Seven architectural projects in Cologne have been honored with the prestigious North Rhine-Westphalia State Prize for Exemplary Buildings. The Ministry of Home Affairs, Municipal Affairs, Construction and Digitalization of North Rhine-Westphalia has awarded its tenth edition of the state architecture prize, recognizing 25 outstanding new or renovated buildings and public space designs across the region. This comprehensive award program, conducted every five years in cooperation with the North Rhine-Westphalia Chamber of Architects, celebrates excellence in contemporary German architecture.
Among the distinguished recipients is the new building housing the Historical Archive and Rhenish Image Archive, which received particular acclaim from the jury. The project was praised for addressing what the jury described as "healing a wounded urban community," referring to the traumatic collapse of the original Historical Archive on Severinstraße in 2009. The jury highlighted the precise execution of the architectural concept down to every detail, noting that the design succeeds both functionally and atmospherically. "This building demonstrates dignity. It represents a city that has achieved healing," the jury stated in their evaluation.
Several innovative housing projects from Cologne also received recognition, showcasing the city's commitment to addressing contemporary urban living challenges. The Vorgebirgsgärten development in Zollstock, the Herler Straße residential quarter, the "Mittendrin" project in Alt-Sülz, and the Ossendorfer Gartenhöfe all earned prestigious awards. In the city center, the "Wohnen F // 9" project particularly impressed the jury with its rapid and cost-effective construction method on a narrow 25-meter-wide residual site, demonstrating new approaches to resource-conserving urban densification. Additionally, the new InnoDom Cologne building, which serves as a startup center for the University of Cologne Foundation, was recognized for its innovative design.
Ina Scharrenbach, Minister for Home Affairs, Municipal Affairs, Construction and Digitalization, emphasized the cultural significance of architecture beyond mere construction. "The prize demonstrates above all one thing: building is more than just stacking stones – building is culture," Scharrenbach stated. "I congratulate all the prize winners very warmly." Her remarks underscored the government's recognition of architecture as a vital component of cultural identity and community development.
Ernst Uhing, President of the North Rhine-Westphalia Chamber of Architects, expressed particular satisfaction that approximately half of the selected projects in the state come from subsidized housing construction. "Many of the selected projects support social cohesion in our cities and communities or represent developments within existing building stock," Uhing explained. This emphasis on social housing reflects the ongoing efforts to address Germany's housing challenges while maintaining high architectural standards.
The competition attracted significant interest from the architectural community, with 159 buildings submitted for consideration. The winning projects span 16 different municipalities throughout North Rhine-Westphalia, demonstrating the breadth of exceptional architectural work across the region. The award ceremony is scheduled to take place on February 9, 2026, at the K21 Art Museum in Düsseldorf, providing a prestigious venue for celebrating these architectural achievements.
The complete list of Cologne winners includes detailed information about the architectural teams behind each project. InnoDom Cologne was designed by Kada Wittfeld Architektur GmbH and Nesseler Bau GmbH, both from Aachen, with landscape architecture by Studio Grüngrau GmbH from Düsseldorf. The Historical Archive project involved Waechter + Waechter Architekten from Darmstadt and Heinlewischer Partnerschaft freier Architekten mbB from Cologne for architecture, with landscape design by RBP Landschaftsarchitektur. The housing projects showcase local expertise, with Cologne-based firms like Lorber Paul Architekten, Aretz Dürr Architektur, and 3pass Kusch Mayerle BDA Architekten leading several of the awarded developments.
