Time to act: For high-quality architecture and living environment for all
The European Union is developing an integrated and people-centred approach to a sustainable built environment, where architecture has a major role to play to design buildings, public space and urban landscapes that contribute to citizens’ quality of life. It does this through many EU policies and funding programmes such as the cultural policy and the initiatives of the Creative Europe programme. The current EU Work Plan for Culture 2023-2026, includes quality built environment in the actions for EU cooperation on culture.
The Architects’ Council of Europe develops policy positions to contribute to the EU decision-making process and liaises with the European institutions to advocate on behalf of the architectural sector.
ACE Thematic areas & work groups
In pursuit of its overarching mission, ACE prioritises 4 key thematic areas that hold particular significance for the architectural profession across Europe: Access to the profession, Practice of the Profession, Achieving quality in Architecture / Baukultur, Research & Development.
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Dostop do poklica
A major policy objective is to simplify and boost the cross-border mobility of the architectural profession by facilitating the establishment and service provision of Architects across Europe.
Learn more about the scope of work and activities of our Work Groups:
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Practice to the Profession
In this area of focus, the ACE addresses key issues impacting registered European architects, including public procurement, insurance requirements for cross-border practices, and digitalisation.
Learn more about the scope of work and activities of our Work Groups:
- Delovna skupina za inovacije v arhitekturi (delovna skupina IA)
- Projektna skupina za ženske v arhitekturi (WIA TF)
- Delovna skupina praktičnega odbora
- Internacionalizacija in amp; projektna skupina za nove poslovne modele (IBM TF)
- Public Procurement & Architectural Design Contests (PP & ADC)
- Building Information Modelling Work Group (BIM WG)
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High-quality architecture & built environment/ Baukultur
In the context of global warming, where building energy consumption accounts for 40% of Europe’s total energy needs, ACE emphasises the importance of exploring new legislative, political, and financial mechanisms at both EU and national levels to foster a more sustainable built environment. Through this thematic Area 3, the Architects’ Council of Europe seeks to promote the role of architects in achieving architectural quality and responsible design.
Learn more about the scope of work and activities of our Work Groups:
- Projektna skupina za naravne nesreče in nesreče, ki jih povzroči človek (projektna skupina za nesreče)
- Delovna skupina za preoblikovanje mest in stanovanj (UHT WG)
- Delovna skupina za dediščino (delovna skupina za dediščino)
- Peer-Learning Group on Architectural Awards (PLG AA)
- Delovna skupina za okolje in trajnostno arhitekturo (delovna skupina ESA)
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Research & Development
This fourth pillar is designed as a platform and method to engage, coordinate, and monitor synergies among all participants in ACE’s thematic areas, facilitating the execution of specific tasks assigned to the three working groups: EU-funded Projects, New European Bauhaus Activities, and Relations with Other Countries.
Learn more about the scope of work and activities of our Work Groups:
V središču pozornosti
Manifesto
Čas za ukrepanje: za visokokakovostno arhitekturo in bivalno okolje za vse
In the framework of the 2024 European Elections, the Architects’ Council of Europe launched its Manifesto calling on MEPs to act for high-quality architecture and living environment for all.
17 oktobra, 2024
ACE Key policy positions for the EU Institutions (2025)


- Obravnavanje vpliva grajenega okolja na celotno življenjsko dobo in uporaba načel krožnega gospodarstva v gradbenem sektorju
- Promoting renovation, transformation and re-use of existing buildings over demolition and new builds
- Adapting living spaces to the effect of climate change through architectural and planning solutions
ACE Policy Positions (all)
- Kategorija
- Adaptive reuse
- ADC- Architecture Design Competition
- Architecture prizes
- Circular economy
- Climate change
- CPD- Continuing Professional Development
- Culture
- Education Skills
- Energy Building Performance
- EPBD
- Izvoz
- Gender Equality
- Housing
- Raven(-i)
- Mešane kvalifikacije
- NEBC
- Planning Services Directive
- Professional Indemnity Insurance (PII)
- Public Procurement
- Quality Architecture
- Quality principles
- Regulation
- Renovation
- Research & Innovation
- Strategija enotnega trga
- SME regulatory framework
- Sustainability
- Trajnostna arhitektura
- Vrednost
- Young architects
- Tema
- ACE Manifesto for the EU Institutions
- Arhitekturni natečaj
- EDI – Equity,diversity and inclusion
- EU regulatory framework
- Heritage
- Housing
- Zavarovanje
- Mobility
- NEB- New European Bauhaus
- Public procurement
- Quality
- Skills
- Sustainability
- Tematsko področje uporabe
- Dostop do poklica
- Doseganje kakovosti v arhitekturi / Baukultur
- Praksa v poklicu
- Raziskave in amp; razvoj
- Datum
- 2025
- 2024
- 2023
- 2022
- 2021
- 2019
- 2018
- 2017
- 2016
- 2015
- 2014
- 2011
- 2009
Housing
Prague Declaration
Joint Statement: Calling for the withdrawal of the proposed “Lex Specialis” Law related to the Generalštab Modernist Complex in Belgrade, Serbia
Housing
ACE general approach to the housing crisis in the EU
Architects’ contribution to affordable and quality housing
Climate change, Energy Building Performance, EPBD, Sustainability, Sustainable architecture
Guidelines of the Architects’ Council of Europe for the transposition of the recast EPBD (Directive 2024/1275) by Member States
ACE EU-funded projects
In addition to the Creative Europe program, the Architects’ Council of Europe actively participates in various other EU-funded projects. Typically, ACE’s role involves providing expertise to project partners and disseminating the outcomes through its extensive network of members and international connections.
Explore the current projects
- Status
- Ongoing Projects
- Past Projects
- Tema
- Adaptive architecture
- Arhitekturni natečaj
- Circularity
- Stalni strokovni razvoj
- Digitalizacija
- Dobre prakse
- heritage
- Visokokakovostna arhitektura
- Innovation
- Novi evropski Bauhaus
- trajnost
- Tematsko področje uporabe
- Doseganje kakovosti v arhitekturi / Baukultur
- Praksa v poklicu
- Raziskave in amp; razvoj
- Datum
- 2025
- 2024
HeriTACE
HeriTACE will deliver holistic solutions for authorities and architects to envision and govern a sustainable energy future for heritage townhouses in historical neighbourhoods.
SONATA
SONATA aims to develop architectural ‘adaptive’ technologies in workplaces to improve the mental health, well-being, productivity and social relationships of the employees.
CiD – Innovation Alliance Circular Design
CiD develops innovation in Circular Design education by fostering entrepreneurship in academia, with an accelerator programme for students’ start-ups and continuing education courses to upskill in emerging labour market.

