Winner of the 2026 Saxon State Prize for Rural Construction

Professors Ansgar and Benedikt Schulz were awarded the 2026 Saxon State Prize for Rural Construction for the Perlmutter Adorf/Vogtland Experience Museum, which they designed and built.

“The Perlmutter interactive museum in Adorf/Vogtland, which opened in 2025, is a major catalyst for the town and the region—a source of pride and a visible symbol of successful structural change,” according to the statement by the jury of the 2026 Saxon State Prize for Rural Construction.

With its unique focus on river pearl mussels, pearl fishing, and mother-of-pearl goods, the interactive museum has a profile that is one of a kind worldwide and, as a flagship project, provides important impetus for the development of Adorf and the region. Particular emphasis is placed on the fascinating insights into the history of the river pearl mussel, pearl fishing, and the production of mother-of-pearl goods, as well as the successful integration of historic existing buildings with the striking new structure, which has created a vibrant museum complex.

The Saxon State Prize for Rural Architecture honors projects that make a sustainable contribution to building culture and the development of rural areas through high architectural quality and creative solutions.

Further information:
Saxon State Prize for Rural Architecture 2026
Mother-of-Pearl Museum Receives Architecture Award (MDR Sachsenspiegel, June 26, 2026)