An expert panel of international judges evaluated all submissions on five main criteria: design, technology, originality, presentation and writing. The selected winners represent a wide range of countries worldwide including Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, Turkey, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States. I think in today’s world, there should be an increased focus on repurposing existing buildings and I hope this award will increase awareness of the practice.” It’s about how we want to live and how we can utilise the architecture that already surrounds us. “It means a lot to me to show that interior design is much more than most people realise. “It is a great honour to win the Richard Diehl Award with my thesis project, especially because I never expected this success,” said Wanitzek. “Her concept of multi-layered use picks up on current trends in the construction industry including sustainability and efficiency strategy, utilising historical buildings, revitalising small-town structures, new forms of working environments and providing communication structures to strengthen social cohesion.” “With a progressive idea of what monument protection means, Michelle designed an infrastructure in the middle of Wismar’s Old Town, which is suitable to revitalise the city and capable of giving the monument a contemporary purpose,” said the University of Wismar Dean of the Faculty of Design Prof.

“Courageous, creative and consistent! Michelle Wanitzek’s project, ‘Nomad Coworking,’ is a prime example of holistic interior design for existing historic buildings,” said Birgit Von Moltke of von Moltke InnenArchitekten, a member of this year’s judging panel. The design tackled a challenging task - working with a historical monument’s intricacies and structural limits while simultaneously preserving the protected façade and showcasing the transformation for experiential value. This year’s winning project, “Nomad Coworking,” submitted by Wanitzek for her master’s thesis at the University of Wismar, features a coworking space and coffeeshop in a listed monument - a site identified for its architectural or historical significance - and focuses on the increasing importance of alternative and flexible workspaces. With over 1,000 submissions, scholarships were awarded to 30 students for 22 projects in the architecture, interior design, landscape and entertainment industries. Vectorworks has crowned this year’s Vectorworks Design Scholarship winners, with Michelle Wanitzek taking home the coveted Richard Diehl Award. Sixth Vectorworks Design Scholarship celebrates 30 students with awards with Michelle Wanitzek scooping the Richard Diehl Award.

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