Berlin-based Jan Wiese Architekten has been awarded first place in an architectural competition to design a new city history museum in Schwerin, the capital of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. The project will serve dual purposes as both an information center for visitors to the city's UNESCO World Heritage site and a new home for Schwerin's municipal historical collection.

The Schwerin Palace ensemble, comprising more than 30 historic buildings, was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2024. This recognition created the need for a dedicated visitor information center while the city had simultaneously been seeking a new location for its city history collection. The decision was made to combine both functions under one roof in a single new building.

The city launched an open architectural competition in March, with the nine-member jury led by Jörg Springer making their final decision in July. The competition process was managed by büro luchterhandt + partner from Hamburg. Out of 121 submitted entries, Jan Wiese Architekten's design was unanimously selected for further development.

The proposed site for the new museum is a partially undeveloped area between Puschkinstraße and Schlachtermarkt, located near Schwerin Cathedral. The undeveloped portion of the site has been used as a parking lot, while the other section along Puschkinstraße contains a heritage-protected existing building connected to the neighboring city hall by a bridge. This existing structure will be renovated and integrated into the museum complex as part of the project.

Jan Wiese Architekten's winning design features a building organized by three parallel gabled roofs, positioned several meters away from the side wing of the existing structure. The design includes a low connecting building at Schlachtermarkt that will house the museum's main entrance, leading visitors into a foyer located in a covered courtyard between the old and new buildings.

The building presents an elegant facade toward Schlachterstraße with three narrow, slightly offset gables. These three sections fan out slightly toward the existing building. The longitudinal facade facing Schlachtermarkt is largely closed, opening up at ground level with generous glazing for a planned café that will create a connection to the plaza. The upper floor features a striking oversized arched window that serves as a prominent architectural accent.

The robust building envelope will be constructed with brick in varying red tones that will also cover the roofs, creating a cohesive architectural expression. According to NDR reports, construction is expected to be completed by 2029. The jury praised the design for its clear spatial structure derived from the existing buildings, noting that while the design has an independent and powerful character, it harmoniously relates to the urban context.

The competition awards included a first prize of €37,000 for Jan Wiese Architekten, two second prizes of €25,500 each, a fourth prize of €14,000, a fifth prize of €12,000, and two recognition awards of €6,500 each. The second prizes were awarded to papepape architekten from Kassel and Büro Wortmann Gork Architekt:innen from Berlin. The fourth prize went to rw Architekten from Berlin, while the fifth prize was awarded to Grubert Verhülsdonk Architekten from Berlin. Recognition awards were given to Formation A from Berlin and Mulder Zonderland from Zürich.

The 14 finalist designs from the competition are currently on public display until August 31, 2025, at the Schleswig-Holstein-Haus Cultural Forum located at Puschkinstraße 12 in Schwerin. The exhibition is open Tuesday through Sunday from 11 AM to 6 PM, allowing the public to view all the proposed designs for this significant cultural project that will serve both residents and the growing number of tourists visiting Schwerin's newly recognized World Heritage site.