The German Natural Stone Award (DNP) 2020 is the 19th time that the German Natural Stone Association (DNV) and the Association of German Architects (BDA) have honored sustainable projects made of natural stone indoors and outdoors that exemplify high architectural quality and energy-saving construction methods.
The winners have been announced...and we were actively involved: Winner Category "C": "Solid Stone Elements and Building in Existing Contexts" - Facade Reconstruction Berlin Palace
Architects: Franco Stella with FS-HUF-PG (project consortium between Franco Stella Architetto, Hilmer & Sattler and Albrecht, BBR Berlin)
Natural stone used: COTTAER SANDSTONE, REINHARDTSDORFER SANDSTONE, POSTAER SANDSTONE, Warthauer Sandstone, Königgrätz Sandstone
Jury Statement:
Reconstructions, in whatever form, have been part of the work of master builders and architects throughout the centuries. For the representatives of modernism, on the other hand, reconstructions were for the most part tantamount to a clipping of history. It was not until the reconstruction of the Frauenkirche in Dresden that reconstruction gained widespread approval among the general public. Irrespective of the dispute among experts, every structural reconstruction represents an enormous challenge for planners, executing companies and building owners. In view of the effort, the precision in execution, and also the effect of the spacious facade of the Berlin Palace, the academic dispute pales before the craftsmanship involved, even if state-of-the-art machines were used for planning and execution in addition to necessary manual labor. Regardless, the new exterior wall, rebuilt according to historical documents, is a magnificent example of sustainability. It is durable, its material, natural stone, contains little gray energy, and the life cycle costs, despite high primary costs, are favorable. However, for the architectural evaluation, the aesthetic sustainability, as a result of the technical and economic expenses, is in the first place. It does not matter when the design was created, only what material and design quality it has. It is precisely this quality that viewers will have enjoyed for many generations and will continue to enjoy for a long time to come.
The award ceremony will take place at the Stone+tec 2021 trade fair in Nuremberg on May 12, 2021.