Nomination for the German Sustainability Award
The Mathildenhöhe exhibition building in Darmstadt is one of ten projects nominated for the German Sustainability Award for Architecture 2025. This prestigious award recognises outstanding examples of sustainable architecture in Germany and is presented by the German Sustainability Award Foundation in collaboration with the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB).
The initial impetus for remodelling came from the need to replace the building’s outdated services, which no longer met the stringent requirements for exhibition venues with a supra-regional appeal. An interdisciplinary energy concept was developed, which, among other things, incorporates using the historic water reservoir under the exhibition building as an energy storage facility. Furthermore, the U-value of the building’s outer shell was significantly improved, using a new type of highly efficient mineral insulating plaster. In addition, on the west side facing the plane tree grove, the room layout was intelligently replanned, creating space for a new café as well as a new meeting room between the exhibition building and the Wedding Tower. Alongside all the other carefully designed details, this adds another contemporary layer to the iconic building.
The jury justified the nomination as follows: “The integrative approach to planning is particularly noteworthy: instead of viewing the conflict between preserving a listed building and achieving a comprehensively sustainable approach as a contradiction, a creative and technical dialogue brings all these challenges together in a productive way. The choice of durable materials, the revival of existing building fabric, and contemporary concept for the way the building is used all ensure the ensemble’s long-term cultural and functional relevance.” Click here for the jury’s detailed statement.
The award ceremony will take place at the Bundeskunsthalle Bonn on 27 November 2025 as part of the newly launched Sustainable Architecture Forum. In parallel, the winning projects will be presented at the German Sustainability Award Congress on 4 and 5 December in Düsseldorf.