{"id":2791,"date":"2025-09-23T09:33:48","date_gmt":"2025-09-23T07:33:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ace-cae.eu\/?post_type=ace-publication&p=2791"},"modified":"2025-12-17T14:56:49","modified_gmt":"2025-12-17T13:56:49","slug":"2791","status":"publish","type":"ace-publication","link":"https:\/\/ace-cae.eu\/pt\/publication\/2791\/","title":{"rendered":"Architecture Awards as Instruments of Systemic Change"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Across Europe, architectural awards showcase excellence in design\u2014but the definition of \u201cexcellence\u201d often differs greatly. Faced with today\u2019s urgent challenges, award systems remain fragmented in their criteria. Yet, they carry significant potential to influence how architecture responds to climate, social, and cultural issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2022, the Architects\u2019 Council of Europe (ACE) launched a Peer Learning Group<\/strong> to examine how national awards incorporate frameworks such as Level(s), the New European Bauhaus (NEB), and Baukultur<\/em>. The group explored how these tools can help identify, celebrate, and replicate exemplary practices. Through dialogue with EU institutions, award organisers, and practitioners, the group investigated how \u201cexcellence\u201d is defined, evaluated, and translated into transformative architectural practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the support of Creative Europe, ACE is proud to release today the Peer Learning Group Report on Architecture Awards as Instruments of Systemic Change<\/em>.<\/a> Produced by ACE\u2019s Awards Peer Learning Group, the report demonstrates how architectural awards can serve as catalysts for scaling up excellence\u2014while addressing Europe\u2019s most pressing challenges.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The report features 14 case studies from six European countries (Germany, Finland, Ireland, Bulgaria, Lithuania, and Spain). While these examples demonstrate remarkable creativity and ambition, they also highlight persistent gaps in verification, feedback, and scalability. To address these challenges, the report offers recommendations and opportunities for strengthening the role of architectural awards in advancing climate performance, user wellbeing, and social value – ultimately improving the quality of life across Europe<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cBy setting benchmarks for quality, sustainability, inclusiveness, and cultural value, awards not only recognise excellence but also inspire innovation at a time when our profession faces urgent challenges \u2014 from the climate emergency to the housing crisis and growing social inequalities. This report shows how awards can serve as powerful instruments to help meet these challenges.<\/em>\u201d – Carl B\u00e4ckstrand<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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READ THE REPORT ON ISSUU<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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