An architectural design competition for Frankfurt's House of Democracy project near the historic Paulskirche has concluded, with most winning proposals choosing to renovate existing buildings rather than construct new ones on Paulsplatz. The open competition attracted 128 participants, and ten winning firms have been selected with concepts that will be extensively discussed in the coming months.
While the competition results have been announced, visualizations of the designs will not be publicly released until August 18, when an exhibition of the competition results opens in the Paulskirche's assembly hall. This requires considerable imagination to envision how the proposed solutions for the House of Democracy might actually look.
The majority of the winning proposals focus on extensive renovation of the treasury building (Kämmereigebäude) adjacent to the Paulskirche, while keeping Paulsplatz and its plane tree grove free from new construction. Notably, no selected designs propose direct additions to the historic Paulskirche itself.
However, some proposals do suggest partially underground spaces or new construction at the southeast corner of Paulsplatz. According to the jury's meeting protocol, a high variety of concepts will be presented for upcoming public participation, and the question of building on Paulsplatz was controversially debated among jury members.
The jury included architectural experts such as Frankfurt architects Tim Driedger and Zvonko Turkali, as well as political figures including Mayor Mike Josef (SPD) and downtown district representative Michael Weber (CDU). Among the ten selected winners are nine German firms and one from Copenhagen. Two participants are from Frankfurt, and one winning architect is from nearby Friedberg.
Among major Frankfurt architectural firms, only Schneider + Schumacher made the final selection. The design by Till Schneider and Astrid Wuttke is the only one proposing a striking new building at the southeast corner of Paulsplatz, following recommendations made by an expert commission two years ago. Their proposed "Paulshaus" features a raised ground floor and is described as a "treasure chest of democracy." The jury characterized it as "a solitaire with its own expressive power."
However, the evaluation includes several critical comments: it would create a dominance over the Paulskirche that heritage preservationists consider problematic, it abandons use of the treasury building despite widespread preference for renovating existing structures, and it would claim significant portions of the tree-covered open spaces. Last year, Till Schneider, together with colleague Christoph Mäckler, had advocated in a newspaper interview for a row of buildings next to the Paulskirche to better define the square.
Architect Michael Frielinghaus, who led the Friedberg-based firm BLFP until 2019, proposes a more compact three-story new building. Additionally, he wants to arrange part of the exhibition space underground and utilize the treasury building. The jury praised the relatively minor intervention in existing nature while simultaneously criticizing the weak definition of urban spatial edges.
Frankfurt firm Unique Assemblage, led by planners Alex Probst and Ralf Schlachter, offers a different solution. They propose giving the Paulskirche and treasury building new cohesion through an "urban carpet" with new ground covering and planted islands. A two-story addition atop the treasury building would become an "arena of democracy." The jury considers this a contemporary expression, though not unproblematic from a heritage preservation standpoint.
Sero Architekten from Leipzig also proposes creating discussion spaces on the roof. They want to complement the House of Democracy with a "House of Volunteering" in the western part of the treasury building.
The new pitched roof with a sculpturally vaulted eave designed by Atelier Lorentzen Langkilde Aps from Copenhagen is described by the jury as "historically successfully derived." Connection to the Paulskirche would occur through a tunnel. Dortmund architect Marcus Wagner proposes reconstructing the treasury's historical roof. His design's special feature is an outdoor parliament under the plane trees.
Cologne architect Susanne Gross (Kister Scheithauer Gross firm) proposes thorough gutting of the treasury building, creating an atrium extending through the building's entire height. Heritage protection conflicts are as foreseeable here as with Berlin architect Lennart Beckebanze's design, which would remove ceilings and walls up to the second floor.
The jury appreciates Schulze Berger Architekten from Kassel's design for opening the treasury building northward toward Berliner Straße, where a generous foyer and "Democracy Square" would be created. For several projects, the jury praised the avoidance of underground construction and outdoor space design. Rethmaierschlaich from Cologne's design, for example, convinces through intensively developed green space, with rainwater management and energy generation playfully integrated.
All competition entries will be exhibited in the Paulskirche from August 18 through September 30. An ideas forum on August 22 will include all winners. Public opinion will be gathered through paper and online questionnaires. Ultimately, city council members will decide which concept will be used for a subsequent competition focused on concrete implementation.
The House of Democracy project represents a significant cultural and civic initiative for Frankfurt, aiming to create a space dedicated to democratic education and engagement near one of Germany's most historically significant democratic sites. The Paulskirche, where the first German National Assembly convened in 1848, serves as a symbolic backdrop for this modern democratic institution.
The variety of architectural approaches reflects broader debates about balancing historical preservation with contemporary needs, urban development with environmental conservation, and architectural innovation with contextual sensitivity. The upcoming public participation process will be crucial in determining which direction the project ultimately takes, as citizen input will inform the city council's final decision on how to proceed with this important civic project.
