Henrik Mattes, a graduate of the Master's degree course in Historical Building Research, was honoured with the Braumandl Prize of 10,000 euros for his outstanding Master's thesis ‘St. Jakob in Regensburg - Towers and eastern end of the building’. In his thesis, Henrik Mattes dedicated himself to documenting and analysing the architectural history of the eastern towers and the three apses of the Schottenkirche St. Jakob in Regensburg. He focussed on one of the most important Romanesque sacred buildings in southern Germany, which, despite numerous studies, has not yet undergone any comprehensive architectural research. Among other things, Henrik Mattes focussed on traces of stonework and traces of fire, which enabled him to identify a clear construction gap between the medieval core and the significant changes of the 19th century on the north tower, for example. Through the interplay of academic expertise and practical building knowledge, Henrik Mattes was ultimately able to present a complex genesis of the building section. With the help of this methodology, he could now research the entire building of St Jakob's in a doctoral thesis and thus present an architectural history and building research study of a very important church building in Regensburg.
Henrik Mattes' academic excellence, personal commitment and career make him a worthy recipient of the Foundation's award. He began his professional career by training as a stonemason and specialised in the restoration of historic buildings, including through a trip around the world with work stays in various countries. From 2019, Henrik Mattes completed a Bachelor's degree in ‘Architectural Heritage’ at the RheinMain University of Applied Sciences in Wiesbaden, before starting a Master's degree in Historical Building Research at the OTH Regensburg in 2021. His master's thesis is the logical continuation of this extraordinary and practical CV.
The Brigitta and Oskar Braumandl Foundation was set up to continue and share the life's work of Mr and Mrs Braumandl. They would like to use their wealth, which they have acquired through hard work, ambition and willpower, to support talented young people who embody similar values but do not have the necessary financial means. The focus is on promoting youth welfare and vocational training in Regensburg, in particular by awarding prizes to outstanding students. In 2023, students whose exceptional achievements were nominated by professors at the University of Regensburg and OTH Regensburg were honoured for the first time. The awards recognise students who stand out due to their exceptional achievements, diligence and personal commitment.
