På 29 June 2026, in the framework of the UIA World Congress of Architects in Barcelona, the Architects’ Council of Europe (ACE) organised the policy seminar “Form Follows Transformation: Moments that Redefine Europe’s Existing Buildings.”
Bringing together around 200 participants, the event convened architects, policymakers, city representatives, and experts from across Europe to discuss how the transformation, renovation, and adaptive reuse of existing buildings can help achieve Europe’s climate ambitions while strengthening social cohesion and preserving cultural heritage.
Hosted at the Disseny Hub Barcelona (DHUB), the seminar showcased inspiring architectural projects alongside policy discussions, demonstrating how architects are leading the transition towards a more resilient, sustainable, and inclusive built environment. Opening the seminar, ACE President Daniel Fügenschuh underlined the importance of architectural quality and innovation in responding to today’s urban challenges: “We are pushing for a strict ‘renovation first’ principle. Demolition must become the absolute exception—a final, last resort when all other creative options have been exhausted.”
The first session featured presentations by Laurens Bekemans (BC Architects & Studies), Jakob Rabe Petersen (Pihlmann Architects), and Josep Ricart (H Arquitectes), who introduced selected projects from ACE’s “Form Follows Transformation” exhibition. Their work illustrated how circular design strategies, careful interventions, and creative architectural solutions can unlock the potential of existing buildings while preserving their identity and responding to contemporary needs. The presentations are available online via this link.
Reflecting on the broader role of architecture, Laurens Bekemans observed:
“By considering the systems in which they are embedded, buildings are understood not as isolated objects. They are outcomes of complex entanglements shaped by climate, territory, politics, time, and culture—implying a practice that engages with multiple layers and temporalities and shifts the role of the architect towards a more reflective and situated position grounded in stewardship, care, and a renewed connection to place.”
Presenting the Thoravej 29 project, Jakob Rabe Petersen highlighted the value of working with what already exists:
“Transformation begins by recognising the existing as a source of potential rather than limitation: an archive of resources, traces and decisions already made. In the case of Thoravej 29, this meant developing the conditions for the building to reuse itself, keeping 95% of its material mass in circulation on site, while uncertainty, constraints and curiosity shaped the process.”
The seminar concluded with a high-level policy debate moderated by ACE Vice-President Elizabeth Gossart og Andro Mänd, City Architect of Tallinn and member of the ACE Executive Board. The discussion brought together representatives from European institutions, public authorities, and the architectural profession, including Oliver Martin (Swiss Federal Office for Culture), Maria Buhigas (Chief City Architect of Barcelona), Marcos Ros Sempere (Member of the European Parliament), and Sandra Bestraten (Dean of the Architects’ Association of Catalonia).
Oliver Martin emphasised the need to reposition transformation as the norm rather than the exception: “The transformation and continued use of existing buildings, their repair, and the reuse of materials are not innovations; they are historical practices that have shaped architecture for centuries. Over the last hundred years, these principles have been overshadowed by a paradigm of demolition and replacement. The challenge today is to rediscover and expand them—not as exceptional cases, but at scale.”
The panel explored the policy frameworks and collaborative approaches needed to accelerate the transformation of Europe’s building stock, highlighting the contribution of initiatives such as the Nyt europæisk Bauhaus, den Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), og Davos Baukultur principles in promoting high-quality, sustainable, and people-centred renovation.
“Form Follows Transformation” Exhibition
Running alongside the seminar, ACE’s “Form Follows Transformation” exhibition offered visitors an opportunity to discover innovative architectural projects demonstrating how the adaptive reuse of existing buildings can reduce environmental impact while strengthening communities and safeguarding cultural heritage.
The exhibition illustrated that transformation is not only a climate strategy but also a design approach capable of creating new social, cultural, and economic value from the existing built environment. Visitors could also explore the accompanying “Form Follows Transformation” booklet, which presents the featured projects and provides deeper insight into the design processes, challenges, and architectural thinking behind each intervention. Together, the exhibition and publication offer a lasting resource showcasing the essential role of architects in shaping the sustainable transformation of Europe’s existing buildings while respecting their history, context, and future potential.
