99 Places Where Brick Sets the Standard
According to a press release issued in July 2026, the jury for the 2026 Erich Mendelsohn Prize for Brick Architecture has reached a decision: From more than 500 submissions, the jurors selected 99 architectural firms and projects from 18 countries for the final shortlist.
“Good architecture emerges when material, construction, and form are in harmony,” says jury member Jórunn Ragnarsdóttir of the Berlin-based firm Lederer Ragnarsdóttir Architekten. “Among the many submissions from 41 countries were numerous outstanding buildings that embodied this holistic approach.” The international jury for the triennial architecture prize met in Berlin in early July and evaluated projects in the categories of residential construction/multi-story residential buildings, office and commercial buildings, public buildings, recreation and sports, and single-family homes/semi-detached homes.
“It was a pleasure for us to see how the use of brick provides outstanding solutions to the challenges of our time,” Ragnarsdóttir summarized. The combination of architectural practice, journalistic expertise, and international exchange formed the basis of the high-caliber jury session: In addition to Ragnarsdóttir, this year’s jury included Max Wasserkampf, a board member of the Association of German Architects (BDA); Marie Bruun Yde, editor of *Bauwelt*; Josep Ricart from Barcelona, who won the 2023 Grand Prix with the firm Harquitectes; and Lena Unger from the Leipzig-based firm Meier Unger.
The jury awards gold, silver, and bronze prizes, as well as Special Mentions. The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on September 4 in Berlin. For the first time, the “Best in Germany” award will also be presented.
This is the Erich Mendelsohn Prize for Brick Architecture
The competition has been held every three years since 2008 and has been supported in partnership with the Association of German Architects (BDA) since 2011. Since 2022, it has been known as the Erich Mendelsohn Prize for Brick Architecture. The competition’s great significance in the world of architecture is underscored not least by the illustrious names of the award-winning architectural firms from past editions. The pinnacle of the competition is represented by the outstanding Grand Prix projects, such as the Siza Pavilion on the island of Hombroich (2014), the Bremer Landesbank designed by Caruso St John Architects (2017), and the two very different Grand Prix winners from 2020: the Musée Cantonal des Beaux-Arts in Lausanne by Barozzi Veiga and the Nakasone House in Mexico City by Escobedo Soliz. In 2023, the Grand Prix went to the Catalan firm Harquitectes for the Clos Pachem Winery.
Building with Brick Initiative
The Prize for Brick Architecture has been awarded by the Building with Brick Initiative since 2008. At the heart of the initiative are the leading brick manufacturers in the German market. They produce facing bricks and clinker bricks for builders, architects, and investors who prioritize quality and durability. The “Recommended Quality for Double-Skin Brick Construction” seal stands for this commitment to quality. The initiative’s goal is to provide information on current topics related to brick and to promote brick as a building material in its most important application: double-skin walls.
