Five innovative renovation projects across Hesse, Germany, have been awarded the 2025 Hesse State Prize for Building Culture, transforming abandoned and deteriorating buildings into vibrant community centers that strengthen social cohesion. The prestigious award, carrying a prize of 10,000 euros, recognized projects that successfully converted eyesores into beloved gathering places under this year's theme "TOGETHER REBUILT - Good Spaces for Social Cohesion."

The most notable winner was the restoration of the Niemeyer House in Wildeck-Hönebach, located in the Hersfeld-Rotenburg district. This impressive half-timbered building had served as the heart of the small community since the 19th century, housing a popular inn with a bowling alley, large hall, and later the village store. However, the building began deteriorating after its last resident died in 2005, with the heir renouncing the inheritance and leaving the former village centerpiece at risk of becoming a permanent blight.

The property eventually fell to the state of Hesse with an uncertain future. However, the story took a positive turn when the Fachwerk-Freunde Hönebach (Half-Timber Friends of Hönebach) volunteer association took over the building. Through countless hours of volunteer work, they completely renovated the structure and brought it back to life. Today, the Niemeyer House once again hosts pub nights, lectures, family celebrations, and community events like the annual Christmas market, serving as a beloved meeting point for residents.

Hesse Housing Minister Kaweh Mansoori of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) praised the initiative during the award ceremony held Thursday in Kassel. "The project in Wildeck-Hönebach is an example of how smart renovations can create new forms of community life," Mansoori said. "Transformation of existing buildings is also a social task - it connects people and creates a future based on solidarity."

The four other winning projects demonstrated similar success in adaptive reuse and community building. In Gudensberg, located in the Schwalm-Eder district, an abandoned supermarket was converted into the G1 Community Center, a socially integrative communication and meeting hub that includes rehearsal spaces for local music associations. The historic Stadthalle in Hattersheim in the Main-Taunus district underwent extensive renovation, preserving its protected monument status while creating modern community spaces. The project had previously received the Hesse Monument Protection Prize in 2023.

In Kassel, the Agathof bunker, a World War II-era structure, was transformed into a cultural center, giving new purpose to a piece of difficult history. Meanwhile, in Tann in the Fulda district, the historic Elf-Apostel-Haus (Eleven Apostles House) was converted into a modern communication center while preserving its historical character.

The selection criteria for the awards emphasized multiple aspects of successful building culture. Projects were evaluated based on design quality, urban planning integration, the quality of spaces for different user groups, and resource-conscious use of materials. Minister Mansoori highlighted that adaptive reuse of existing buildings is particularly crucial in densely built urban neighborhoods to enhance cityscapes while simultaneously conserving important raw materials and reducing environmental impact.

The awards ceremony took place during a professional conference in Kassel, where approximately 100 experts from architecture, urban planning, public administration, academia, and civil society gathered to discuss the future of renovation and adaptive reuse of existing buildings. The Hesse State Prize for Building Culture is organized by the Hesse Building Culture Initiative, led by the Hesse Ministry of Economics, Energy, Transport, Housing and Rural Development. Additional members of the initiative include the Finance Ministry, Science Ministry, Hesse Association of Cities, Hesse Association of Cities and Municipalities, Chamber of Architects and Urban Planners of Hesse, and the Engineering Chamber of Hesse, with the Hesse Minister President serving as patron of the award.