On September 4, around 150 guests from around the world gathered for the awards ceremony at the German Architecture Center (DAZ) in Berlin. The evening was hosted by moderator Jens Kallfelz.
Once again, the Deutsches Architektur Zentrum (DAZ) provided the setting for the awards ceremony. Ernst Buchow, chairman of the initiative organizing the award, thanked the Association of German Architects (BDA) for its hospitality, referring to the DAZ’s self-image as “a laboratory of ideas, a place for exchange, communication and debate” – a fitting setting for an evening that brought together international architecture and the people behind it.
Author and architectural historian David Fishman, who worked for Robert A.M. Stern Architects until recently and contributed to the renowned New York book series, added an insightful perspective with his tribute to Erich Mendelsohn. As the namesake of the award, Mendelsohn provided the historical and intellectual point of reference for the ceremony. Fishman took the opportunity not only to highlight Mendelsohn’s architectural influence but also, through selected quotations, to bring to life the man behind the work, his convictions and his way of thinking.
The presentation of the awards was the highlight of the event. A total of eight awards were presented: in addition to the Grand Prix, the jury honored four projects with Gold Awards. In the Residential and Multi-Storey Housing category, Gold went to Caruso St John Architects for the Veemgebouw in Eindhoven, while Boltshauser Architekten received Gold in the Office and Commercial Buildings category for Hotel Leo in St. Gallen. Klöpfel Zeimer Architekten were awarded Gold for the transformation of the Battin Settlers’ House.
Emerging talent also took center stage that evening: DETAIL supported the Erich Mendelsohn Award as media partner and served as patron of the Newcomer Award. The Gold Award went to Deborah Süß from HTWK Leipzig for her design “Cooling Tower” – a new typology for a public cooling space that combines ecological and social requirements.
For the first time, the “Best in Germany” distinction was also presented. It went to DMSW Architektur Stadt Landschaft for “A Monolith Filling the Gap” in Berlin, to ZILA for the extension of the Kaiserin Augusta School in Cologne, and to BIWERMAU Architekten for the Central Machinery Station in Hamburg’s historic Speicherstadt warehouse district.
Following the awards ceremony, the accompanying exhibition was officially opened. Featuring around 40 display panels, it showcases a selection of award-winning and nominated projects, offering a comprehensive insight into the diversity of this year’s competition. The unveiling of the displays also created an opportunity for networking and exchange: guests were able to explore the projects up close and engage in conversations with award winners and representatives of the international architecture community.
From Berlin, the exhibition now continues its journey: its next stop will be the International Architecture Forum 2026, held as part of GET NORD in Hamburg from November 19 to 21 under the theme “Future Building”.
We warmly congratulate all the winners and thank everyone for such a wonderful and inspiring evening!
What significance does Erich Mendelsohn hold for contemporary architecture? David Fishman addressed this question in his welcoming remarks at the award ceremony for the 2026 Erich Mendelsohn Prize for...
