Berlin's Architectural Reuse Project Wins 2026 DAM Preis

An innovative adaptive reuse architecture project in Berlin has won the 10th DAM Preis. The project transformed a former freight warehouse into a dynamic cultural center. This latest announcement signals a significant shift in urban redevelopment strategies, prioritizing the creative repurposing of existing structures. The jury celebrated the design for its resourcefulness, achieving a stunning result with a modest budget and extensive manual labor.

A Vision for Community and Culture

The transformation focused on creating a vital public hub. Developed with a non-profit arts association, it now hosts a wide range of activities. These include performances, artist residencies, and community workshops. The space has successfully become an essential asset for the neighborhood. The construction began in 2019 after a competitive Europe-wide selection process, culminating in a building that serves a diverse public program.

The main event hall inside the ZK/U Center, showcasing the preserved original brick walls within the architectural reuse project. — The former storage hall was preserved as a shell, now defining the main event space and hosting a variety of public programs. (Image © Yizhi Wang)

An Intelligent Blend of Old and New

The architectural design is praised for its clarity and honest expression. The original structure is largely preserved, with its history still legible. A new lightweight envelope of steel and glass wraps around the old hall. This addition creates new internal spaces, including a foyer and bar, while also providing modern thermal efficiency. Below, a vaulted cellar finds new life as an exhibition area.

A wide exterior shot of the ZK/U Center at dusk, illustrating the transparent quality of the new addition in this architectural reuse project. — The illuminated interior visible through the glass facade creates a dialogue between the building and the surrounding public park. (Image © Yizhi Wang)

Reflecting Contemporary Architectural Movements

This award-winning project mirrors key trends in German architecture. There is a clear move away from iconic, new-build cultural buildings. Instead, the focus is on creating versatile “third places” that serve a broad public. This project highlights a growing commitment to sustainability and revitalization, which is crucial for the future of our cities. You can explore similar past projects in our archive. For more global news, visit our architecture platform.

A close up view of the new steel staircase and glass facade connecting with the original brick structure of the ZK/U Center. — The carefully articulated construction makes structural loads clearly legible and shows the layering of old and new materials. (Image © Yizhi Wang)

How can other cities learn from this model of adaptive reuse?

A Quick Architectural Snapshot

The project transforms a former single-story warehouse in Berlin-Moabit. A lightweight steel-and-glass structure encases the original hall, adding a second floor. The design preserves the vaulted cellar and main event space while creating new areas like a foyer and bar, all within a public park.

✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight

The project is the logical outcome of a collision between long-term, community-based programmatic needs and acute capital constraints. The pre-existence of a non-profit’s activities created a defined use-case that conventional speculative development would overlook. This, combined with a modest budget, made demolition and new-build economically unviable.

The resulting architectural form a building-within-a-building is not a stylistic decision but a forensic outcome of this pressure. Encasing the existing structure was the most efficient method to meet modern energy requirements without the cost and risk of deep intervention into the original fabric. The selection of this project for a major award indicates a broader institutional shift, where value is assigned not to iconic forms, but to the intelligent management of existing resources to solve embedded social and urban needs. This represents a move toward prioritizing operational longevity and social integration over initial capital expenditure.