Café Leo receives multiple awards

The Café Leo, a timber pavilion at Leopoldplatz in Berlin-Wedding, has been awarded the Nike for social intervention at the BDA Architecture Prize Nike >|< 2025. According to the jury, the light, transparent little building is perceived as bold, open, and inviting in a harsh location. They view it as positive that the small, fragile building is still in excellent condition after three years of use. Generous glazing on all sides prevents dark rear sides from forming.

The project was also awarded the BDA Preis Berlin 2024. The award, presented every three years, recognizes exemplary architectural achievements in the German capital. Café Leo is also on the shortlist for the prestigious DAM Preis 2025 and nominated for the EUmies Awards 2026.

The timber building, designed by sophie & hans in collaboration with the structural engineers of ZRS Ingenieure, was completed in 2023. It has since become an important social gathering spot at Leopoldplatz. The design concept of an open pavilion was realized without diagonal bracing of the walls and with as small a proportion of closed outer wall surfaces as possible.

Foto: Ignacio Bandera