Prof. Architektin BDA Mikala Holme Samsøe

Mikala has been a professor of design and form at the Technical University of Applied Sciences Augsburg, Faculty of Architecture and Civil Engineering, since 2020. Prior to that, she held a temporary professorship in design at the Stuttgart University of Applied Sciences from 2019 to 2020, as well as an international visiting professorship at the Technical University of Munich from 2018 to 2020 and one at the University of Applied Sciences Erfurt in 2018. She was also an external lecturer at the Danish Institute for Study Abroad in Copenhagen and a research associate at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, School of Architecture.

Mikala is a Danish architect (BDA, MAA, AKB). As a co-founder of ensømble Studio Architektur in Berlin, she contributes to a societal shift from expansive to reductive modernism. There, they consistently develop sustainable themes using a Scandinavian approach, primarily in existing buildings and through reuse, in collaboration with others. Previously, she served as director and authorized signatory at the international Danish architectural firm Henning Larsen Architects in Munich (2011–2016).

Immediately after earning her architecture degree in 2003 from the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, she co-founded Force4 Architects in Copenhagen with other partners (2001–2006). She then spent five years as a client representative at the Danish Ministry of Science in Copenhagen, overseeing several university and research projects during their project development phases. At the same time, she edited and co-authored several books on the topics of campus design and learning environments.

While working, 
Mikala earned an international Executive Master’s degree in Leadership and Innovation in Complex Systems (LAICS) from Copenhagen Business School and the Danish School of Education at Aarhus University from 2008 to 2010.

She is currently a member of the Nuremberg Architecture Advisory Board and the Stuttgart Design Advisory Board, and served as vice chair of the Dresden Design Commission from 2016 to 2021. She also serves as a judge in architectural competitions.

Samsøe, Mikala Holme (Hrsg.): Die Kantezone. Wert für Gemeinschaft und Wohnqualität. Zwischen öffentlichem und privatem Raum. Technische Hochschule Augsburg, 2026

Samsøe, Mikala Holme (Hrsg.): einfach. schön. weiterbauen. Wertschätzung und Ertüchtigung einer Schule aus der 70´er Jahren Technische Hochschule Augsburg, 2025. 

Samsøe, Mikala Holme; Architektur. Im Kreis. Gebrauchte Bauteile – erfassen, verkaufen und weiter verwenden, Hochschule Augsburg, 2022. ISBN:978-3-939788-42-3

Samsøe, Mikala Holme (Hrsg) Learning Journey - the process of designing architectural concepts 

Technische Universität München, 2020, ISBN 978-3-948278-19-9 

Samsøe, Mikala Holme & Schmidt, Cathrine ( Ed). Campus Development. Method and Process, Danish University Agency; Danish Ministry of Climate, Energy and Building,  2013 ISBN 978-87-93013-05-6 

Samsøe, Mikala Holme ( Ed.) Campus and Study Environment - Physical Frameworks for Universities of the Future,  Danish University and Property Agency, Danish Ministry of Science 2009. ISBN 87-90797-32-9 

Force4, Asaa, Maja: Samsøe, Mikala Holme ( Ed), Network Housing - transformation of building structures Danish Architectural Press, 2007. ISBN 9788774073857 

Samsøe, Mikala Holme: Wertschätzung. Eine Methode zum Verlieben in: Kerstin Stamm (Hrsg) Klimakrise, Denkmalpflege und die Bauwende, Jovis Verlag Berlin 2027 

Samsøe, Mikala Holme: Gesellschaft mit Architektur gestalten, in Zukunft Bau 2025 Bericht. Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR), 2026

Samsøe, Mikala Holme: Neue Gestaltung. Im Sinne einer reduktiven moderne., AIT Theorie, 325.2025, Pp 102-105 

Samsøe, Mikala Holme: Genbrug er ikke en stil. Weiterverwendung ist kein Stil. Arkitekten 07.2024 Kopenhagen, pp 17-19

Samsøe, Mikala Holme: Ermächtigung der Ästethik. Fünf Gestaltungsmerkmale einer Architektur der reduktiven Moderne. Die Architekt 2024.04, pp 50-55 

Samsøe, Mikala Holme; Åhh das ist “Sehr gut” in: Was ist gut? „266 weltverbessernde Projekte – ein Prozess“ Bettina Knoth (Ed.) Deutscher Designer Club, Frankfurt 2022 

Samsøe Sattler, Amandus, Samsøe, Mikala Holme 

External Review: SABRE Output 2, Architektur Lehre und Innovation, Forschungsbericht, Beauftragende Einrichtung: BauHow5 / SABRE, TU München. 2020 

Samsøe, Mikala Holme; Oprør i Syd, in: Arkitekten Nr 8, Vol 121 Oktober 2019. The Danish Association of Architects, Copenhagen 2019, pp 15-20.

Samsøe, Mikala Holme, Gesellschaft mit Design gestalten in: Politisches Design–Demokratie gestalten eds: Christina. Madenach STADTKULTUR e.V. Evangelische Akademie Tutzing, 2017 STADTKULTUR e.V. pp 101-114

Samsøe, Mikala Holme, Strategic physical Planning - yes please, but do we talk about the same thing? in: 16 Tales of Innovation, eds: Susanne Justesen, Lotte Darsø, Spizen and Aaarhus University Press, 2015, pp 123-134

Baletic, Bojan;  Samsøe, Mikala Holme: How can physical campus planning support universities and ultimately help cities change? in: Regenerative Sustainable development of Universities and Cities, Ed. Ariane König, Edward Elgar Cheltenham UK-Northampton, MA, USA 2013  pp 209-236

Aasa, Maja, Samsøe, Mikala Holme: Documentation Network Housing – Process and Design Methodology, The Danish Centre for Design Research, Aarhus School of Architecture/Kolding School of Design Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts 2005

Force4 Architects (Samsøe):  Democracy, Proper Debate - and sore spots. A process. in BOASE - home of the future  Ed. Claus Bech-Danielsen ete.al. Danish Centre of Building Research, 2001, pp

2023
Bavarian State Prize for Climate Protection, 2023 with Architektur.im Kreis

2023
Future Prize, City of Augsburg, 2023 with Architektur.im Kreis

2005
Top Nominee, Index Design Award, 2005 with Force4 Architects

2005
Personal Distinction of Honor, Architect Henning Larsen’s Foundation, 2005

2002
Distinction of Honor, Helge and Merete Fink Foundation, 2002 

2001
Visionary Award, Danish Design Center, 2001 with Force4 Architects