Building cost matters are among the elementary requirements of architecture. A reliable calculation is in the essential interest of the client. Depending on the construction task, cost awareness can involve varying considerations: narrowly calculated leeway in financing requires low-budget solutions to be able to realize projects in the first place. However, planning that focusses not just on the initial investment but also incorporates usage costs in the balance from the beginning and takes a long-term view of building measures is more economical in the long term.KostenBewusstBauen provides ideas for new builds, conversions, and renovations based on fourteen exemplary solutions for indoor, outdoor, and urban spaces that received an award in relation to the architecture prize “Award for Exemplary Buildings in the State of Hessen 2017”. Thematic essays are dedicated to aspects of cost-effectiveness and provide an introduction to the increasingly significant topic of sufficiency.