The winners of the 2022/23 Landbaukultur-Preis

Creative ideas, sustainable construction and a respectful approach to the existing buildings and the surrounding landscape.

A goat barn with cheese dairy newly built by a community foundation in Bayern, a listed Westphalian farm converted into apartments and a former agricultural estate in Styria converted into a winery - these are the three winners of the Landbaukultur Prize 2022/23. Anne Keßler from the Federal Ministry of Building presented the prizes to the builders and their architects today at the German Architecture Center in Berlin, representing Elisabeth Kaiser, Parliamentary State Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Building, who was prevented from attending at short notice.

A total of 53 builders and builders' wives from Germany, Austria and Switzerland entered their properties for the award. 'The quality of the submitted objects is consistently very high. The jury could have awarded further prizes without any problems,' says Susanne Wartzeck, President of the Association of German Architects, delighted with the results of the competition. Wartzeck headed the jury of experts, which consisted of a total of seven members, four architects and three representatives from the fields of rural life and agriculture.

In the end, six objects (two new buildings and four conversions) were awarded prizes, three main prizes and three recognitions. Five prize winners come from Germany and one from Austria.

The jury was particularly impressed by the award-winning properties because they enable the contemporary and economical use of old building fabric and the new buildings also fit in perfectly with the surrounding cultural landscape. 'The jury was impressed by how creatively and at the same time respectfully the owners and architects dealt with the historic building fabric and took into account the requirements of environmental and climate protection in the selection of building materials and in the construction work,' explains Susanne Wartzeck.

'The Landbaukultur Prize is an important signal for the Federal Ministry of Building for the appreciation and sustainability of rural areas,' emphasized Federal Minister Klara Geywitz already in the call for entries. 'Modern and formerly agriculturally used buildings shape our villages and the surrounding cultural landscape quite decisively. That's why it's important to preserve them, and the reason for me to support the Landbaukultur Prize as a patron.'

Main prizes

1st price

New construction of the landscape conservation farm Adelegg - goat barn with hay barn, cheese dairy, farm store and café (Kreuzbachthal, Bayern)

• Client: Kreuzthal Civic Foundation KulturLandschaft Adelegg, Buchenberg
• Architecture: Ziersch ArchitektenPartnerschaft GmbB, Gräfelfing, Giacomo Nüsslein, München
• Prize money: € 8,000

The newly built landscape maintenance farm Adelegg in Kreuzbachthal is ideally integrated into the topography of the landscape. The simple but very functional construction of the goat barn and cheese dairy with local building materials create a particularly pleasant environment for people and animals.

The goats are used to maintain the protected rough pastures of the Kreuzbach valley. The entire project is a prime example of civic engagement and the dovetailing of agriculture and nature conservation. In this way, the creation of food is made tangible.

2nd price

Conversion of a listed courtyard for two apartments (Ahlen, North Rhine-Westphalia)

• Client: Georg Breloh, Ahlen
• Architecture: Christian Tripp Architekten, Ahlen
• Prize money: € 7,000

During the conversion of a typical Westphalian farm (residential house with adjoining threshing floor) in accordance with the preservation order, two apartments were created.

In terms of craftsmanship, the owner and architect were very careful with the historic building fabric. This can be seen, for example, in the new windows and exterior doors, which are in keeping within the historic preservation order.

New components, such as the new staircase on the threshing floor, the light-bringing new windows in the two gables as well as the glazed 'tennis gate', deliberately set a cautious design counterpoint.

3rd price

Conversion and new construction of the Locknbauer wine farm (Pichla, Styria, Austria)

• Client: Lukas Jahn, Pichla
• Architecture: Mascha Ritter, M. Sc. architecture, Berlin; Stephan Piber architect, Graz (building application and consulting)
• Prize money: € 6,000

The typical Styrian farm with its long economic tract with stables and threshing floor was converted into a new operational building for production as well as for wine tasting. The sequence of cold storage, processing hall, fermentation cellar, barrel storage, presentation room and guest room required a frontal extension of the structure (new building). The volume of the old building was completely integrated into the new solid base floor; on this rests an open wooden roof truss, encased in a larch wood façade - all in all, a very respectful treatment of the historic old building.

Recognitions

New construction of a machine and equipment barn (Isny, Baden-Württemberg)

• Client: Hans-Georg Schmitz, Isny
• Architecture: GMS Architekten PartGmbB, Isny
• Prize money: 3.000 €

The new equipment barn was integrated into the slope due to the limited space. Generous gates open the building towards the valley. The building is concreted against the slope in the base area, on top of which is a wooden structure. The grayed wood blends in well with the neighboring buildings. This also applies to the flush-mounted photovoltaic system.

Conversion of a half-timbered barn into office space (Öhringen, Baden-Württemberg)

• Client: Roland Steinbach, Öhringen-Obermaßholderbach
• Architecture: Steinbach Bernhardt Architekten, Öhringen and Tobias Finckh, Architekt M. Sc., Bregenz
• Prize money: 3.000 €

During the further expansion of a historic half-timbered barn for office use, the gable wall was newly underpinned. In the process, striking new window openings were created in the base, which, when viewed from the outside, create an image of dancing windows and contrast with the strict arrangement of the half-timbered openings.

Revitalization of a former agricultural barn into new living space (Gescher, North Rhine-Westphalia)

• Client: Konert family, Gescher
• Architecture: Brüning + Hart Architekten, Münster
• Prize money: 3.000 €

A 'house within a house' concept was integrated into the barn, which was built in 1962, without strongly interfering with the old building fabric. The completely left wooden blast of the roof structure was thereby only included in the interior design in peripheral areas. The newly inserted living cube thus creates a special living feeling.

For more information about the award winners and printable photos of the winning properties, visit: www.landbaukultur-preis.de