Today we’d like to introduce you to Jula Tuellmann.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Hettler.Tüllmann, founded in 2005, is the collaboration of Berlin-based designer Katja Hettler and Miami-based architect Jula Tüllmann. Inspired by an interdisciplinary approach aimed at creating a functional holistic living environment, embracing the work of design from smaller to big scale, their practice focuses on contemporary furniture and interior design, with an emphasis on sustainable materials and traditional craftsmanship. The studio’s unique pieces celebrate the simplicity of the handmade while inviting a conversation between past and future.
The studio is accomplished in providing their partners with representations of distinct perspectives and shared values, through personal and collective reflection. With an extensive archive from furniture, special designs and installations, as well as interiors designs of homes Hettler.Tüllmann conceptual aesthetic remains rooted in emotion and human experience.
Hettler and Tüllmann have made it a priority to champion traditional manufacturing techniques and support local economies around the world. The studio’s international, multicultural collaborations include projects with craftspeople from Ethiopia, Malawi, Japan and beyond.
Meet the Team
Architect Jula Tüllmann was born in Munich and received her education in Berlin and New York. She trained with architects including Terence Riley at MoMA, Maya Lin, as well as urban theorist Michael Sorkin. Tüllmann worked at MoMA and Domus magazine before cofounding Hettler.Tüllmann.
Katja Hettler was born in Erlangen, Germany, and is trained as an industrial designer. She received her education in Barcelona, Berlin and Paris. Hettler has worked with internationally acclaimed designers and architects including Marc Newson and Christian Biecher, as well as with labels such as Louis Vuitton and Celine.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
As with life in general there have been ups and downs in our path. I would like to particularly mention that being a woman in construction is still a challenge for the male led industry, but overall it’s been a beautiful journey and we don’t regret one day of it … and so we keep rolling.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Trained as an architect and a product designer, we work across scales, reimagining and activating space through objects and installations. Our practice is rooted in combining global inspiration, ethical principles, and timeless elegance to craft one-of-a-kind pieces. From working with mycelium (fungi “roots”) to designing woven chairs in collaboration with Malawian artisans, our work reflects a deep commitment to sustainability and craftsmanship between our two studios in Berlin and Miami
Since our partnership began in 2005, Katja and I have prioritized supporting circular and local economies, rethinking the potential of reclaimed and sustainable materials, and championing handcrafted production without compromising our principles.
Our recent installation, titled ‘In Balance’ at the Wolfsonian, draws inspiration from South Florida’s native plant life and highlights humanity’s precarious relationship with nature. Another current project, Miami Maps, explores sustainability through community collaboration. By recycling old plastic bags and partnering with a local crochet club, we aim to weave meaningful connections between art, community, and the urban environment.
Through these projects, we strive to bridge art, design, and architecture, fostering a dialogue between people, nature, and the spaces we inhabit.
Overall we just love to design in any scale and our work as interior architects for an international clientele in Berlin and Miami has been very rewarding. Currently wer are also designing and building our first house from the ground up – in Portugal.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
Go with the flow and just keep going
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.hettlertullmann.com
- Instagram: @hettler.tullmann
