Stylepark’s new building reaches the finals!
The big decision day gets ever closer. The list of favorites for the DAM Prize 2020 has been reduced to a short-list of just five: At the weekend Deutsches Architekturmuseum (DAM) announced the finalists for the most renowned annual architectural award in Germany. They include the new building which NKBAK architects realized for Stylepark in downtown Frankfurt – a real honor that the client and architects feel equally proud about.
The jury has selected five highly diverse new buildings for the final round: It is hardly surprising that the James-Simon-Galerie on Berlin’s Museum Island courtesy of David Chipperfield Architects is among those in the illustrious circle. What is arguably the most acclaimed cultural building in recent years sees Chipperfield sensitively explore the architectural history of the ensemble for which the gallery forms the new entrance. Just a few kilometers away in Berlin-Kreuzberg E2A Architekten from Zurich have erected the new editorial office of daily newspaper taz, which also made it to the list of finalists. The building’s grid like support structure, which forms the façade, simultaneously references the cooperative organization that runs the newspaper. And another finalist comes from Berlin: the apartment building “einfach gebaut” by Orange Architekten in the Friedrichshain district. Comprising two independent volumes the ensemble not only reflects new approaches regarding sustainable building and insulating materials but the architects also experiment with open-plan layouts: In place of plasterboard walls, hinged and sliding partitions mean residents can divide up their space to suit the occasion – say make the bedroom smaller for a while to enable a larger living room.
The building by Florian Nagler Architekten presents a totally different design. For the new entry building to the Outdoor Museum Glentleiten the architects addressed the vernacular architecture of Bavarian uplands. In an abstraction of local building traditions they created a wooden building whose windows are concealed behind the lamella facade and whose two large gateways cite the neighboring historical buildings.
Last but certainly not least of all the new Stylepark building in downtown Frankfurt is in the running for the coveted DAM Prize 2020. The new building by NKBAK not only provides Stylepark with attractive office space but also accommodates two new apartments. More importantly architects Nicole Kerstin Berganski and Andreas Krawczyck have succeeded in integrating the building extremely sensitively into its historical setting. As the client Stylepark is naturally very proud that such a bold and high-quality design could be realized on a plot that was extremely difficult to develop. And the efforts more than paid off. “As committed campaigners for excellent architecture and design we are naturally delighted that our new building is on the list of finalists for such a prestigious prize,” emphasizes Stylepark Board member Franziska Michaelis. “It is a great honor to be counted among the five best new buildings in Germany."
