The TUD working group "Flood Protection & Monument Preservation" coordinated the overall project

At a ceremony in Dresden on July 12, 2022, State Minister Thomas Schmidt presented the State Prize for Building Culture. The motto of this year's competition was »Places of Togetherness – Lively and Connecting«. It was awarded jointly with the Saxony Chamber of Architects and the Saxony Chamber of Engineers. From the 73 entries submitted, the international jury decided, after intensive deliberation, to award the contribution "Flood protection system for Grimma" with the Saxon State Prize for Building Culture 2022.

The submitted project is the result of an interdisciplinary cooperation between planners from the fields of civil engineering/hydraulic engineering, structural engineering/architecture, urban planning, landscape architecture and monument preservation. The "Working Group Flood Protection & Monument Preservation" founded at the TU Dresden for the project in 2005 at the Chair of Architectural Preservation and Design (Faculty of Architecture) essentially consisted of Prof. Thomas Will, Dr. Nils Schinker, Dr. Heiko Lieske and Andreas Ammon. At times, Antje Fleischer, Martin Flemming, Andreas Fuchs, Martin Haymann, Katharina Odrich, Tobias Reckert and Tanja Stock worked as student assistants. »My team was entrusted with the urban, architectural and monument preservation concept and design of the above-ground structures. In this role, we were able to oversee the entire project,” explains Prof. Will. »The hydraulic engineering planning was in the hands of several engineering firms, with whom there was intensive cooperation, from the preliminary planning to the approval and the planning approval process to the execution. As architects, we were allowed to take over the overall design, which is why we acted as submitters in the process. The planning engineering offices ICL Ingenieur Consult, PGS Scholz & Lewis, Ingenieurbüro Klemm & Hensen, G.U.B. However, KUBENS engineers, Jäger engineers and CDM Consult should definitely be named, because their contribution to the project, which was about the unity of design, technology and innovation, was essential.«

State Minister Thomas Schmidt congratulates: “The Saxon state reservoir administration as the builder and the flood protection working group of Technische Universität Dresden headed by Prof. Thomas Will as the planners have put together grandiose projects in Grimma. I still remember the flood of the century in 2002, when Grimma was particularly hard hit. An entire city under water, destruction everywhere, people in danger, but also the great willingness to help and solidarity from all over Germany. All this has burned itself deep into the Saxon memory. What has now been made of it on site is impressive. They have developed a system that not only protects but also sets new standards in terms of building culture. Experts from all over the world, camera teams, and journalists are now coming to Grimma to see and learn from these innovative and complex protective structures to prevent the city from being flooded again by the Mulde. A piece of the future was built here. Congratulations on this achievement. The well-deserved State Prize for Building Culture goes to Grimma.«

The jury justified its decision as follows: “Large parts of Grimma's old town were affected by the flood of the century in 2002. The immense damage led to the decision to protect the city from future floods from the Mulde with a protective system. Due to the location in a narrow valley, this required extensive engineering structures that can withstand the destructive forces of the water. The project 'Flood protection system for Grimma' received the Saxon State Prize for Building Culture 2022 because it shows in an extraordinary and exemplary way how such a site-related complexity can be tackled through careful integrated planning. Flood protection is ensured by a massive protective wall and other technical systems. An essential point is the creation of diverse, high-quality public open spaces in a project that was initially intended to solve technical and ecological problems. The flood protection system in Grimma makes it clear what a formative and positive role architecture and civil engineering can play in the preservation, transformation, and creation of public spaces.«

The State Prize is endowed with a total of 30,000 euros. Prize money of 10,000 euros each will be shared equally between the client, the state dam administration of the Free State of Saxony (Elbaue/Mulde/Untere Weiße Elster operation) and the draftsman, the flood protection working group of the TU Dresden headed by Prof. Thomas Will.

A total of 18 submissions made it to the final selection of the jury. These projects, including the award-winning buildings, can now be viewed in an exhibition being shown at the Saxon Center for Building Culture (ZfBK) in the Dresden Palace of Culture.

Background:
The Saxon State Prize for Building Culture is awarded for outstanding achievements in the field of building culture in Saxony. It honors both the works and their authors. The State Prize is awarded to construction projects that make a visible and tangible contribution to Saxony. The prize is awarded every two years.

Building culture connects - this conviction has brought together stakeholders in the field of construction from the Saxon State Ministry for Regional Development since 2021. The State Prizes for Building Culture and Rural Building and the Saxon Timber Construction Prize were united under one roof.

More information:
https://www.baukultur.sachsen.de/staatspreis-fuer-baukultur-3982.html

Contact:
Saxon State Ministry for Regional Development
Press Secretary, Mr. Frank Meyer
Phone: +49 351 564 50024
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