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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Tillgång till yrket
Supporting architects throughout their careers by promoting high-quality education, recognition of qualifications, continuing professional development, and the mobility of professionals across Europe.
Learn more about the scope of work and activities of our Work Groups:
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Practice to the Profession
Strengthening the conditions for architectural practice by addressing professional regulation, procurement, digitalisation, business models, and the evolving role of architects in Europe.
Learn more about the scope of work and activities of our Work Groups:
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High-Quality Architecture & Built Environment (Baukultur)
Promoting high-quality architecture, sustainable development, cultural heritage, climate resilience, and Baukultur to improve Europe’s built environment and quality of life.
Learn more about the scope of work and activities of our Work Groups:
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Research & Innovation
Fostering research, innovation, knowledge exchange, and European collaboration to help architects respond to emerging challenges and shape the future of the profession.
Learn more about the scope of work and activities of our Work Groups:
I rampljuset
Manifesto
Dags att agera: för arkitektur och livsmiljö av hög kvalitet för alla
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.
oktober 17, 2024
ACE Key policy positions for the EU Institutions (2025)
- Tackling whole-life impact of the built environment and apply circular economy principles in the construction sector
- 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)
- Kategori
- Adaptive reuse
- ADC- Architecture Design Competition
- Architecture prizes
- Circular economy
- Climate change
- CPD- Continuing Professional Development
- Culture
- Education Skills
- Energy Building Performance
- EPBD
- Export
- Gender Equality
- Housing
- Level(s)
- Mixed qualifications
- NEBC
- Planning Services Directive
- Professional Indemnity Insurance (PII)
- Public Procurement
- Quality Architecture
- Quality principles
- Regulation
- Renovation
- Research & Innovation
- Single Market strategy
- SME regulatory framework
- Sustainability
- Hållbar arkitektur
- Värde
- Young architects
- Ämne
- ACE Manifesto for the EU Institutions
- Arkitekturdesigntävling
- EDI – Equity,diversity and inclusion
- EU regulatory framework
- Heritage
- Housing
- Insurance
- Mobility
- NEB- New European Bauhaus
- Offentlig upphandling
- Quality
- Skills
- Sustainability
- Tematiskt tillämpningsområde
- Tillgång till yrket
- Uppnå kvalitet i arkitektur / Baukultur
- Praktik inom yrket
- Forskning & Utveckling
- Datum
- 2026
- 2025
- 2024
- 2023
- 2022
- 2021
- 2019
- 2018
- 2017
- 2016
- 2015
- 2014
- 2011
- 2009
Housing, Renovation, Sustainability, Sustainable architecture
Delivering Affordable and Climate-Resilient Housing for All
On 11 June 2026, the Architects’ Council of Europe joined Housing Europe, EUROCITIES, UN-Habitat and…
ACE–UIA Joint Statement on Architectural Design Competitions : A Key Policy Tool Combining Qualitative and Economic Advantages
A joint statement reaffirming the critical role of architectural design competitions in shaping a high-quality…
Housing
Prague Declaration
Joint Statement: Calling for the withdrawal of the proposed “Lex Specialis” Law related to the Generalštab Modernist Complex in Belgrade, Serbia
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
- Ämne
- Adaptive architecture
- Arkitekturdesigntävling
- Circularity
- Kontinuerlig professionell utveckling
- Digitalisering
- God praxis
- heritage
- Arkitektur av hög kvalitet
- Innovation
- Ett nytt europeiskt Bauhaus
- hållbarhet
- Tematiskt tillämpningsområde
- Uppnå kvalitet i arkitektur / Baukultur
- Praktik inom yrket
- Forskning & Utveckling
- Datum
- 2025
- 2024
START: September 1, 2025 – END: August 31, 2028
BUSUnited
The project plans to initiate, grow and sustain a dynamic network of ten Communities of Practice (CoPs) focused on critical areas such as sectoral skills needs, innovative training methods, skills recognition, demand-side mechanisms, national skills roll-out, funding sources and EU synergies.
START: September 1, 2017 – END: August 31, 2020
BIMPLEMENT
The BIMplement project aimed to enhance the quality of nearly Zero Energy Building (nZEB) construction and renovation by establishing large-scale Continuous Professional Development (CPD) and Building Information Modelling (BIM)-enhanced qualification schemes.
START: December 15, 2018 – END: March 14, 2021
ICARO
ICARO delivered a new European qualification profile for Construction Site Technicians, along with updated curricula and training guidelines based on work-based learning (WBL) methods and mobility experiences.
START: September 1, 2019 – END: May 31, 2021
