Architecture Tour 2025

Outstanding final projects by Alanus University students receive awards

The “Architecture Tour 2025” at Alanus University of Arts and Social Sciences in Alfter once again demonstrated on 4 July why the university is regarded as a creative platform for socially relevant architecture. At Campus II on Villestraße, graduating students presented their innovative projects, offering an inspiring glimpse into the future of building.

As part of a festive award ceremony, the best final projects were honored. A total of four outstanding projects were shortlisted, impressing with their social relevance, creative quality, and sustainable approaches.

The nominees include:

• Milena Harbolla, Ella Marciniak and Greta Thierhoff with their bachelor’s thesis “Why do we always (con-)sume more living space? – A research project on dealing with residential buildings threatened by demolition.” The team develops strategies to preserve post-war residential buildings while at the same time creating sustainable and differentiated living space beyond the classic “3 rooms / kitchen / bathroom” typology.
• Julian Krüger and Lorenz Rhiner with their bachelor’s thesis “StadtBauStelle.” The focus here is on the participatory, temporary, and experimental activation of Chlodwigplatz in Bonn, in which future users are actively involved in the planning process in order to create an inclusive and livable meeting place. The Mackeviertel district management aims to establish the project on a permanent basis.
• Ole Jenssen and Larissa Ortmann with their bachelor’s thesis “Schwelm Brewery – A Third Place for Schwelm.” The project revitalizes an old brewery, bringing it back to life as a cultural meeting point and community space—a contribution to strengthening local identity and concrete support for the Brauerei Schwelm association in its efforts to lead this historic site into a new future.
• Michael Parente and Jakob Schäfer with their master’s thesis “Work in Progress – Repair in the Context of Our Time.” Here, the students engage with sustainable architecture and develop a concept for the vacant former nurses’ residence in Bonn-Kessenich through careful repair methods.

The three bachelor’s theses will also be nominated for the prestigious “BDA Masters” award, presented by the Association of German Architects (BDA) to the best final projects from the 14 schools of architecture in North Rhine-Westphalia. The master’s thesis by Parente and Schäfer is nominated for the “BDA-SARP Award 2026”, the German-Polish architecture advancement award.

At the award ceremony, two first prizes were awarded: each accompanied by a one-year subscription to the professional journal ARCH+, they went to Ole Jenssen and Larissa Ortmann as well as Julian Krüger and Lorenz Rhiner. The awards recognize the students’ creative excellence and social commitment.

All projects will soon be published in the digital magazine of the Department of Architecture.

We warmly congratulate all prize winners!

Photos, from left: © Yann Engelen
01: Ella Marciniak and Greta Thierhoff (Milena Harbolla not pictured)
02: Jakob Schäfer and Michael Parente
03: Larissa Ortmann and Ole Jenssen
04: Julian Krüger and Lorenz Rhiner

Contact for press inquiries:
+49 (0)2222 9321-1944
presse@alanus.edu

Subscribe to our newsletter!
Receive selected events and news from Alanus University directly in your inbox every month.
→ sign up now