The Erich Mendelsohn Prize has been awarded every three years since 2008 in four main categories and one special category. There is also a newcomer award. The complete shortlist and information on the Erich Mendelsohn Prize can be found in the text.
The Erich Mendelsohn Prize has been awarded every three years since 2008 in four main categories and one special category. There is also a newcomer award. The complete shortlist and information on the Erich Mendelsohn Prize can be found in the text.
Erich Mendelsohn was a German architect, born in East Prussia in 1887 and known for his curved façades. Together with Ludwig Mies van der Rohe(in whose name the EUmies Award was recently presented) and Walter Gropius, he founded the Berlin “Ring”, an association for progressive architects.
While he became more formally rigorous in later years, some of his earlier buildings bear witness to a pioneering expressionist spirit. For example, the Einstein Tower in Potsdam. Erich Mendelsohn worked as an architect mainly in Germany, Israel and the USA.
The Erich Mendelsohn Prize was created to make this striving for innovation a little more visible and at the same time to honor architects who “use the architectural potential of the traditional building material brick in a sustainable way”. A renowned jury of experts selected the ten most promising projects from the almost 600 entries. Fabian Peters, editor-in-chief of Baumeister architecture magazine, was also on the panel.
“It is clear from the submissions that sustainability and responsible building play a major role.” (Fabian Peters, Editor-in-Chief of Baumeister)
A total of 33 projects were accepted in the Newcomer category. In addition to first-time works by young architects, they also include designs by students. The jury thus also emphasizes the quintessence of the Erich Mendelsohn Prize: the pursuit of innovation and pioneering spirit, even if the material means and framework conditions may (still) be lacking to implement the ideas. Franziska Käuferle, also a jury member and winner of the Newcomer Award herself in 2020, also sees this development as positive: “It is often the academic projects that dare to do something, experiment more or ask questions that are not linked to the budget.”
The shortlist of the Newcomer Awards of the Erich Mendelsohn Prize 2023 are:
- Fiona Rey (University of Stuttgart) with the Neustrelitz Castle – Music Academy Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
- Niobe Voß (RWTH Aachen) with the port of Burgstaaken, Fehmarn
- Valentin Giesser (University of Stuttgart) with Stille Reihe, Kapelle am Kappelberg, Fellbach
- Victoria von Gaudecker (TH Augsburg) with the training center with forest farm and hostel, Buhweju (Uganda)
- Emilia Kuhlendahl (HafenCity University Hamburg, see cover picture) with the Deichtorhallen Art Campus – A Federal Institute of Photography, Hamburg
- Andreas Westendorf (Bergische Universität Wuppertal) with an intervention at the Potsdam Garrison Church, 3D printing with clay, Wuppertal
- Lür Schäfer (TU Munich) with the settlement for field workers, Es Pla (Mallorca, Spain)
- Mariano Managò (Berlin University of the Arts) with Himmel & Erde, Berlin
- Louise Daussy (Academy of Fine Arts Munich) with Atmospheric Change, Munich
- Jurek Brüggen (undjurekbrüggen, ETH Zurich) with Luise 19E, Werder (Havel)
The shortlist is a cross-section of the different ambitions of the architects submitting projects. It includes projects that address the problems of the Global South as well as large-scale buildings and extensions. The winners will be awarded the Gold, Silver and Bronze prizes as well as Special Mentions. In addition to the Newcomer Awards, there are also the following categories:
- Residential/storey apartment construction
- Single-family house / semi-detached house
- Office/commercial buildings
- Public buildings/sport/leisure
- Special category Renovation
The award ceremony will take place on September 8, 2023, when the winners will also be announced for the first time.
Further information on the Erich Mendelsohn Prize 2023 can be found on the homepage.
