The winners of the 13th Rigips Trophy 2021 I 2023
From bold concepts to the innovative detail – drywall excellence at its finest
For over 25 years, the Rigips Trophy has been Germany's most prestigious drywall competition, showcasing exceptional craftsmanship and the innovative use of modern interior systems. As part of the 13th Rigips Trophy 2021 I 2023, eight winners were selected this year, each demonstrating the strengths of high-quality drywall construction uniquely. The expert jury selected five winners in the Drywall (Gold, Silver and Bronze), Residential Construction and Non-Residential Construction categories. Three companies were also awarded special prizes for unique individual achievements.
You will find brief presentations of all the winning projects below. The three category winners — Drywall, Residential Construction and Non-Residential Construction — will also have the opportunity to present their projects at the Saint-Gobain Gypsum International Trophy. This "World Championship" of drywall construction will take place in Athens at the end of April 2023.
Category Drywall, 1st Place:
Montblanc Haus, Hamburg
Jaeger Ausbau GmbH + Co KG Dortmund, Dortmund
Photo: Roland Halbe Photography
The newly constructed "Montblanc Haus" is located on the Montblanc company grounds in the western part of Hamburg, in the district of Hamburg-Altona. The building houses a museum, a café, a boutique and a modern training area, as well as a reception space for select guests. At its core are the brand experience and Montblanc's company history. The building's design is derived from the company's philosophy and one of its iconic fountain pen designs, with its elegant curved form. The craftsmanship involved in meeting the high architectural demands, including highly complex spatial intersections, free-floating staircases and exceptional surface treatments, was the focus of the drywall work. A notable design feature is the central "Montblanc Haus" — a curved acoustic ceiling with a circular cut-out.
The jury of drywall and architecture experts praised the technically sophisticated interior work of Jaeger Ausbau GmbH + Co. KG in Dortmund, which truly brought the architectural vision to life. The building offers continuously engaging spatial experiences, particularly through its visually striking forms and refined wall and ceiling surfaces. The jury declared that the Montblanc Haus showcases the benefits of modern drywall, particularly in the construction of cultural buildings.
Category Drywall, 2nd Place:
Office Building LUV8, Isernhagen
Germerott Innenausbau GmbH & Co. KG, Gehrden
Photo: Ralf Mohr Photography
The LUV8 is one of Germany's most modern office buildings and is home to the new branch of building automation specialist Loxone. Its partners can explore innovative automation solutions in various training rooms and an exclusive showroom within the building. Spanning 3,600 square metres, the new construction comprises four floors of light-filled office spaces, which can accommodate cell, combination and open-plan room concepts thanks to the central access design. Installing cooling and heating ceilings, numerous curved constructions, high-quality surface finishes and special parts integrated into various ceiling structures presented significant challenges to the drywall experts at Germerott Innenausbau GmbH & Co. KG. True to the building’s dynamic composition, all elements were seamlessly integrated, blending walls and cladding with the ceilings and light coves to create a jointless finish. The building’s name, LUV, meaning 'windward' in maritime language, is reflected in an interior wall inspired by a ship's hull. This "inclined" wall presented one of the biggest challenges and was executed with the utmost precision and craftsmanship.
The expert jury was especially impressed by the transformation of the building’s exterior into its interior design through the use of drywall. They also praised the way the furniture seemed to flow seamlessly into the wall constructions. The implementation of modern heating and cooling ceilings makes LUV8 a highly forward-thinking and energy-efficient building.
Category Drywall, 3rd Place:
Congress Center Messe Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main
Baierl & Demmelhuber Innenausbau GmbH, Töging
Photo: Stefan Durstewitz
Baierl & Demmelhuber were responsible for executing and fully implementing the technical and planning aspects of the architectural design for the revitalisation of the Congress Centre Messe Frankfurt. The new wall design, which spans three floors and connects the entrance hall and presentation areas of the centre, showcases exceptional drywall craftsmanship. Constructed from foldable elements up to 18 metres high, the wall seamlessly unites conference room entrances, open spaces and technical areas with features such as exhaust shafts and smoke curtains. The geometric design of the folded wall, enhanced by embedded LED lights, creates a unique aesthetic while improving acoustic properties. Furthermore, the project's centrepiece focused on achieving perfect finishes, as any imperfections would have been instantly visible under the venue’s lighting conditions.
The jury was immediately impressed by the way the drywall work shaped the spatial experience in the renovated Congress Centre. The sophisticated handling of complex folded elements and flawless surfaces highlight the expertise of Baierl & Demmelhuber Innenausbau GmbH. The enhanced room acoustics and visual upgrade of the large entrance hall complement each other perfectly.
Category Residential Construction:
Senior Living Wildburg, Vallendar
G+K Ausbau und Sanierung GmbH, Neuwied
Photo: Photography Katherina Müller
Wildburg in Vallendar has a long history. Built around 1698, the building has served as a cigar and cigarette factory, a reserve hospital, accommodation for war victims, and a convent and girls' boarding school. Following its recent transformation and extension into a senior living residence, it now offers 61 high-quality apartments. Due to the building’s historical significance and the special requirements for preserving the monument, particularly with regard to fire protection, many custom constructions were necessary, as well as intensive consultations with fire protection experts. Effective soundproofing between units also played a critical role. As no standardised details could be applied due to the alternating features of the historical structure and the new developments, solutions had to be customised for each section. The old roof truss, which was preserved for aesthetic and heritage purposes, was integrated into the ceilings, walls and slopes in a way that ensured fire protection while maintaining design integrity, and was paired with a new roof structure.
In light of demographic shifts in society, the need for innovative concepts in compact, barrier-free senior living accommodation is growing. G+K Ausbau und Sanierung GmbH was selected by the expert jury as the winner in the Residential Construction category for their exemplary integration of historical preservation and new construction. They successfully overcame challenges in fire and soundproofing through numerous unique constructions, which were only possible with modern drywall systems.
Category Non-Residential Construction:
Fraunhofer Institute for Energy Economics and Energy Systems Technology, Kassel
Okel GmbH & Co. KG, Diemelstadt
Photo: Foerderraum, Henry Koch
The new research institute near Kassel's train station has 13,400 square metres of gross floor space for offices, laboratories and technical facilities. This presents a variety of safety, flexibility and adaptability demands in response to future changes. The design concept optimised each section of the building for its specific use, while unifying them under a shared roof structure. A central foyer connects the building’s four floors. Modern drywall systems played a pivotal role in this, encompassing wall constructions that met stringent fire and acoustic requirements, highly durable systems that could withstand specific loads, and walls and ceilings that incorporated design and lighting elements. The standout feature was the 21-metre-tall, six-degree-tilted sound-absorbing wall in the reception hall, which followed the recessed floor levels.
Okel GmbH & Co. KG showcased its expertise through elegant, large-scale projects. The jury recognised the refined design elements, such as the visually striking slanted wall, as well as the innovative solutions that are often hidden in completed projects. Materials and design elements were applied strategically to enhance the building’s overall appearance.
Special Prize for Ceilings:
Multipurpose Hall Heimschule Lender, Sasbach
Günter Nagel Bauleistungsservice GmbH, Teningen
Photo: Roland Halbe Architectural Photography
The newly built multipurpose hall at Heimschule Lender in Sasbach, distinctly positioned at the edge of a meadow, serves as the focal point of school life. The striking roof emphasises the venue’s importance as a hub for performances and sporting events, and the overhang connects the building to its surroundings. Inside, the ceilings feature unique honeycomb-like designs comprising 15 square sections, each measuring 3 x 3 metres. Eight of these sections are irregular pyramids that rise towards recesses housing integrated lighting, and the remaining seven are metal cassette ceilings. An encircling shadow gap gives the cassettes a floating appearance. The design and construction took into account static and aesthetic considerations, ball-throw safety, and extensive integration of installation technology.
According to the Trophy jury, the term "multipurpose hall" itself often highlights the challenges associated with such projects. The differing demands of music performances, speaking events and sports highlight the need for versatile designs. Günter Nagel Bauleistungsservice GmbH earned the Special Prize for Ceilings for the ceiling concept for Sasbach’s multipurpose hall.
Special Prize for Fire Protection:
Türmchen Building, Emden
MW Trockenbau GmbH, Brinkum
Photo: MW Trockenbau
Built in 1911 as the Officers' Casino of the former Karl-von-Müller Barracks, the 'Türmchen Building' underwent a significant transformation after its military use ended in 1997. After two decades of vacancy, it was converted into 45 modern apartments, striking a balance between contemporary comfort and historic preservation requirements. Although the existing performance specifications were adhered to, detailed planning was required on a phase-by-phase basis. Fire protection under heritage restrictions posed major challenges, prompting MW Trockenbau to implement solutions such as Rigips-certified firewalls and custom steel cladding systems. Rigips Habito, a robust drywall board, was extensively used for load-bearing walls and cladding over external walls.
The jury praised MW Trockenbau for their exemplary implementation of fire protection measures in heritage structures, demonstrating how modern drywall techniques can facilitate the repurposing of buildings while meeting safety standards.
Special Prize for Surfaces:
Youth Hostel, Munich
Jaeger Ausbau GmbH + Co KG, Munich
Photo: Mehringer
Drywall with flair — this was one of the first impressions evoked by the newly renovated youth hostel in Munich's city centre. The main façade features a sweeping plasterboard ceiling design that stands out, complemented by organically curved wall cladding spanning two floors that blends seamlessly into the suspended ceiling structures. Numerous plasterboard niches and curves in the ground-floor cabinets further enhance the unique spatial experience. Jaeger Ausbau Munich meticulously planned and executed all surfaces, edges and curves to a perfect Q4 standard, achieving harmony in form and finish.
The Rigips Trophy jury recognised the exceptional quality of the three-dimensional ceiling and wall structures. Jaeger Ausbau employees won the newly introduced Special Prize for Surfaces thanks to their impressive craftsmanship.
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Recognised as a system provider of high-quality drywall solutions by construction professionals, RIGIPS offers a wide range of gypsum and speciality boards, Rigidur gypsum fibreboards, profiles and accessories, as well as high-performance joint fillers and compounds. The tested solutions prove their worth in interior and exterior drywall constructions. Particularly, the system offerings for weather-protected façade constructions make RIGIPS the ideal partner for timber frame construction. With its continually expanding range of healthy-living products and highly effective fire and soundproofing systems, the manufacturer stands for maximum safety and comfort. The comprehensive product and system portfolio is complemented by a wide range of services and personalised expert advice, providing valuable support in the planning and execution of even the most demanding construction projects. At the same time, RIGIPS is committed to environmental responsibility, focusing on sustainable climate protection and the conservation of natural resources. For instance, gypsum board recycling options increasingly close material cycles, while product packaging made from recycled materials reduces the need for primary raw materials. RIGIPS has repeatedly been recognised as a "Brand of the Century" and is one of the most significant brands for modern drywall solutions in the German market. The company is part of the international Saint-Gobain Group.
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