ISA STEIN is an Austrian based architect and artist. She founded ISA STEIN STUDIO in 2003 – standing for quality in architecture which is derived from holistic thinking. Each construction project is considered as a process, interconnecting social, psychological and societal matters. ISA STEIN has studied and worked internationally – F: internship Jean Nouvél Paris, École d’Architecture de Paris Tolbiac, USA: co-worker Vito Acconci Studio NYC, visiting scholar Columbia University NYC, adjunct professor William Paterson NJ. ISA holds a PhD in architecture from TU Graz (A) and an MfA in painting from Pratt Institute (USA). Further she is appointed legally sworn expert in construction. Since 2003 ISA STEIN has developed and realized projects mainly for corporations and the hotel business. She was also awarded various grants like the International Property Award (GB) for the IFN Headquater, a nomination for the German Design Award and ISA STEIN STUDIO was winning the Austrian National Design Award in the category of “Architectural Design”. ********Quality in Architecture - Quality in architecture is derived from holistic thinking. Catchwords like „slow architecture“ and „clever architecture“ are absolutely justified when talking about the process of building. Existing substance and its environment as well as the goals attributed to a construction project need to be evaluated for achieving good architecture that suits the occupant. That doesn’t necessarily lead to a strictly functional building, on the contrary. – At the beginning of the designing process, I develop a so called „red thread“, where all the project partners are heard and their inputs are encouraged. We then decide how far we can go with introducing artistic or sculptural elements. The combination of a functional and an artistic approach is inherent in my architectural work. I consider each building as a prototype, where in the process of building energy of various persons is added. We have to take care of the project participants and later of the inhabitants. I encourage them to engage with the building and experience it. This is the best guarantor to avoid soulless building complexes, which are strapped off any function. The interconnection with social, psychological and societal matters is job of the architect. I expand this tasks by adding elements of visual arts in the building conception, which serve as a reflector for the inhabitants of the newly created or adapted building. The human always is in the center of any creativity.