The jury for the 2026 Erich Mendelsohn Prize for Brick Architecture has been finalized. In early July, a total of eight members of the main jury and the Newcomer jury will convene in Berlin to decide on this year's awards. Over its 18-year existence, the Erich Mendelsohn Prize for Brick Architecture has undergone constant evolution: priorities shift, new societal and ecological questions shape the discourse, and with them, the standards by which outstanding brick architecture is evaluated. The fact that each edition is accompanied by a newly composed jury underscores this commitment to a vibrant, continuously advancing dialogue.

For Max Wasserkampf, who represents the BDA as cooperation partner of the prize on this year's jury, the appeal lies in the tension between past and future. His expectations for submissions to the 2026 Erich Mendelsohn Prize for Brick Architecture: "Brick challenges architectural thinking: How can we continue to experiment with a seemingly familiar material? How can we preserve traditions while simultaneously enabling innovation?"

In addition to Wasserkampf, four further architecture experts have been appointed to the jury:

• Max Wasserkampf, Board Member BDA
• Ulrich Brinkmann, Editorial Bauwelt
• Josep Ricart, HARQUITECTES, Grand Prix Winner 2023
• Jórunn Ragnarsdóttir, Lederer Ragnarsdóttir Architects
• Lena Unger, Meier Unger Architects

The Newcomer Award recognizes projects from students and emerging architects for the fifth time in 2026. Jeanette Kunsmann, serving as Editor-in-Chief of DETAIL on the Newcomer jury, sees the greatest significance of architecture prizes in the positive momentum they generate for the next generation. She particularly looks forward to submissions from young practitioners: "Especially with the Newcomer Award, many submissions feature unbuilt projects. These deserve recognition rather than gathering dust in drawers. And perhaps through such a prize, we can even help bring some of these designs to fruition."

The three-member Newcomer jury comprises:

• Jeanette Kunsmann, Editor-in-Chief DETAIL
• Jurek Brüggen, Newcomer Award Winner 2023
• Benedikt Hotze, Press Officer BDA

Independent juries make their decisions through a two-stage, anonymized selection process: After nominating the best projects from all submissions, the competition winners are selected in a second round.

The Erich Mendelsohn Prize for Brick Architecture is awarded in the following categories:

• Residential construction / Multi-family housing
• Office and commercial buildings
• Public buildings, leisure and sports
• Single-family homes / semi-detached houses

Additional awards are presented for:

• Renovation / Sustainability / Energy efficiency
• Best in Germany

The award ceremony takes place in September in Berlin. First announced in 2008, the competition is presented every three years and has become one of the largest architecture prizes. Since 2011, the competition has been organized jointly by the Building with Brick Initiative and the Association of German Architects (BDA). Submissions for the Erich Mendelsohn Prize 2026 for Brick Architecture are accepted until April 30 through the online submission portal: erich-mendelsohn-preis.com/entry

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