Anyone visiting Werksviertel-Mitte in the east of Munich for the first time quickly realizes that the new urban quarter is one architectural exclamation mark after another. There is the Container Collective, a colorful pop-up city made from old shipping containers, the mighty orange cube of WERK3 and the new WERK4, which rises boldly into the city sky. You could continue walking through the Werksviertel-Mitte, past a wide variety of buildings, each with its own unique character. The power of diversity. Nevertheless, there is one building you should take a closer look at for the occasion.
May we introduce the winner of this year’s DAM Architecture Prize – WERK12
What makes this building so special is the fact that it even manages to stand out from the diverse and exciting architectural ensemble of the district. “WOW”, “HIHI” or “HMPF” can be read on the WERK12. The messages are borrowed from comic language and are based on the winning entry in a competition organized by the client OTEC together with the Academy of Fine Arts.
The interior of WERK12 is also special. The building combines offices, restaurants, nightlife and a fitness studio with a 25-meter swimming pool. The multifunctional use is deliberate. The urban Werksviertel-Mitte deliberately aims to bring together the most diverse people from all walks of life with its variety of offerings.
WERK12 was designed by the renowned architectural firm MVRDV, which succeeded in creating a building that is in direct dialog with its surroundings. On the one hand, WERK12 was intended to reflect the industrial past of Werksviertel-Mitte, and on the other, it was to embody the departure into the future. The jury of the DAM Prize 2021 has now also found that all of this has been outstandingly successful.
What is behind the DAM Prize?
Since 2007, the DAM Prize has been awarded annually to outstanding buildings in Germany. In 2021, the prize will be awarded for the fifth time by the Deutsches Architekturmuseum (DAM) in close collaboration with JUNG as a cooperation partner.
“After our WERK7 was already among the nominees for the DAM Prize in 2020, we are all the more delighted this year that WERK12 has now also won this prestigious award,” explains Josef Glasl, spokesman for the Werksviertel-Mitte group of companies. “During the development of Werksviertel-Mitte, it was always clear to us that the diversity of the district would be decisively shaped by the architectural language. The buildings in the district should radiate joie de vivre, invite and inspire people.” And be anything but ordinary.
I agree to the data transfer between my browser and Youtube. More information.
