It is rare for competition entries to be concerned with building costs, long-term economic perspectives, or energy efficiency. But these were the exact specifications in the competition for ideas, Planning the Future—Climate-conscious Building and Living Within Existing Structures. In eight locations in Germany, young architectural offices developed concepts for various aging structures and building ensembles, ranging from a country estate in Brandenburg to a big housing settlement in Bremerhaven. This publication offers a guideline for architects, private building clients, and municipalities now asking themselves fundamental questions: How can we plan in a more sustainable way? And how can we use our existing resources more intelligently?