Profile
Less Plus is a collaborative and experimental practice operating in territories between architecture, urban planning and design. The studio was founded in 2021 by Nils Martens and Philipp Valente. The name Less Plus indicates the importance to balance void and content. Another main subject is the volition of reconciling theories with practise.
Exploring the boundaries of disciplines, the studio designs permanently, architectural scale projects and objects with new and imaginative purposes. Less Plus applies the same rigorous attention to context, process and detail to every project they undertake.
Collaborators
Nils Martens
Nils Martens (Bottrop, 1987) is an architect and graduated from Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts in 2015. Since 2013, he has gained extensive experience in all phases of architecture. He supervised the projects from the first sketch to the completion of the buildings.
After two years of eligibility, he obtained the authorization to submit in 2017 and founded the office Nils Martens Architektur in Bottrop. Thanks to the collaboration with Less Plus and VIR.works, numerous projects were planned and realized. As a result, the office quickly grew beyond the city limits and eventually led to the new foundation together with Philipp Valente.
Nils Martens has been a member of the Association of German Architects (BDA) since 2024.
.
Philipp Valente
Philipp Valente (Dortmund, 1991) is an architect and graduated with distinction from the Technical University of Munich in 2019. In the same year, he founded the architecture firm Less Plus in Dortmund.
He has worked with renowned architecture studios such as Nikken Sekkei (Tokyo, Japan), RCR Arquitectes (Olot, Spain) and Peter Haimerl . Architecture (Munich, Germany).
He studied at the University of Lisbon and conducted research at the University of Tokyo with Prof. Kengo Kuma in the Kuma Lab.
He has been awarded the Hans Doellgast Prize, the JSPS Scholarship and the Baumeister Academy Scholarship. He also received funding to set up a project office in Dortmund and is Architect in Residence Fellow of the Junge Akademie in Berlin 2020.
Philipp Valente has been a member of the Association of German Architects (BDA) since 2023.
He is also a competition consultant and preliminary speaker on the competition advisory board of the NRW Chamber of Architects for the Ruhr Regional Association (RVR).
Iris Dukat
Educated at the Technical University of Dortmund, Iris gained a strong understanding of the combination of technical and aesthetic requirements for a building during her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees.
She received the sponsorship award from a well-known German architecture magazine for her bachelor’s thesis on the subject of “indoor swimming pools”. With her affinity for CAD programs, she also complements the team with sensible structures and optimized workflows.
Leonie Meiings
Educated at the Technical University of Dortmund and the Politecnico di Milano, Leonie has a holistic approach to design and construction. During her master’s degree in architecture and urban planning with a specialization in resource-efficient building construction, she was awarded the Deutschlandstipendium.
At Less Plus, she strives to create architectural spaces that take up the context and address social interaction while still developing a certain independence.
Rawan Eldebawy
Office Bottrop
Educated at Bochum University of Applied Sciences and the German Jordanian University, Rawan has a sound knowledge of design and implementation planning. She also gained practical experience in project supervision while working as a student trainee. Her enthusiasm for digitalization and innovative solutions sets her apart. She is always on the lookout for new ways to optimize processes and increase efficiency. Rawan’s in-depth specialist knowledge and commitment to technical innovation make her a valuable asset to our team.
Sara Kanaan
Trained at Bochum University of Applied Sciences, Sara has built up extensive knowledge of design and communication through architecture. During her bachelor studies, she won first prize in the Dachwelten competition and was awarded the Deutschlandstipendium scholarship.
The Less Plus team supports Sara in the field of design and implementation planning to create architecture that is in harmony with its surroundings and yet develops its own language. Sara also supports the Less Plus studio in public relations, deals with the creative concept development of the architecture, the management of the homepage and external communication.
Saskia Melchin
Office Bottrop
Trained as a draughtswoman at the Glockenspitz vocational college in Krefeld and with experience from various large-scale retail design projects, Saskia has gained a great understanding of branding through physical spaces, materiality and form.
At Less Plus, she uses these skills to support design projects and translate spatial programs into coherent functional sequences.
Tim Schmelz
Trained at Bochum University of Applied Sciences, Tim supports Studio Less Plus in design and implementation planning, and also deals with the implementation of our projects on the construction site, accompanying the entire architectural planning process.
During his bachelor’s degree, he was awarded first place in the urban design ideas competition “Agri-Urban Settlement Models”.
Vivien Schmitz
Office Bottrop
Due to her fascination with creative design and her enthusiasm for the built environment, Vivien decided to become a draughtsman and successfully completed her training at Less Plus. Vivien then continued her training at Bochum University of Applied Sciences with a degree in architecture.
She supports the team with her precise drawings and her conviction to contribute to the longevity of architecture through good design.
Manni
Office Bottrop
With his boundless energy, Manni always puts everyone in a good mood and playfully integrates short breaks into the office routine. However, he is also responsible for the team’s fitness and therefore encourages them to go for walks every now and then.
Ruffy
Office Dortmund
As Less Plus’ office dog, Ruffy is an important player in acquisition and customer care. Thanks to his strong empathy, he contributes to a positive office atmosphere as a Feel Good Manager and helps to manage stress with his playful nature.
Cooperation
VIR.works
VIR.works (Lübecker Strasse 32, 44135 Dortmund) is a young office with a focus on architecture and communication. A large number of projects have already been designed and visualized together.
