Matthias Hollwich

Matthias Hollwich is a German-born architect, innovator, and thought leader in AI-driven design, celebrated for his ability to merge technology with human-centred architecture. As Founding Principal of HWKN, an internationally acclaimed design studio based in New York, Matthias is reimagining the way cities, buildings, and communities are conceived. His talks explore the transformative role of artificial intelligence in architecture, showing how it can unlock unprecedented creativity, adaptability, and social connection in the spaces we inhabit.

Educated in Germany, Matthias built his early career working with some of the most influential names in architecture, including Rem Koolhaas at OMA, Eisenman Architects, and Diller + Scofidio. In 2008, he co-founded HWKN Architecture, a practice now operating from hubs in Munich, Miami, Berlin, Riyadh, and London. His leadership and forward-thinking approach have earned him recognition among Fast Company’s ‘Top 10 Most Innovative Architects’ and Business Insider’s ‘Top Business Visionaries’. His work has been featured in leading publications including the New York Times, Wallpaper, Architectural Digest, and Dwell.

Matthias’s career is defined by projects that challenge convention. He is the creator of District 11 in the UAE, the world’s first ground-up office community designed using AI, in which artificial intelligence shaped architectural forms, climate-responsive layouts, and cultural integration from the earliest design stages. He has also pioneered concepts such as Neo York, where AI reimagines the city’s iconic Art Deco landmarks for a modern era, and FLX LIVE, a flexible, intergenerational living model. His book ‘New Aging: Live Smarter Now to Live Better Forever’, proposes a radical shift in how we design for ageing populations – advocating beauty, adaptability, and integration across all stages of life.

As a keynote speaker, Matthias shares insights from decades at the forefront of design innovation. He demonstrates how AI is not a threat to creativity but a tool to expand it – comparing its impact to the advent of Modernism in architecture. Speaking at global platforms such as TED, PICNIC, Strelka, and the Conscious City conference, he inspires audiences to see the built environment as a living, evolving entity shaped by both technology and empathy. Through compelling storytelling and visionary thinking, Matthias equips organisations, city planners, and innovators to embrace AI’s potential to create spaces that are not just efficient, but vibrant, inclusive, and unforgettable.