagen-based new Faurschou Foundation in Brooklyn and Istanbul-based galleries Dirimart Gallery and Collectorspace.
Dochantschi is known for his work on cultural institutions, showing a sensitivity to proportion, light, and, flexibility of space. In 2017, Artsy magazine featured him in the article, “These Architects Are Transforming the Way We Experience Art” listing studioMDA as one of the firms “behind some of the most inventive and influential cultural spaces today.” Dochantschi's style has been described as “airy,” “minimalist,” and “both modern and functional”.

Academia

In 2003 Dochantschi taught an Advanced Studio at Yale University with Zaha Hadid, Stefan Behnisch, and Gerald Hines.
Dochantschi served as the director of the Global Cities Architecture Program at Columbia GSAPP from 2013–2015 as well as Adjunct Professor for Planning and Preservation Advanced Studio from 2008–2017.
Dochantschi has also been a Guest Lecturer at the Harvard Graduate School of Design and a guest critic at the Architectural Association School of Architecture, Columbia University, The Cooper Union, the University of Pennsylvania, Princeton University, the ETH Zurich, and the University of Applied Arts Vienna.

Selected projects

Completed

Cultural

Residential

Institutional

Commercial

Exhibitions

Art Fairs

  • Independent Art Fair, Spring Studio, New York
  • Independent 20th Century Art Fair, New York
  • 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair Masterplan, New York
David Nolan Gallery, NY
Dirimart Gallery Istanbul
Helly Nahmad (New York art collector), NY
Edward Tyler Nahem Fine Art
Paul Kasmin Gallery, NY
Nahmad Contemporary, NY
Richard Taittinger, NY
Malborough Gallery, NY
Anton Kern, NY
Van de Weghe, New York
Johyun Gallery, South Korea
Hammer Galleries, New York
Michael Rosenfeld Gallery, NY
Fine Sound Group
  • Munich High End
Gary Nader Art Center, New York
  • Art Rio

Conceptual

  • Urban Mobility Fleet Center, West Side Manhattan, 2022, New York
  • Phillips Headquarters, 2021, Hong Kong
  • Governors Island Climate Center, 2021, New York
  • Hudson Yards Phase II Towers, 2019, New York
  • FARROC, 2013, Queens, New York
  • Condominiums, 2013, Tanzania
  • Osnabrück Comprehensive School, 2011, Germany
  • ARC Competition, 2010, Colorado
  • Munich Olympics, 2010, Germany
  • Raising Malawi, 2009, Malawi
  • Tempelhof Competition, 2008, Berlin, Germany
  • Bam Tower, 2007, New York
  • Governors Island Biomass Park, 2006, New York City
  • Harbor Park Pavilion, 2005
  • Forsythe Dance Studio, 2004, Vermont
  • U2 Tower Competition, 2003, Dublin, Ireland

In Progress

  • Private Art Museum, Thailand
  • Harper's Gallery, Thailand
  • Upper East Side Gallery, New York
  • West Village Townhouse, New York
  • Tribeca Residential Project, New York

Other activities

Dochantschi served on the Green Codes Committee in 2012, created to make recommendations for New York City Building Code revisions for greening the environment.