Since 2013, the DGNB and the Stiftung Deutscher Nachhaltigkeitspreis (i.e. German Sustainability Award Foundation) have been awarding the so-called "Deutscher Nachhaltigkeitspreis" (i.e. German Sustainability Award) to inspiring architecture. The prize is awarded to projects that combine innovation, sustainability and high architectural quality in an exemplary manner. They provide answers to the question of how the building sector can effectively meet the major challenges of our time.
Developers, architects and building users have until 31 May 2024 to submit their projects for this year's competition. The DGNB and the German Sustainability Award Foundation will present the award at the 17th German Sustainability Day on 28 and 29 November 2024 in Düsseldorf.
Apply here
The most important information about the competition
In 2012, the DGNB and the German Sustainability Award Foundation created a special award for future-oriented construction, which was awarded for the first time in 2013. The German Sustainability Award for Architecture honours outstanding and exemplary achievements in the building sector that contribute towards the transformation to sustainable living and economic activity and also demonstrate great innovative strength and high design quality. The prize is awarded with the support of Caparol, the Association of German Architects, the German Federal Chamber of Architects and the German Federal Foundation for Baukultur.
Procedure | Date | Who? | Information |
---|---|---|---|
Application | until 31 May 2024 | e.g. building owners, architects or users | Participants can apply online via the DNP website. |
Jury meeting | July 2024 | Jury (see below) | A panel of experts appointed as a jury in collaboration with the DNP will evaluate the submitted projects for their sustainability, innovative potential and architectural quality, nominate the finalists and select the winning DNP for Architecture project. |
Award ceremony | 29 November 2024 | DNP | The nominees and the winning project will be honoured at an awards ceremony. |
- The competition is open to building owners, architects or users of buildings
- The buildings must be located in Germany and be completed and in use at the time of entry
- The buildings must be used by people (e.g. for daily public transport or as permanent workplaces or homes)
- The building and its directly associated open spaces are taken into account
- The buildings can be new, existing or extensively renovated
- Interior only works are excluded from participating
- Buildings must be no more than five years old / renovations must have been carried out within the last five years
- DGNB certification is not required
- The entry fee is €250 plus VAT
The finalists and winner will be selected by a jury to ensure an informed and independent assessment. The new jury is composed of renowned architects and other representatives of the building industry. In addition, experts from business, research, civil society and politics will contribute their perspectives to the decision-making process.
Applications will be accepted until 31 May 2024 in the online section of the DNP Architecture, which you can access by entering your access code at www.nachhaltigkeitspreis.de/wettbewerbe/architektur.
The following documents are required for a sound application
- A designed poster with meaningful images and plans
- A concise mission statement describing the project's excellence in terms of its transformative contribution to sustainability, innovation and architectural quality
- A textual description of the sustainability aspects of the project
- Representative photos of the project in landscape format, from different angles, with copyright and permission to use for press, website and other communications
It's worth applying
- Participants will receive two tickets to the congress (limited number of tickets) and finalists will also be guests of honour at the awards ceremony
- Participants gain access to Germany's largest sustainability network
- Finalists and winners can use the DNP Award logo to communicate their success internally and externally
- Winners will be guests on stage at the awards ceremony, where they will receive their prize
Which projects are among the best in terms of overall concept? Where do they stand out in terms of innovation, design quality and sustainability? The panel of experts appointed as the jury in cooperation with the DNP examines all submissions in a careful selection process, nominates the finalists and determines the winner of the German Sustainability Award for Architecture.
Prof. Amandus Samsøe Sattler
ensømble Studio Architektur Berlin, Architekt BDA
Chairman
Dominique Gauzin-Müller
Association Frugalité heureuse
Katharina Grön
urbanista GmbH & Co. KG
Martin Haas
haas.cook.zemmrich – STUDIO2050
Prof. Thorsten Helbig
knippershelbig GmbH
Prof. Jeannette Kuo
Technical University of Munich
Reiner Nagel
Bundesstiftung Baukultur
Gabriele Pfründer
Gebäudemanagement Schleswig-Holstein AöR
Prof. Matthias Rudolph
Staatliche Akademie der Bildenden Künste Stuttgart
Frank Schönert
Büropartner Hütten & Paläste
Ralph Wölffing-Seelig
Bund Deutscher Landschaftsarchitekt:innen, Landesverband Baden-Württemberg e.V.
Partners
Federal Chamber of German Architects
Association of German Architects (BDA)
Bundesstiftung Baukultur
Caparol
Your contact
Katrin Wolf
Manager Trade Fairs, Events and Partnerships
- Phone: +49-711-722322-38
- Email: k.wolf@dgnb.de