Zais 8. Zais Acht. Winner of the Marita Schnepper Award 2025. The jury reached a tie. This entry is awarded 1.250 €.
Zais Acht, a Farm in Bavaria. Sustainable Transformation of a Hermitage Farm in Upper Bavaria, Germany
The project revives an abandoned farmstead in Upper Bavaria through a sustainable multi-generational concept using local clay and wood. By reactivating traditional cycles of farming, living and working, it addresses demographic change, resource scarcity and the climate crisis.
Jury statement:
Pro:
“We acknowledge the transformation within existing structures. We particularly emphasize the idea of reactivating local resource cycles and social interactions.
“The project addresses a relevant social issue with its focus on multi-generational living. The integration of social and sustainable aspects is convincingly conceived, even if the documentation provides only limited insights. The design and underlying concept suggest careful implementation.
“This is sustainable architecture in an ecological and social sense including restoration and densification.
“I find this is a project that gets the big picture right. An old farmstead brought back to life using materials from the site itself, clay, wood, traditional knowledge. More importantly, it tackles a real social problem: young people leaving rural Bavaria. By making the farm work for multiple generations, it shows how good design can help communities survive
Con:
“This residential tower is not particularly suitable for such exposed locations.
“Unfortunately located in a rural area, but architecturally appealing and technically sound.
“what’s missing: No heating calculations. No thermal performance data. No proof it meets German energy standards. You can’t call a building sustainable if you can’t measure how much energy it uses.
Here is an external link in German