Architecture students demonstrate how unused buildings can be turned into hotels
How can vacant or underutilized buildings in Darmstadt be transformed into attractive accommodation options? Architecture students from the Technical University of Darmstadt explored this question for this year's Georg Moller Prize. Under the title "Sleeping Houses – Hotels for Darmstadt," they developed creative concepts for repurposing existing buildings. The winning projects will be announced on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, at 6 p.m. in Darmstadt Palace.
The results of the competition will subsequently be open to the public. From November 11th to 15th, the winning designs will be on display daily from 12 pm to 6 pm at the castle.
Developing new hotels from existing buildings
The Georg Moller Prize is awarded jointly by the City of Darmstadt, the Technical University of Darmstadt, and bauverein AG. It recognizes student projects that address specific construction and planning challenges in Darmstadt.
This year, the focus was on existing buildings and their potential new uses. The students were tasked with finding suitable properties within the city of Darmstadt that could be converted into hotels.
They were able to decide for themselves which buildings to choose for their designs. The focus was particularly on identifying underutilized or unused potential within the city.
The works were created in the summer semester of 2026 at the department of “Design and Spatial Planning” under Professor Johanna Meyer-Grohbrügge.
From the hotel room to the entire building
The design task went beyond simply remodeling existing buildings. The students were also expected to fundamentally consider how hotels could look and function in the future.
The starting point was initially a single hotel room, the design of which was developed based on a hotel-specific object. From this, the concept for the entire building gradually emerged.
The aspiring architects should question traditional ideas about hotel architecture and develop individual spatial solutions.
Another question was what role hotels can play in urban life beyond simply providing accommodation. The aim was to develop concepts in which hotels become open and social spaces that are an integral part of city life.
Mayor Benz sees opportunities for urban development
Mayor Hanno Benz emphasizes the importance of student projects for the future development of Darmstadt.
“Using existing structures and existing buildings for new purposes is a creative answer to the challenges that arise in an increasingly dense urban space,” explains Benz.
Sufficient accommodation options are an important factor in Darmstadt's attractiveness as a business location. The students' designs could offer new approaches to solving this problem.
At the same time, the competition illustrates the concrete contribution that Darmstadt's scientific landscape can make to urban development.
Sustainable use instead of vacancy
Environmental officer Michael Kolmer, who represents the science city of Darmstadt on the jury, also highlights the sustainable aspects of this year's competition task.
“Breathing new life into unused existing buildings and dormant houses makes it clear that we can shape the transformation of city centers in a sustainable way,” explains Kolmer.
The creative use of existing resources is becoming increasingly important. Vacant buildings can negatively impact entire streets and pose new challenges for cities.
The concepts developed for the Georg Moller Prize could therefore provide inspiration for urban development beyond the actual competition.
Award ceremony and exhibition at Darmstadt Castle
The Georg Moller Prize is endowed with a total of approximately 2,500 euros. The award is decided by an independent jury with representatives from bauverein AG, the Technical University of Darmstadt, and the City of Darmstadt.
The jury's decision will be announced on Tuesday, November 10th, at 6 pm during a ceremony at Darmstadt Castle.
Afterwards, those interested can view the award-winning designs. The exhibition is open daily from 12 pm to 6 pm from November 11th to 15th in the wing on the market square side of the castle, room S3I12.
This also gives the people of Darmstadt the opportunity to get an idea of what possibilities the students see for the future use of existing buildings.
The Georg Moller Prize has been awarded since 1989
The prize is named after the architect and building researcher Georg Moller (1784–1852), who significantly shaped the cityscape of Darmstadt.
As head of the Hessian state building authority, he influenced classical urban development and was involved in numerous important building projects.
The Georg Moller Prize was first awarded in 1989. Since 2000, the prize money has been provided by bauverein AG.
The award aims to promote engagement with real-world urban planning issues. At the same time, the competition serves to strengthen professional exchange between the City of Darmstadt, the Technical University, and bauverein AG.
The most important data
Event: Georg Moller Prize 2026
Competition theme: “Sleeping Houses – Hotels for Darmstadt”
Award ceremony: Tuesday, November 10, 2026
Start time: 6 p.m.
Exhibition: Wednesday, November 11th, to Sunday, November 15th, 2026
Opening hours: Daily from 12 pm to 6 pm
Location: Darmstadt Palace, Market Square Side Wing, Room S3I12
On display: The award-winning student designs for converting existing buildings into hotels
Prize money: Approximately 2,500 euros in total.
Participants: City of Darmstadt, Technical University of Darmstadt and bauverein AG
Field of expertise: Design and spatial planning, Professor Johanna Meyer-Grohbrügge
(DARMSTADT – RED/PSD/jdi)
