On November 12, 2025, the Böttiger Preis 2025 was awarded in the church of St. Elisabeth in Wiesbaden. The prize-winning works were created by students on the Architecture | Building Revitalization and Transformation master's degree course at Hochschule RheinMain, who worked intensively on the further development of the St. Elisabeth monastery ensemble as part of a semester project.
At the beginning of the event, Pastor Klaus Nebel focused on the question of how sacred spaces can be meaningfully transformed today. Change, he emphasized, is a fundamental component of church work - and the submitted designs impressively demonstrated the potential that lies dormant in such places.
In his welcoming address, Prof. Dr. Christian Schachtner emphasized that the St. Elisabeth project shows how the goal of Hochschule RheinMain to have an impact on society through transfer can succeed. The students had dealt intensively with the location and thus acted as active drivers.
Marie-Louise Stoll-Steffan from the Wiesbaden Foundation also paid tribute to the students' "mammoth achievement" and reminded the audience of the importance of the Böttiger Preis, which has been promoting and highlighting innovative work by young academics since 2004.
On behalf of the teaching team - consisting of Prof. Daniel Seiberts and Prof. Isabella Leber - Prof. Leber classified the results. The complex initial situation - the island-like location of the site, its topographical features and the multi-layered existing buildings - led to an impressive range of designs, each of which developed its own graphic language and individual approach.
The winners 2025
1st prize - "Ellis Garten"
Lukas Hüfner and Nicoletta Leindl
The jury was particularly impressed by the sensitive and self-confident approach to the existing historical buildings. The complementary structures fit in with the scale and materials, and the functional processes are clearly structured. Overall, the work testifies to a mature architectural understanding that respects the existing building, while at the same time updating it with contemporary means. It formulates a convincing answer to the question of what further building can look like today in the context of what already exists - sensitively, clearly and with great spatial quality.
The award winners describe their design as an approach that strengthens the Westend not through grand gestures, but through many small spaces - a project that, following the spirit of St. Elisabeth, restores spaces and makes potential visible.
2nd prize - "WirQuartier"
Christian Giegrich and Arnold Miller
The jury praised the clear, independent architectural approach in dealing with the existing building. Particular emphasis was placed on the convincing spatial composition, the concise urban planning approach and the carefully crafted high point.
3rd prize - "Kultur Kampus"
Jelena Lang and Anna Schmitz
According to the jury, the placement of an arcade and a tower creates an exciting dialog with the historic building fabric. In addition, the jury members emphasized that the authors show a keen sense of form, materiality and color and precisely develop the church space.
Special church prize - "Lizzy's sound work"
Hannah Gath and Marie-Louise Schneider
The design was praised for creating an ensemble that conveys protection and security while remaining open to the surrounding population.
An impetus for future urban development
The Böttiger Preis 2025 highlights the contribution that young architects can make to the further development of existing urban structures. The award-winning works show how historical architecture can be handled responsibly, sensitively and courageously.
You can download the brochure for the Böttiger Preis 2025 as a PDF here:
