he attended the technical university of munich between 1924 and 1929, studying architecture and later also economics. he received his first degree in 1929 and a doctorate of engineering (dr. ing) in 1931. his dissertation topic was the sculptor (and his own grandfather) adolf von hildebrand. it was his intention to progress to a habilitation (higher academic degree) which would have opened the way to a lifelong university career, but after 1933 this option was blocked to him. one source states that he worked as a freelance architect in munich and then in berlin between 1929 and 1939, with a particular focus on residential development projects. elsewhere it is stated that he began to work as an architect in munich only in 1932. either way, after receiving his doctorate in 1931 it seems that he found time for several lengthy visits abroad, becoming fluent (where he was not already) in english, french and italian.