- Honoring Ten outstanding initiatives with the Hessian Cultural Heritage Award
Celebrating ten exceptional endeavors, Timon Gremmels, the Hessian Minister of Culture representing the SPD party, granted the Cultural Heritage Preservation Prize 2024. With a grand total of 34,500 euros awarded to champions of cultural heritage conservation, Gremmels lauded these initiatives for preserving history while elevating communities' distinct identities and livelihoods.
Within the "Living in a Monument" category, "Zum goldenen Rad" (1955 construction) on Frankfurt's Römerberg received top honors. The transformation of this building signaled a crucial shift in recognizing post-war architecture, previously viewed with skepticism in popular opinion. The Hofgut Schmitte project in Biebertal, Gießen district, earned the first prize in the "Transforming and Revitalizing" category through a meticulous restoration of a 15th-century mill complex, seamlessly incorporated into an urban planning strategy.
In the "Castle and Palace" category, the Burgruine Wallrabenstein in Hünstetten, Rheingau-Taunus district, snagged the first place due to the tireless dedication of a couple, reviving the 14th-century ruin. Meanwhile, the Rotes Schloss tower extension in Tann, Rhön region, claimed second place in this category.
The following remarkable ventures also received honorary awards, accompanied by a 2,500 euro prize each: Livable Seligenstadt Old Town, Cultural Monument Point Alpha (former US observation tower at the inner-German border), and Ludwigs-Tempel in Darmstadt.
Initiated in 1986 by the State Office for Heritage Preservation and Lotto Hessen GmbH, the Hessian Heritage Protection Prize marks its 39th year while recognizing outstanding contributions to cultural heritage preservation. Lotto Hessen contributed 27,000 euros towards the prize this year, and the State Chancellery funded the honorary award with 7,500 euros, highlighting the community's indispensable contribution to the restoration of cultural monuments.
