Bernhard-Remmers-Preis

For the first time, two winners were declared: In the ‘national’ category, the Bernhard-Remmers prize, which is awarded every two years, was bestowed to participating craftsmen and women, architects, planners and the investor of the Palmengarten Palace in Leipzig in 2016. The international prize was presented by Walter Bourichter, Advisory Council Chairman of the Bernhard-Remmers Academy, in recognition of the intensive and successful cooperation between craftsmen and women, the planner and the Oficina del Historiador, Ciudad de La Habana during the restoration of the statehouse in the Cuban capital of Havana.

Both projects stood out thanks to the first-class implementation of the maintenance concepts and, in particular, the exemplary cooperation of restorers, planners and public authorities. The Palmengarten Palace in Leipzig, which had stood empty for a long time, is a successful example of the restoration of listed early 20th century buildings. One of the biggest challenges of the maintenance concept for the Capitolio Nacional de la Habana was the intensive training of the Cuban workers on site in preparation for the complex restoration work.

At a round table chaired by the former TV host Ludger Abeln, representatives of the jury and also the participating prize-winning teams were able to speak before the prizes were handed over. There was a representative of the Oficina del Historiador, Ciudad de La Habana, Cuba, who answered any questions about the Cuban project. Dr. Norbert Baron from the Agency for Construction and Monument Preservation. There was an opportunity to speak to other guests at the end of the event.