db-Wettbewerb Respekt und Perspektive

There are many reasons to preserve our architectural heritage and show respect for it. Planning offices are faced with the task of reconciling this potential with changing requirements. The trade journal db - deutsche bauzeitung therefore organizes the "Respect and Perspective" award every two years. The competition recognizes projects that help the existing building to achieve a viable perspective with appropriate respect. The exhibition in the Raumgalerie shows the award-winning works of 2024.

Architectural significance, emotional attachment, reference to the landscape or simply the continued use of existing gray energy and infrastructure - preserving the architectural heritage is one of the most important tasks of our time. However, this often also means continuing the history of each building respectfully and appropriately and adapting it to new requirements in terms of energy saving, fire protection, comfort and technical equipment, whereby interventions in the structural substance are usually unavoidable. However, these interventions also offer the opportunity to create something new. Radical solutions can sometimes be just as appropriate as sensitive, barely noticeable interventions. Collaboration between energy planner and architect that positively promotes the architectural result can also make a project worthy of an award, such as a structural measure that reduces the use of technology and thus contributes to the preservation of architecture worthy of protection. The quality achieved through this careful planning must be understandable and readable in the building submitted for the award.

The db competition "Respect and Perspective" Building in Existing Structures Award recognizes renovations, conversions and extensions in which exemplary solutions that go beyond established technical standards have been implemented and which also impress with outstanding design qualities. The competition takes place every two years and is supported by Saint-Gobain Weber. The prize is endowed with a total of EUR 10,000.

This year, two prizes and seven recognitions were awarded. A comprehensive documentation of the competition and the publication of all awards will be published in db 12/2024 and online. The award ceremony will take place on December 5, 2024 in the Raumgalerie in an invited circle.