New European Bauhaus
Nanobiotechnology Laboratory JRC Ispra site (Italy)
In 2020, the European Commission announced the launch of the New European Bauhaus (NEB): an EU policy and funding initiative that fosters sustainable solutions for transforming the built environment and lifestyles in line with the European Green Deal.
The NEB’s mission is to nurture ideas and create synergies born of our collective and cross-cultural thinking. Built on the core values of ‘sustainable’, ‘beautiful’ and ‘together,’ it strives for tangible change on the ground —both small and big scale—that improves the lives of citizens and supports business through transformation. By bridging innovation, ambition and creativity, the NEB turns current challenges into opportunities and strengthens Europe’s competitiveness on the global stage.
There are numerous ways for Member States and indeed everyone to partner with NEB, from application for funding and activation of ideas to helping steer the direction of the movement itself.
create synergies born of our collective and cross-cultural thinking.The NEB’s mission is to nurture ideas and
The NEB self-assessment tool is designed to promote sustainability, beauty, and inclusiveness in the built environment of Europe and beyond. The self-assessment method is explained in a handbook supported by an online tool which promotes dialogue among stakeholders and aims to establish the grounds for the definition of minimum performance levels. It is adaptable to different project types and scales, allowing flexibility across new builds, renovations, and various geographical contexts. Importantly, the tool fosters continuous improvement rather than competition, encouraging users to strive for high performance while balancing all three NEB pillars.
In partnership with Joint Assistance to Support Projects in the European Region (JASPERS), NEB has published a new set of investment guidelines. This publication holds general advice and best examples that will help urban planners, architects, private investors and community leaders make informed decisions, and how the principles of NEB make economic sense and can add positive impact for everyone.
Aligned with the objectives of the NEB, twenty small and medium-sized municipalities benefited from technical assistance and tailored support to shape their initial concepts for sustainable and inclusive transformations of the local built environment Projects ranged from conversion of an ex-Soviet military base in Alūksne (Latvia) into a tourism and entrepreneurship site, to the transformation of an old ironworks museum in Ravne na Koroškem (Slovenia) into a community space of industrial heritage and creativity.
The knowledge, experiences and insights gained from these projects were consolidated into an NEB toolbox. By telling the stories of these twenty projects, it gives valuable insights and nurtures the development of new ideas.
Since the onset of the war in Ukraine, the NEB and its local partners have been collaborating on solutions for emergency housing for refugees and how best to tackle long-term construction. The best solutions are those that Ukrainians can implement themselves. With that in mind, the NEB lab has provided expert, tailored training to help local professionals and academia create a framework for urgent housing needs in the context of sustainable design and engineering and rebuilding cities, towns and villages.
The New European Bauhaus Academy (NEBA), launched at the April 2024 NEB Festival in Brussels, aims to accelerate the upskilling and reskilling of workers in sustainable construction, supporting the industry’s green transition. Collaborating with leading education and training providers, the academy offers accessible, high-quality training— both online and in-person. This aligns with the EU’s goal to upskill 25% of the construction workforce (3 million workers) over the next five years.
The NEBA Alliance, a consortium of 14 partners, was selected to establish the Academy’s regional hubs. Partners in sustainable construction are invited to join as Pioneer Hubs, strengthening the Academy’s reach and impact.
