Architecture that preserves history and shapes the future
The prestigious Bernhard Remmers Award returns in a revamped format, continuing a long tradition of outstanding building culture. Since its inception in 2003, the Bernhard Remmers Award has recognised the very best that architecture has to offer: taking responsibility for existing buildings, creating new ones with respect, and filling spaces with cultural depth. For many years, the award has honoured exceptional achievements in the field of skilled repair and restoration of historic buildings.
Innovation meets tradition
In its new incarnation, the award celebrates outstanding construction projects in existing buildings, historic preservation and timber and timber hybrid construction – realised by architects who work with sensitivity, creativity and technical excellence.
The focus is on planners who seek to engage in dialogue with tradespeople, restoration specialists and building contractors – and in doing so, create more than just buildings: they shape identity, add value, and build the future.
An award for building culture at its best. And for everyone who continues to develop it.
The Bernhard Remmers Award
The Bernhard Remmers Award is presented to completed construction projects that not only preserve existing buildings but also reinterpret them. It honours architects and builders who, together with craftspeople and restoration specialists, develop outstanding solutions for challenging construction projects in existing buildings. Be it a monument, neighbourhood development or innovative timber construction – the award focuses on integrated planning, design standards, technical expertise and sustainable use of resources.
The Bernhard Remmers Award has been presented every two years since 2003 by the Remmers Group and comes with prize money totalling €15,000. The award ceremony will take place during the international specialist conference on 15 and 16 April 2026 in Löningen.
Bernhard Remmers – the namesake of the award
Bernhard Remmers was a visionary entrepreneur and a pioneer in combining technical innovation with architectural responsibility. As founder of the Remmers Group, he laid the cornerstone for a company that has been dedicated to the protection and maintenance of buildings for decades. The award that bears his name is an expression of this commitment – and a tribute to the idea that sustainable construction always has a cultural dimension.
Call for entries 2026
Apply now – Bernhard Remmers Award 2026
The call for entries for the upcoming Bernhard Remmers Award has begun. Projects completed between January 2022 and December 2025 are eligible for submission.
- Total prize money: €15,000
- Eligible participants: Architectural and engineering firms, restorers, craft businesses and building contractors
- Submission deadline: 31 December 2025
- The award ceremony will take place during the international specialist conference on 15 and 16 April 2026 in Löningen.
The winners will be selected by an independent panel of renowned experts from the fields of architecture, heritage and the skilled trades.
The judging panel
All applications and project proposals received will be submitted to an independent expert panel for evaluation. With great care and a keen eye for quality, innovation and authenticity, the panel will review all entries and select the winners in each category.
The judging panel consists of renowned experts who possess in-depth specialist knowledge, years of experience and a genuine passion for building culture. With their expertise, they ensure that forward-looking and outstanding projects receive the recognition they deserve.
Martin Haas
Vice-President of the German Sustainable Building Council DGNB
Martin Haas studied architecture in Stuttgart and London. From 1995 to 2012, he was a partner at Behnisch Architekten, where he was responsible for major projects such as the Unilever headquarters and the Marco Polo Tower in Hamburg, the Ozeaneum in Stralsund, and international construction projects. In 2012, he founded the haascookzemmrich STUDIO2050 office in Stuttgart together with David Cook and Stephan Zemmrich. His work focuses on innovative and sustainable architecture that combines ecology, design and social responsibility. Martin Haas is also Vice-President of the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB) and is actively involved in promoting progressive standards in the construction industry.
Claudia Kruschel-Bücker
Partner at Schlotter und Kruschel Architekten GbR
Claudia Kruschel-Bücker is a qualified architect (ETH) and a member of the Association of German Architects (BDA) and the Berlin Chamber of Architects. After studying architecture at ETH Zurich, she went on to gain more than 25 years of experience in all phases of construction, with a focus on building renovation and cultural heritage protection. She has been a partner at the Berlin-based architecture firm BASD since 2020. Her current projects include the renovation of the Hohenzollern crypt in Berlin Cathedral and the conversion of the listed Karlshorst horse racing track. Her work is characterised by context-aware transformation and creative care in dealing with historical building fabric.
Axel-Heinrich Mutert
Mutert Architects – Vice-President of VFA
Axel H. Mutert is a freelance architect and urban planner with his own office in the German town of Bramsche. His work is characterised by international architecture, interdisciplinary collaboration and many years of involvement in professional politics – including as Vice-President of the German association for freelance architects (VFA Germany) and representative on the Architects’ Council of Europe (ACE).
Michael Schuster
DBZ Editor-in-Chief
Michael Schuster has been editor-in-chief of the publication DBZ since July 2022 and is a member of the management board of Bauverlag, the publishing house for the construction industry. Before his appointment, he spent over 20 years in management roles in sales and marketing at manufacturers of construction products.
Rob van Hees
Professor Emeritus at Delft University of Technology & senior scientist at TNO
Rob van Hees is Professor Emeritus of Heritage & Technology at Delft University of Technology and was a senior scientist at TNO. He conducts research into material weathering, mortars and conservation technologies for historical buildings. Van Hees is co-founder of the MonumentenKennis platform and is involved in international expert committees such as ICOMOS and WTA. He is currently president of the WTA Netherlands-Flanders group and a consultant at R-Kwadraat MonumentenAdvies.
Agnieszka Zambrzycka
Professor at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw
Dr Agnieszka Zambrzycka is an assistant professor at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, where she directs the studio for the restoration of stone sculptures and architectural elements. She has been active in teaching and research for over 30 years and received her doctorate in 2022 with a thesis on Chinese figurines from the Wilanów Palace collection. She has worked at the National Museum in Warsaw and carried out numerous restoration projects in Poland and abroad. Her work includes stone, ceramic and plaster objects.
Questions about the Bernhard Remmers Award 2026?
We would be happy to help! Our team is on hand to answer any questions you may have about the Bernhard Remmers Award, be they about submitting your project, the competition categories or the overall procedure.
Contact: events@remmers.com
Previous winners
Every award is also an inspiration. Past projects that have won the award show how diverse, challenging and, at the same time, sensitive the interaction with existing architecture can be. They all share a high degree of creative clarity, technical skill and cultural responsibility.
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