At our annual Christmas party, things quickly became structural and delicious. What started in theory as an identical task for everyone (the same IKEA gingerbread house kit) evolved into a full-blown design and engineering competition.

The gingerbread houses were evaluated according to three criteria:

  • Aesthetics – creativity, detail, and overall appearance
  • Structural integrity – stability and load-bearing capacity

  • Resource efficiency – smart and efficient use of (sweet) materials

    The jury consisted of
    Benjamin Kromoser,
    Mathias Hammerl, and
    Johannes Belz.

    Overall winner: Maximilian Klammer, who impressed the jury with his own interpretation of a shell structure; elegant, resource-efficient, and remarkably stable, even in gingerbread form.

    Beyond the competition itself, the event sparked lively discussions about load paths, structural behaviour, and icing as mortar, all embedded in a festive and relaxed atmosphere.

    One thing is certain: we are already collecting ideas for next year’s building challenge.