Markus Appenzeller

More than 20 years of experience on urban strategic consultancy, project leadership and management, urban planning, urban design, integrated urban development, architectural design, resiliency, and sustainability with a strong focus on Europe and Asia.

Proven leader of complex large-scale urbanism and architecture projects with multidisciplinary teams in a wide range of urban regions. Open minded and critical mind that is capable of integrating and creating cohesion in projects and stakeholders involved.

Most of Markus’ work is looking into the longer-term future and affects a large group of people. With his experience worldwide, he often helps defining what to plan and what to leave to the future to decide. This includes in depth investigation into possible and unlikely scenarios and a thorough understanding of the forces at work in the urban fabric.

Urbanism without the inclusion of stakeholders misses one of its key tasks – creating support and ownership by those affected by the plans in development. One of the roles Markus often plays is that of the communicator and moderator that brings together groups of people, consultants, and decision makers in a process of project information and communication.

Evolving out of an urban approach to architecture, Markus often is actively involved in shaping building projects on a strategic level. Projects he helps shaping are aiming at becoming urban activators with a mix of uses and often a mix of scale – from the human, walkable frontage to the density and the metropolitan appeal.

As one of the founders and Directors of MLA+, Markus is experienced in giving leadership and strategic steer to a successful practice made up of to a large group of talented and driven individuals with a diverse cultural background

In Markus’ vision leadership is both – the willingness to learn lifelong and to teach and mentor. Markus practices that not only inside the company but through writing, lecturing and in his academic role as head of the urbanism program at the Amsterdam Academy of Architecture.