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Mayor Benz and Head of Urban Planning Kolmer commend student work on “Mission Control_DA”
As the city of Darmstadt announced, the winners of the 2025 Georg Moller Prize were honored on Tuesday (18th) at the Darmstadt Residence Palace. Mayor Hanno Benz and Head of Urban Planning Michael Kolmer, together with the Department of Architecture at TU Darmstadt and bauverein AG, recognized the best architectural designs from the summer semester.
Award winners honored
First prize went to Leonela Duque , followed by Gina Tetecher in second place . Amélie Marocke and Izet Ramadani each received a third prize . Honorable mentions went to Shelia Jap , Vanessa Kalteier , and Leonard Stahr .
The prize money totals 2600 euros , supplemented by 500 euros for the publication of the winning projects. The submitted projects were based on the design task "Mission Control_DA ," which focused on a new visitor and control center for the ESA in Darmstadt.
An innovative perspective on future topics in urban development
Mayor Benz emphasized the significance of the prize:
The competition entries once again demonstrated the value of a "young, fresh perspective" on future urban challenges. The unique task had connected science, business, and tourism, impressively showcasing Darmstadt's potential as a science city in the field of space exploration.
City Planning Director Kolmer emphasized the contribution of bauverein AG as the prize's sponsor. This strengthens the connection between TU Darmstadt and the city council and creates an inspiring platform for exchange and planning practice.
Task: Design an ESA visitor and control center
The design task “Mission Control_DA” aimed to create a visitor center that would allow guests to experience the work of the ESA and, due to security concerns, included a separate entrance building with security checkpoints. At the same time, the urban integration around the existing ESOC site was to be taken into account.
Jury and Exhibition
The jury consisted of representatives from the city, the housing association bauverein AG, and the Department of Architecture at TU Darmstadt. Following the awards ceremony, the exhibition of the winning projects was opened. It can be from November 18 to 24, 2025 , daily from 12 pm to 6 pm , in the Darmstadt Palace (market square wing, room S3|12).
background
The Georg Moller Prize has been awarded since 1989 and sponsored by bauverein AG since 2000. It recognizes student projects that address construction and planning issues in Darmstadt. The prize is named after Georg Moller (1784–1852), who, as head of the Hessian state building authority, significantly shaped Darmstadt's neoclassical cityscape.
(Darmstadt - Red/PSD/Stip)
