German Design Award: Award for architectural draft of the Migration Museum in Cologne
13 November 2025
- German Design Award for the draft by ATELIER BRÜCKNER
- Decisive factors for the jury: ‘consistent integration of sustainable materials’ and ‘respectful treatment of the existing structure’
Cologne, 13.11.2025 – Even years before its opening, the Museum Selma is already making a name for itself. The architectural design for the migration museum was honoured with the German Design Award 2026.
In March 2025, following a Europe-wide tender process, DOMiD awarded the contract for general planning to the architecture and exhibition design firm ATELIER BRÜCKNER from Stuttgart. DOMiD's museum construction project manager, Yordanos Asghedom, congratulates the planners: ‘The award underscores the excellent cooperation with ATELIER BRÜCKNER. The design makes only careful use of the existing structure, allowing the industrial character of our hall to shine through. The modular wooden fixtures create a sustainable cultural building that emphasises the special responsibility we have as a museum for future generations.’
Michel Casertano, project manager at ATELIER BRÜCKNER: ‘We are delighted that our design has received this award. Equally important to us in this project is the scenographic implementation of the content in the former factory hall, where many migrants worked: at the Museum Selma, migration history can be experienced as an integral part of German history.’
In the architecture category (‘Excellent Architecture’), the design for the museum under construction (‘Conceptual Architecture’) impressed the jury. In their statement, they emphasised its sustainability: ‘The consistent integration of sustainable materials and the respectful treatment of the existing building characterise Museum Selma in an impressive way. Modular wooden fixtures based on cradle-to-cradle principles create flexible spaces that visibly preserve industrial heritage and promote social diversity. Particularly noteworthy is the authentic connection between architecture, history and participation, which sets a powerful standard for excellent conceptual architecture.’
The German Design Award has been presented by the German Design Council since 2012 as an international award for outstanding design with impact. The award ceremony will take place on 6 February 2026.
