Exhibition of projects submitted for the DAM Preis 2020 won by David Chipperfield Architects’ James Simon Galerie

James Simon Galerie in Berlin, designed by David Chipperfield Architects, has won the DAM Preis 2020, an award presented every year since 2007 for the best architecture built in Germany.
In the 2020 edition of the prize, a committee of experts selected 100 buildings or complexes of particularly high architectural value constructed between the end of 2017 and the spring of 2019. This was the only requirement the nominees had to meet, for the competition sets no limitations on the size or type of building or on the budget for its construction. All the buildings selected are described in DOM publishers’ volume "The Architecture Guide Germany" and on the competition’s official website, where a digital archive of contemporary architecture in Germany is being constructed year by year.
Examination of the shortlisted projects undoubtedly offers an interesting picture of the best architecture produced in Germany in recent years. In the first selection phase, the jury, chaired by architect Stephan Schütz of Architekten von Gerkan Marg and Partners, winner of the DAM Preis 2019, shortlisted 23 of the projects. These buildings and three international projects built elsewhere in the world by German architects constitute the body of works covered in the exhibition DAM Preis 2020 – The 26 best buildings in/from Germany, open since 31 January 2020 at DAM Deutsches Architekturmuseum in Frankfurt. The exhibition draws the public’s attention to key themes in German contemporary architecture, such as the constant need for construction of residential buildings and reclamation of the existing built heritage through urban regeneration projects and conversion of existing buildings. The great variety of interesting architectural proposals submitted included a striking number of projects located in rural areas and medium-sized towns. The exhibition also includes examples of hybrid buildings and virtuous experiences worth replicating, such as the Bellevue in Munich, a residential building designed with and for refugees which also includes a coffee shop and communal space, a project that contributes to social inclusion and community development.

In the second selection phase, the judges chose the five finalists, visited all the projects and declared the winner of the DAM Preis 2020: James Simon Galerie in Berlin, designed by David Chipperfield Architects.
In addition to the architectural quality and sober elegance of David Chipperfield Architects’ project, the jury cited the way the new building serves as a gateway for Berlin’s Museum Island perfectly in tune with its surrounding urban space, transforming its environment into a topos that will immediately be inscribed in the collective memory of the city.

(Agnese Bifulco)

Images courtesy of DAM Preis 2020 – Deutschen Architekturmuseum (DAM),
Captions:
DAVID CHIPPERFIELD ARCHITECTS James-Simon-Galerie, Berlin, photo: Simon Menges (01, 03-05), Ute Zscharnt for David Chipperfield Architects (02, 06-09).
E2A taz Neubau, Redaktions- und Verlagsgebäude, Berlin photo Yasu Kojima (10)
FLORIAN NAGLER ARCHITEKTEN Eingangsgebäude Freilichtmuseum Glentleiten photo Schels/Jüttner/Pk. Odessa (11)
NKBAK Stylepark Neubau am Peterskirchhof, Frankfurt am Main photo Patricia Parinejad (12)
ORANGE ARCHITEKTEN "einfach gebaut", Wohnhaus, Berlin photo Jasmin Schuller (13)
HIRNER & RIEHL Bellevue di Monaco, photo Regina Recht (14)

DAM Preis 2020 – The 26 best buildings in/from Germany
Published within the German Architecture Annual 2020
Date: February 1 – May 10, 2020
An exhibition by Deutsches Architekturmuseum (DAM) www.dam-online.de
In behalf of the Department of Culture and Science / Culture Board, City of Frankfurt am Main

Director Peter Cachola Schmal
Deputy Director Andrea Jürges
Exhibition curators Yorck Förster, Christina Gräwe
Graphic Design DOM publishers, Berlin, Lupe Bezzina
Panel Production inditec, Display & Messegestaltung GmbH, Bad Camberg
Poster and Invitation Cards GARDENERS, Frankfurt am Main
Guided Tours Yorck Förster
Education Curator Christina Budde
Artist DAM Award Statue Harald Pompl
Registrar Wolfgang Welker
Installation of Exhibition Anke Menck, Houaida Soubai, Ömer Simsek und Paul Ruppert under the direction of Christian Walter
Museum Technician Joachim Müller-Rahn
Administration Inka Plechaty, Jacqueline Brauer
Press and public relations Brita Köhler, Anja Vrachlitios, Anna Wegmann (DAM), Nicole Heptner (JUNG)
Partners: Deutsches Architekturmuseum (DAM) und JUNG

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