Conversion of Jacoby Studios in Padernborn (DE) receives two awards

The former ‘St. Vincenz hospital’ is situated in the center of Paderborn next to the western tributary of the Pader Springs. The hospital moved out in 2013 and the existing complex has been converted into a new headquarter for a family-run company designed by David Chipperfield Architects Berlin. The complex of monastery and annexes is embedded into a garden designed by Wirtz International.

The garden layout, with a variety of well-defined spaces, enhanced by hard and soft landscaping strengthens the appearance of the historic building and the three new office wings. For example, at the front of the complex where tall oak trees lead visitors to the historic entrance gate and the former 17th-century chapel which opens up to a minimalist internal courtyard with cloister.

The conversion and recovery of this historic complex has been awarded two awards. It is one of three winners of the Respekt und Perspektive, Bauen im Bestand 2020 for refurbishment and redevelopment projects, given by db Deutsche Bauzeitung, and was selected by the German state of Nordrhein-Westfalen to win a Vorbildliche Bauten NRW 2020 award.

The Jacoby studios project is also nominated for the European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture Mies van der Rohe Award, to be chosen in 2021.