The fourth edition of the conference, organised by the College of Architects of Catalonia (COAC) , the Higher Council of Architects of Spain (CSCAE) and the Architects’ Council of Europe (ACE), brought together more than 400 professionals to discuss the decarbonisation of the architecture sector, access to housing, the climate emergency and the transformation of architecture that these challenges entail.

Leading experts, such as Alexander Franz (Herzog & de Meuron, 2001 Pritzker Prize winner), shared examples of good local, national and European practices in both renovation and new construction.

Coinciding with World Energy Saving Day, COAC, CSCAE and ACE held the 4th edition of the conference ‘Decarbonising Architecture’, an event that has established itself as a European benchmark for sustainability, innovation and ecological transition in the field of building.

The conference brought together more than 400 professionals from the sector, focusing the debate on the challenges and opportunities posed by the decarbonisation of architecture in the current context, marked by the new European Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), the climate emergency and the need to guarantee universal access to decent, healthy and sustainable housing.

The institutional opening of the conference was led by COAC Dean, Guillem Costa Calsamiglia,CSCAE President, Marta Vall-llossera, ACE President, Carl Bäckstrand, Urban Agenda, Housing and Architecture of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Agenda (MIVAU), Iñaqui Carnicero, the Secretary General of Urban Agenda, Housing and Architecture of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Agenda (MIVAU), and Greta Tresserra, the President of the Architecture and Sustainability Group of the COAC, Greta Tresserra.

“Decarbonisation is not optional; it’s urgent. Architects, urban planners, and policymakers must collaborate across borders, share best practices, and embrace a holistic vision to create resilient, climate-proof, zero-emission buildings and cities,” stated ACE President Carl Bäckstrand today at the Decarbonizing Architecture Conference 2025 in Barcelona. He emphasised that the New European Bauhaus reminds us that sustainability is not just technical—it’s cultural, social, and depends on creative solutions. By learning from each other and working together, we can make the ecological transition a collective project.

Throughout the day, key issues were addressed, such as new professional profiles, tools for transforming the sector, industrialisation, circularity, health in the built environment and architectural quality. Pioneering European projects that are redefining the way we design, build and live were also presented.

A dialogue between politics, technology and innovation

The opening conference was given by Mar Santamaría, co-founder of 300,000 km/s and winner of the CSCAE Spanish Urban Planning Award in 2019, and Albert Soret, director of the Earth System Services Group at the Barcelona Supercomputing Centre, who linked science with architecture and presented climate scenarios until the end of the century.

The day’s programme included four main sessions:

• Agendas for change, which featured a debate on how to move towards decarbonisation in the construction sector, implementing the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) and guaranteeing the right to access housing. To this end, technical and political perspectives were combined.

• Renovation, improving our lives, homes and cities, with renovation projects that demonstrate that it is possible to improve the quality of existing buildings, ensuring healthier spaces.

• The “new” new build, with highly innovative projects that incorporate decarbonisation strategies from the design stage, such as bioclimatic solutions and low-carbon materials.

• A vision for the future, where the need to establish a shared vision for the future of the sector was discussed, one that would realise and guarantee its climate neutrality while preserving architectural quality.

More information here: https://www.arquitectes.cat/es/descarbonizando-arquitectura/

Pics: COAC