The award
A jury consisting of government representatives, architects and politicians will judge 33 entries for the Berliner Promenade competition. Later, once it becomes clear that the plan will actually be implemented, there will be a design competition.

The prizes were awarded for the ideas competition on 23 February 2005. Dieter Ehrmanntraut, the head of the Building and Traffic Department, praised the quality of the entries. Because the assignment was quite open and, at the same time, rather complex, the challenge was a tough one for both the competitors and the jury.
The entries were very varied. In the end, three award categories were established, with two plans in each. The winners were:

First prize
Professor Heiko Lukas, Saarbrücken
Krüger + Krüger Architekten, Saarbrücken in collaboration with Bierbaum Aichele landscape architects, Mainz

The first prize went to a plan that visualises the Saar River as a ‘Saarbecken’ (a basin) with a cove in the Berliner Promenade. The river therefore becomes part of the pedestrian mall with terraces where people could take leisurely stolls. The total effect has a Parisian atmosphere

 
Second prize
Wandel Hoefer Lorch Architekten, Saarbrücken
ARGE, Professor Focht + Partner, Manfred Schaus Architekt and Hepp + Zenner Architekten Stadsplaner
The second prize was awarded to a plan envisioning the built-up area around the Berliner Promenade as transparent as possible. Included in the plan is also an island in the river and a water stage ('Wasserbühne').

Third prize
OFFICE 03 Architecten, Rotterdam
Professor Dietrich Oertel Architekten und Stadt Planer, Karlsruhe