The Bavarian branch of the Association of German Landscape Architects (bdla) is launching the Bavarian Landscape Architecture Award for the third time. The initiative is supported by the Bavarian Chamber of Architects and the Bavarian Association of Garden, Landscape and Sports Field Construction. Presented biennially since 2020, this prestigious honor recognizes exceptional projects and plans across Bavaria—both new developments and existing renovations—that demonstrate innovative, sustainable, and climate-responsive design of outstanding quality. Beyond the main prize, recognition is awarded across six specialized categories. The bdla Bavaria is particularly keen to encourage emerging design professionals to participate, offering a platform to showcase their creative vision and professional ideals.

The award celebrates landscape architecture's vital role as a guiding force in shaping Bavaria's future. It honors the profession's responsibility for advancing outdoor and urban spaces in socially equitable, ecologically sound, and climate-conscious ways. The award recognizes excellence in building culture and design quality achieved through collaboration between landscape architects, architects, and specialized engineers across disciplines. It showcases innovative solutions that balance aesthetic and ecological ambition with practical feasibility and cost-effectiveness. Above all, it champions collaborative approaches that bring diverse stakeholders together, celebrates exemplary projects with broad applicability, and encourages bold experimentation and new models of integrated practice.

Landscape Planning and Development: Strong planning frameworks and concepts—whether in rural or urban contexts—form the foundation of outstanding landscape architecture. This category recognizes thoughtful, comprehensive approaches to land use. Plant Use and Biodiversity: Strategic, site-appropriate planting—at ground level, on facades, and rooftops—contributes significantly to climate resilience while enriching ecological value. This category honors projects that actively support and sustain local fauna and flora.

Adaptive Reuse and Circular Economy: This category emphasizes resource conservation and the protection of embodied energy, with special recognition for the respectful preservation and thoughtful evolution of heritage sites and their settings. Green and Blue Infrastructure: Projects leveraging ecosystem services while revitalizing public spaces are essential to ecological and climate resilience. This category celebrates these vital investments in natural systems. Open Spaces for People: As digital life increasingly dominates, designing high-quality outdoor environments where genuine human connection can flourish becomes ever more important. This category recognizes spaces—squares, parks, residential areas, and leisure and educational landscapes—that foster genuine interaction and create distinctive atmospheres responsive to human needs.

Experimental Landscape Architecture and Detailed Design: This category celebrates innovative and compelling solutions—whether full projects or specific elements—that push boundaries. Entries might showcase distinctive material applications and construction techniques, unconventional processes, or bold conceptual approaches.

The jury evaluates all submissions using criteria including climate adaptation, sustainability, efficient land use, biodiversity and plant strategy, materiality, and innovation. Patron of the competition is Christian Bernreiter, Bavarian Minister of State for Housing, Construction and Transport. Eligible entries are those authored by landscape architects from Germany and abroad, or by collaborative teams including such professionals. Projects must have been completed in Bavaria between January 1, 2019, and December 31, 2023. Submissions are made exclusively online in German. The submission deadline is April 8, 2024.

An exceptional panel of experts ensures rigorous evaluation of all submissions. The bdla Bayern has convened the following jury members:

Doris Grabner, landscape architect and urban planner, jury chair

Prof. Dr. Swantje Duthweiler, Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences, plant use

Daniel Oden, ministerial director, head of the state building construction department

Theresa Ramisch, editor-in-chief of Garten+Landschaft, M.A. urban planning

Katja Aufermann, landscape architect and urban planner

Prof. Dietmar Straub, University of Manitoba, Department of Landscape Architecture

Prof. Thomas Hauck, Vienna University of Technology, Landscape Architecture and Planning Research

Michel Hinnenthal, landscape architect

Roberto Kaiser, landscape architect

Deputy jury member: Prof. Klaus Loenhart, Graz University of Technology, landscape architecture at the Institute of Architecture and Landscape

Winners are selected through a two-stage jury process. The final round includes an independent design journalist visiting and evaluating all nominated projects on site. Projects nominated for the audience award are announced July 8, 2024, on the bdla Bayern website. From July 8 through August 23, 2024, an online voting portal allows the public to select the audience award winner.

The awards ceremony takes place September 27, 2024, at the Kirchheim State Garden Show. Winners are announced at the event and subsequently posted on the project website. The award is presented in partnership with the Bavarian Chamber of Architects and the Bavarian Association of Garden, Landscape and Sports Field Construction, with Garten+Landschaft (Georg Media) as media partner. Complete competition details and submission guidelines are available at www.bdla.de/bayerischer-landschaftsarchitekturpreis/2024.

www.bdla.de