Boundaries

– wurzelsieben (√7)

Boundaries in our work carry many different meanings. On maps, a boundary is at first just a line from one point to another. It likely originated with domestication, when it became important to separate territories, so everyone knew which plants and animals they were responsible for. It’s an abstract concept, yet one with tangible effects that shape our lives. When we draw, we constantly engage with this idea of boundaries.

Unlike a line on paper, the boundary in our minds is merely an imagined division. It separates art from kitsch, right from wrong—and shapes how we think about worldviews and financial systems. When we look at architecture, we often ask ourselves: where do we draw our boundaries? Do art and kitsch contribute equally to our practice? These boundaries are less about objective differences than about collective agreements, and are therefore fluid and negotiable.

I blur things to make everything equal, equally important and equally unimportant. I blur things so that they do not look artistic or handcrafted, but technical, smooth and perfect. I blur things so that all parts move closer together. I may also be blurring away the excess of unimportant information. — Gerhard Richter [1]

The most beautiful moments occur when boundaries begin to blur. This happens in the process of drawing images. They always start from a concrete original motif, but they evade a precise statement about reality. As images, they shape their own reality and leave space for individual interpretation for each viewer. Images are open to interpretation, and that makes them boundless. Through drawing, reality is abstracted and extended with new layers and narratives. A clear line is what most of them do not follow.

The boundaries between reality and imagination are thus blurred, opening up a space in which meanings can shift, form anew, or dissolve. The images allow different memories, sensations, and ideas to merge. That brings us great joy.

wurzelsieben (√7) is an architecture firm based in Munich, led by Helen-Maja Rudolph, Marcus Schlicht, and Mirko Haselroth. The team studied architecture in Weimar, Munich, Shanghai and Lausanne. They established their own practice in 2024.