How do you design spaces that honor memory? How do you create homes in the treetops? Can the sculptural brutalism of a 1970s administrative building offer a compelling alternative to the suburban homeowner's dream? What defines a modern-day civic center for a shooting club, and how do we meaningfully engage residents in shaping their city's future?

In late November 2025, the Association of German Architects (BDA) awarded the BDA Masters 2025 at Bochum University of Applied Sciences. These five exceptional projects offer compelling answers to these very questions. The student architects not only grappled thoughtfully with architecture's social and ecological dimensions—they also mastered a sophisticated range of design strategies, balancing responsibility, experimentation, and the creative energy that drives great design.

Thirteen universities across North Rhine-Westphalia submitted a combined 30 projects for consideration. Eligibility was limited to bachelor's graduates in architecture and urban planning. Each of the five winners receives a €2,000 scholarship upon beginning their master's studies. The €1,000 "BDA Masters Nominees' Prize"—voted on by participants themselves—was awarded to two projects in a historic tie. Jury: Prof. Karin Damrau (RheinMain University of Applied Sciences, Wiesbaden) Martin Halfmann (Halfmann Architekten, Cologne), Jury Chair Maike Holling (MS PLUS ARCHITEKTEN BDA, Münster) Tim Scheuer (smaa.studio architekten BDA, Aachen) Iris Willems Bender (willems.bender architektin bda, Trier)

www.bda-nrw.de