For the second time, the building of our sister foundation Spore Initiative has received a significant architectural award. On Friday, January 31, the building, designed by AFF Architects, was honored with the DAM Prize 2025 for Architecture in Germany. The building owner is the Schöpflin Foundation.
The jury particularly praised the »serene and inviting architecture, which reduces fear of entering and integrates the neighborhood.« The Spore House is a successful example of urban integration. Its positioning on Hermannstrasse has created a small square that makes the busy street a more pleasant place to spend time. The building itself, with the flowing spaces of the foyer, a café, and event and exhibition areas, is an invitation to explore – including the rear garden.
The DAM Prize has been awarded annually since 2007 by the German Architecture Museum (DAM) in Frankfurt am Main. The selection is made in a phased process in which the jury first draws up a shortlist from around 100 buildings, this year consisting of 23 nominees. The four final building ensembles were then inspected by the jury. The jury, chaired by Regula Lüscher, is made up of the director and curators of the DAM, architects, critics and other experts.
»It is an archaic and powerfully beautiful house that can hold its own in a context where opportunity and lack of opportunity lie close together. The wonderfully composed forecourts and the breathtaking ground floor say: 'I am a public place.' Something almost idyllic has been created at the back. A stroke of luck.«
Regula Lüscher, architect, Senate Building Director/former State Secretary, chair of jury
A place for people to meet and engage in open dialog
The Spore Initiative building is located in Berlin-Neukölln, in the immediate vicinity of Publix - the House of Journalism and the Public, and opened in 2023.
The idea behind the building is to create a space for art, encounters and open dialog. The architecture reflects the diversity and unpredictability of nature – a guiding principle that can be experienced throughout the entire building.
While the top floor houses offices, the second floor offers a library, a large room for workshops, and a spacious terrace. The exhibition rooms below allow visitors to immerse themselves in other worlds and cultures. On the ground floor, an open-plan lobby and a café create spaces for lingering and exchanging ideas. There is also a flexible-use auditorium.
Hans Schöpflin provides insights into the design of the building in a film made as part of the DAM Prize. The film can be seen on the YouTube channel of the German Architecture Museum.