Facing escalating environmental challenges and a pressing need for people-based urban development, the New European Bauhaus has emerged as a beacon of hope and innovation. Rooted in the spirit of collaboration, creativity, and sustainability, this initiative seeks to redefine the way we conceive and design our living spaces.
At only its second edition, the New European Bauhaus Festival, has become a coveted appointment in its own right, even in the event-rich Brussels spring. Held from 10 to 13 April 2024, the festival served as a catalyst for people working towards a more sustainable, inclusive, and beautiful future for Europe and beyond. Animated by interactive sessions, workshops, demonstrations, and artistic performances, the event confirmed yet again the far-reaching appeal of the New European Bauhaus movement.
At the heart of the festival stood the prestigious New European Bauhaus Prizes 2024 awards ceremony, taking place on 12 April. Marking the fourth edition of the competition, it rewarded exemplary projects, embodying the NEB principles Among 49 finalists, 20 outstanding innovative initiatives received acknowledgment for their positive impact on their communities across Europe.
The Prizes 2024 were awarded in four categories and two strands: one for established projects (the “New European Bauhaus Champions”) and one for promising initiatives from younger applicants (the “New European Bauhaus Rising Stars”). Winners were announced during the ceremony by Elisa Ferreira, Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, and Iliana Ivanova, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, in the presence of Vsevolod Chentsov, Ambassador of Ukraine to the European Union.
For the first time in the competition, the Prizes 2024 welcomed applications from Ukraine alongside the Western Balkans and EU Member States. Among the finalists, four initiatives were from Ukraine, with two projects receiving a 'Special Recognition to Ukraine’s Reconstruction and Recovery Effort'. This acknowledgment not only pays tribute to the resilience of the Ukrainian people but also signifies a step towards enhanced collaboration and engagement between Ukrainian partners and the NEB community. The winning project under this special award was Nad Dzherelom from Lviv City Council, celebrated for its restoration of an abandoned natural area for social integration while preserving biodiversity. Additionally, the runner-up project, Leo States, provided temporary accommodation for internally displaced people, earning commendation for its impactful contribution.
This year’s edition also focussed on EU regions experiencing more intensively socio-economic constraints, or particularly challenged by the transformation of our economy towards carbon neutrality. Among the 20 awarded initiatives, three projects and ideas are in less developed regions across the EU, and two awarded projects are in Just Transition areas. These initiatives aim to enrich and create positive impact in their communities by managing recreation and conservation of green areas, empowering communities through space activation, renovating buildings using circular economy principles, promoting affordable housing and inclusivity to vulnerable groups, and reshaping rural narratives through art and community collaboration.
Looking back at their evolution, the New European Bauhaus Prizes attracted more than 5000 applications over four years and awarded over EUR 1.5 million to 72 initiatives Such sustained enthusiasm goes to show the commitment of the New European Bauhaus community which includes individuals, local authorities, and partners on the ground as diverse as Europe itself.
Moreover, the Prizes represent serve as inspiration to authorities and stakeholders to mainstream the New European Bauhaus principles in EU’s cohesion policy, aligning its place-based approach and its focus on fostering growth and the communities’ quality of life. Cohesion policy, with its far-reaching presence across European regions is the ideal vector to deliver the principles of New European Bauhaus at scale. While cohesion policy supports making European regions greener, smarter, more competitive, and more resilient, the NEB provides a new drive to regions, cities, and towns to involve their communities in designing the future.
Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen echoed this sentiment at the Festival opening speech when she said “Speaking of the future, now that our initiative is mature, we need to amplify our efforts. It is time to scale up.” From the side of the Directorate General for Regional and Urban policy, future looks bright as the negotiation of the 2021-2027 programming period shows the Member states’ endorsement of the principles of the New European Bauhaus in their Partnership Agreements or specific programs. Currently, around EUR 200 million are earmarked for NEB-related projects, marking just the beginning of a significant investment under cohesion policy.
Across regions, cities, and towns, concrete NEB projects, funded by cohesion policy, make tangible the initiative’s impact.
Among several panels convened at the festival the one entitled ‘Changes on the ground: success stories of the NEB’ emphasised how the New European Bauhaus can provide a common narrative to guide the repurposing of empty buildings on brownfield sites for cultural and community use, pointing at the example of the revitalization of the TUP factory in Dubrovnik (Croatia). This project, was among 20 others, receiving expert technical support to advance NEB local initiatives. This was but one of the many actions put in place at DG Regio to ensure that NEB values are mainstreamed across European regions.
As the New European Bauhaus Festival and Prizes 2024 drew to a close, their message of innovation, collaboration, and sustainability echoed throughout. From the celebration of outstanding projects to insightful panel discussions, the event underscored the transformative power of the NEB movement. Looking ahead, the commitment of individuals, regional and local authorities, and partners to realize the NEB vision remains unwavering. With cohesion policy supporting NEB projects at scale, and initiatives paving the way for impactful urban renewal, the journey towards a greener, more inclusive future for Europe is well underway.
