High Honor: Gesundheitshaus Dortmund Wins the B!WRD Award
We won! The Neue Gesundheitshaus Dortmund has been awarded the B!WRD by the Federal Association of Independent Real Estate and Housing Companies (BFW). The award ceremony took place on Thursday evening in Berlin.
The Neues Gesundheitshaus is one of the most significant examples of 1950s German architecture; it was extensively renovated by Landmarken AG and revitalized with a mix of uses. The project prevailed against strong competition in the commercial category. In addition to exciting new buildings, other outstanding revitalization projects were also nominated, such as the NetWorkHub Dresden and the SHED in Berlin.
“A very labor-intensive, but truly beautiful and significant project for Dortmund,” says project manager Sylvia Friederich, a member of Landmarken’s executive board. “Our thanks go to our passionate project team, which did a fantastic job. Our perseverance paid off!”
With its revitalization, the “New Gesundheitshaus” became a hotspot
Although fully preserved, the city’s Gesundheitshaus had clearly shown its age after 70 years of government use. In the true spirit of its architect, Will Schwarz, the qualities and treasures of this postwar Dortmund icon were revealed and completely reinterpreted through a thorough renovation. Within the striking complex consisting of five building sections, Landmarken has established a new urban mix of uses, including a design hotel, a daycare center, apartments, and innovative office concepts—a masterpiece achieved within the constraints of historic preservation regulations. “Sustainable redevelopment of existing properties is a key component of our corporate strategy,” says Landmarken CEO Jens Kreiterling. “We embrace environmental and social responsibility and contribute to the successful transformation of our cities.”
With its revitalization, the “New Gesundheitshaus” has become a mecca for 1950s architecture and a new hotspot that brings this downtown location to life at all hours of the day. The sustainable transformation not only preserves the building’s structure but also contributes to reducing impervious surfaces by converting the inner courtyard from a parking lot into a green space. Where cars once parked on gray asphalt, daycare children now play in the greenery. With its artful, light-filled interior and public-friendly health facilities, the Dortmund Gesundheitshaus became a gathering place for the city starting in the late 1950s. “We’ve built on this history: Today, it’s a gathering place for free spirits, city travelers, and children,” says Sylvia Friederich. With a modern AOK customer center, the theme of health has also been revived.
The B!WRD is the BFW’s award for small and medium-sized businesses and their creativity, perseverance, and innovative spirit. It honors outstanding achievements in the German real estate landscape and draws the attention of decision-makers from politics and the industry to the best projects in the German real estate sector.