With A Global Vision and Local Backing: How CDS-Arch is Shaping Architecture in Hannover

The internationally successful architecture firm CDS-Arch has been bringing a breath of fresh air to Hannover for five years. Founded by Ilker Ertugrul and Nurhak Inan Karacay, the team made a conscious decision in favour of Lower Saxony's state capital as a European base - attracted by the city's diversity and supported by hannoverimpuls. In our interview, the founders provide insights into the growth potential that Hannover holds for them and explain how local networks and support from hannoverimpuls have fuelled their start and success story in Germany.

Ilker Ertugrul and Nurhak Inan Karacay, what factors influenced your decision to settle in Hannover instead of another city?

CDS (Critical Design Studio) is an Architecture and Urbanism studio that was co-founded by Ilker Ertugrul (Architect) and Nurhak Inan Karacay (Landscape Architect) in 2015, Istanbul. Since then, our multidisciplinary team has carried out various scope of international projects in regions such as Australia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. These multinational experiences have shaped the studio’s global vision, eventually sparking the idea of establishing a European branch to gain access to advanced tools and foster exchanges with forward-thinking practices and academic environments.
In 2019, we had the opportunity to take this step with a new project in Duingen, located 40 kilometers from Hannover. We opened our office in Hannover, and the city’s cultural diversity and green infrastructure have enriched our work for the past five years. During this time, we’ve initiated numerous collaborations with local firms, and our successful business from Hannover continues to grow every day.

How did hannoverimpuls support your decision to establish CDS-Arch GmbH in Hannover?

hannoverimpuls helped us in particular to get to know and analyse the region. In the following stages, they advised us on the local procedures for setting up the company. After the successful establishment, the organization assisted both in the development of the business environment and overcoming our operational difficulties while guiding us in the business activities we needed, especially during the pandemic. We truly appreciate this assistance.q

What advantages do you see in Hannover for the future growth of your business?

Our company has been involved in the international construction market for many years. In its early years in Germany, CDS carried out architectural design services in Basel, Switzerland. However, the great construction demand in Hannover and its immediate led us to provide construction services for local demand with our professional technical team. Over the past three years, we’ve focused on Hannover and nearby cities like Soltau, Hildesheim, Celle, Wolfsburg, Stadthagen, and Lüneburg. Additionally, we are working to develop projects in African countries like Ghana to further expand the company’s international reputation. We have already established some contacts in this direction and are optimistic about leveraging our potential even more in the future.

What challenges did you face during the settlement process, and how were they overcome?

As CDS Hannover was founded by non-European entrepreneurs, we had to go through numerous legal steps. Ilker moved to Hannover to lead the office as a partner on-site. hannoverimpuls provided direct consultation to quickly secure residence and business permits. Despite the pandemic, we successfully completed this process, and hannoverimpuls’s recommendation letters were highly influential during that time. However, it was not easy to meet our staffing needs and navigate German bureaucracy.

How important is it for a business like yours to have local support from an organization such as hannoverimpuls?

For foreign service companies like ours, building a productive network and maintaining its exponential growth is crucial, as it’s key to showcasing our skills and talented team in the local market and gaining recognition in the European market. Local support from hannoverimpuls, especially with official processes and networking, enables us to focus more effectively on our core work and growth. Our goal is to establish ourselves on international markets as a German company known for delivering the renowned German quality and precision.

What are your plans for the future?

As mentioned, CDS is a design studio with proven international experience and award-winning projects. In our first five years in Germany, we’ve focused on adapting our working methods to local regulations and business models. Despite the challenges posed by the two-year pandemic, we largely met our five-year plan by aligning our business model with local demands. In the next five years, we aim to develop CDS as a planning and construction company, fostering economic growth and gaining further experience. A significant milestone was winning first place in the design competition for the renewal and redesign of the sports and leisure park in Kist, made possible by a successful collaboration with a local office in Kassel. Implementing this project will keep us busy over the next three years.

Peter Eisenschmidt, Head of Internationalisation at hannoverimpuls GmbH, on CDS:

The establishment of CDS UG is an important success for Hannover as a business location and shows how attractive our region is for innovative companies in the fields of architecture and construction planning. With their focus on sustainable and digital construction, CDS-Arch fits perfectly with the economic and ecological goals of our city. The Economic Development Agency has been actively involved in creating optimal framework conditions to support the establishment of the company - from site selection and networking with local partners to assistance with funding opportunities. This is an excellent example of how economic and technological innovation is supported and further advanced in our region.