Award-Winning Student Research
Heinz Stillger Award 2024 Ceremony at the Department of Architecture
2024/12/12
On December 4, 2024, the Heinz Stillger Award for outstanding student research was presented for the seventh time at the Department of Architecture at TU Darmstadt. Six research projects were honored, showcasing the breadth of architectural research.

The **Heinz-Stillger Prize 2024** was awarded on **December 4, 2024**, at the **Department of Architecture** at **TU Darmstadt**. This marks the **seventh edition** of the prize, which recognizes exceptional student research in the field of architecture.
### Prize Focus:
The Heinz-Stillger Prize highlights outstanding research contributions that demonstrate the breadth of architectural research. In 2024, six projects were awarded for their innovative approaches to sustainability, materiality, building transformation, and digital architectural methods. The awarded topics included:
- The development of a **mushroom-based material** for architectural use.
- The creation of an **eco-friendly terrazzo floor** made from wood waste.
- The **transformation of vacant department stores** into new urban functions.
- A **reinterpretation of opening design** within the framework of **open BIM** (Building Information Modeling).
### Objective:
The **Heinz-Stillger Prize** aims to strengthen the importance of research in architectural education and to encourage a seamless transition from bachelor’s and master’s studies to research and doctoral work.
### Founding of the Prize:
The prize is funded by the **HEINZ-STILLGER FOUNDATION**, based in Wiesbaden. Established in **1995**, the foundation is dedicated to supporting research and education in architecture, as well as the preservation of historical buildings and the development of craftsmanship in the building industry.
### A Career Milestone:
In her speech, Elke Stillger, a representative of the foundation, emphasized that the Heinz-Stillger Prize not only serves as a recognition of research excellence but also as a key career milestone. **Samim Mehdizadeh**, the recipient of the prize in 2017 for his research on **rotomolding**, followed his work through to a **doctoral dissertation** and was appointed **Junior Professor** for **Digital Methods in Architectural Design** at HTW Saar in 2024. Mehdizadeh shared that the prize had greatly motivated him during his studies, encouraging him to pursue a career in research-oriented architecture.
### Selection Process:
The prize selection follows a two-stage process:
1. **Nomination** by the departments within the university.
2. **Presentation** of nominated projects in a **Science Slam** format, which was part of the **11th Research Day** organized by the department. The presentations were followed by jury deliberation.
### Award Recipients:
#### **1st Prize (€1,800)**:
**Mirko Dutschke**
**Project:** *Mycelium Composite Architecture*
Mirko Dutschke developed a new, recyclable composite material made from **mycelium** and textiles. His work showcases how **sustainable** materials can be used in architecture, particularly for lightweight, stable structures. The jury appreciated his innovative and sustainable approach, which could have significant applications in the building industry.
#### **2nd Prize (€1,000 each)**:
**Jennifer Binder**
**Project:** *Weiterbauen – Sustainable Residential Development in Existing Buildings*
Jennifer Binder examined how the **Albert-Schweizer-Siedlung** in Frankfurt could be renovated and expanded sustainably, proposing design strategies that could increase housing space and population density while preserving much of the original structure.
**Christian Leicher**
**Project:** *Wood-Terrazzo*
Christian Leicher explored the potential for a **sustainable terrazzo composite** made from recycled and biodegradable materials. His work provides an alternative to conventional terrazzo and contributes to sustainability in the construction industry.
#### **Honorable Mentions (€400 each)**:
1. **Katharina Eckert & Jonas Löber**
**Project:** *Wood-to-Wood Connections*
Their research investigates sustainable **wood-to-wood connections** for primary building structures, exploring the potential of using wood instead of steel in modern construction practices.
2. **Nadja Rupp**
**Project:** *Galeria Bauhof – The Transformative Role of Display Windows*
Nadja Rupp proposed **adaptive reuse** strategies for vacant department stores, with a focus on transforming them into **hybrid urban spaces** that address community needs for housing, education, and culture.
3. Rebecca Stein
**Project:** *Subtractive Model-Based Design in open BIM*
Rebecca Stein’s research explores how **open BIM** processes can be applied to early design stages, specifically focusing on the design of building facades and exploring the potential for **collaborative and iterative design** process
Prize Sponsor:
The **Heinz Stillger Prize** is sponsored by Dr.-Ing. **Heinz Stillger**, a prominent architect and TU Darmstadt alumnus, who passed away in **2008**. The prize continues to honor his legacy, as he was deeply committed to advancing architecture and building culture through research and practical application.
The award ceremony took place during the **11th Research Day** organized by the Department of Architecture at **TU Darmstadt**, celebrating innovative student research that contributes to the field of architecture.
### Further Information:
For more details on the Heinz-Stillger Foundation, please visit the official website: [**stillger-stiftung.de**](https://www.stillger-stiftung.de).