Making Architecture Works for a Just Transition

With the New European Bauhaus (NEB), the European Union complements the economic, social and environmental measures of the Renovation Wave strategy with an essential cultural dimension. By making the Renovation Wave a cultural project, and by including architectural quality as a key principle to steer it, the Commission has initiated a fundamental shift, which can be a game-changer in the transition to a more sustainable economy and society.

The NEB opens the door to a more comprehensive approach to our built environment, seeking to enhance, at the same time, economic, social, environmental and cultural values. The holistic thinking and cultural approach that underpin the NEB must lie at the heart of the Green Deal strategy and inspire all its measures to achieve a ‘quality renovation wave’ and Europe’s climate neutrality objective. 

As part of the 2023 EU Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW), the Architects’ Council of Europe (ACE) is organising on 22 June (14.00 to 15.30 CET) a Policy Debate, which will bring together architects and other stakeholders of the construction and buildings sector, for a conversation on the legislative and policy levers for greater quality in the built environment.

Through the presentation of case studies of buildings that are at the same time energy-efficient, environmentally-friendly and architecturally remarkable, the workshop will be an opportunity to discuss: 

• the crucial contribution of architecture to scale up the Renovation Wave and achieve quality in the built environment,
• the necessary changes to the EU regulatory framework to support the architectural approach, quality and the achievement of the NEB ambitions.