Erich Mendelsohn Award 2026 for Brick Architecture
Erich Mendelsohn Award 2026 for Brick Architecture
The Award for Brick Architecture has been awarded every three years since 2008 by the Initiative Bauen mit Backstein. In the seventh edition of the independent and non-commercial architecture prize, the aim is once again to find and award the best buildings made of brick in four categories and to present them to a broad audience. The competition invites architects and planners to showcase the full architectural potential of this building material that is as traditional as it is innovative. The independent, top-class jury is just as much an integral part of the Award for Brick Architecture as the numerous cooperation and media partners. The result is intensive and high-quality public relations work for one of Germany’s most important architecture prizes.Brick offers almost endless possibilities as a building material. The focus of this competition is therefore on special achievements in building with this special building material. We are looking for sustainable buildings whose design combines economic, ecological and aesthetic aspects. Take part and show the potential of thematerial. From January 5th 2026 to April 30th 2026, projects whose brick facade achieves a special architectural effect can be submitted via our online submission portal: https://erich-mendelsohn-preis.com/en/entry
Brick offers almost endless possibilities as a building material. The focus of this competition is therefore on special achievements in building with this special building material. We are looking for sustainable buildings whose design combines economic, ecological and aesthetic aspects.
Brick Building Initiative Zweischalige Wand Marketing e. V.
Link to Registration form
There are four categories for which you can submit your project:
• Detached house/semi-detached house
• Residential building/apartment complex
• Office and commercial buildings
• Public buildings, recreation and sport
Additional awards will be presented for:
• Energy efficiency/Sustainability/Recycling/Renovation
• Best in Germany
In addition, the prize for budding architects will be awarded for the forth time:
• Newcomer Award
Open to the public/Minimum requirements (Open to anyone that complies with the requirements), Single stage (Winners selected immediately)
Those eligible to take part include architects, architectural teams and architectural/engineering teams provided they are the intellectual creators of the works entered. Developers and investors who have created works in cooperation with architects should submit these together with the architects responsible or provide a corresponding declaration of copyright from the architect concerned.
Structures with a concept or construction whose essential feature is the use of brick are eligible for submission. Brick is understood as a generic term for facade bricks fired from clay, i.e. bricks, facing bricks, facing bricks, clinker bricks or clinker brick slips. In the past, however, the awarding authority and jury have always been open to creative interpretations and applications that go beyond this. This should continue to be the case.
What projects are not eligible to participate in the competition?Projects with at least one of the following characteristics are not eligible for the competition:The project was already completed prior to January 1, 2021.The project is not completed at the time of registration or it is a project idea that has not yet been realized (exception: entry for the Newcomer Award).The project was already nominated for the Erich Mendelsohn Award 2023 for Brick Architecture.Buildings which do not have a facade construction with the essential appearance of visible or facing brickwork.Entries not submitted by the intellectual creator, or without their consent.
Registration Opens January 5, 2026Registration Closes April 30, 2026Deadline to Submit Project April 30, 2026Winners announcement Date
Banner, Poster, Brochure or Triptic of Competition
