What's new in ARCH-E
Dear ARCH-E community,
The ARCH-E project is coming to a close, marked by a joint conference with the Architects' Council of Europe, once more advocating for Architectural Design Competitions (ADCs) as an excellent quality-based procurement procedure.
In this edition, you will find news on:
ARCH-E x ACE Conference on ADCs
AnotHERVIEWture Award
Winterthur Declaration
We wish you a pleasant reading,
The ARCH-E project team
Join us Online: ARCH-E x ACE Conference on Architectural Design Competitions
Join us online on 23 April 2026 for the ARCH-E x ACE Conference on Architectural Design Competitions, taking place at The Mix, in Brussels.
This event will bring together architects, public authorities and industry experts to explore how design competitions can drive quality, innovation and sustainable value in the built environment.
Through keynote insights from Adam Caruso and engaging discussions, we'll tackle key challenges, from supporting young architects and SMEs to shaping better procurement frameworks across Europe.
We are honoured that Glenn Micallef, Commissioner for Culture, will give the conference's closing address.
AnotHERVIEWture Award -
Submissions open now!
The anotHERVIEWture Award, Austria's first award dedicated to celebrating women in architecture and engineering, is now accepting submissions for its 2026 edition. Following the success of the 2022 and 2024 rounds, the award continues its mission to highlight outstanding work and strengthen the visibility of women in the built environment.
Inspired by pioneering figures such as Zaha Hadid, Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, and Lise Meitner, the initiative encourages the next generation of role models in both architecture and engineering. It is organised by the Bundeskammer der Ziviltechniker*innen, with a strong commitment to promoting diversity and equality in the built environment.
A key highlight is the International Female Architect of the Year category, which recognises exceptional architects working outside Austria and showcases their global impact. Applicants are invited to submit three completed built projects.
Each category offers a prize of €5,000. Submissions are open from 31 March to 30 June 2026, and the award ceremony will take place on 22 October 2026 in Vienna.
More information and submissions
The Winterthur Declaration
The construction sector sits at the heart of the transition to a post-carbon future, with architects and engineers playing a crucial role in delivering buildings that are sustainable, resource-efficient and high in quality. Yet much of today's work involves adapting existing structures, where uncertainty around materials, energy performance and heritage constraints makes rigid procurement processes a barrier to innovation. To meet these challenges, procurement must embrace flexibility, enabling context-sensitive solutions and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration.
Post-carbon construction is not about compromise, but about achieving better outcomes with fewer resources, carefully balancing competing demands such as efficiency, comfort, preservation and innovation. To make this possible, we need procurement frameworks that recognise complexity, support diverse teams, and prioritise quality over simplistic scoring systems.
Call for signatories:
We invite organisations across the built environment: designers, engineers, public authorities and industry partners, to join us in advancing procurement practices that support climate-responsible, high-quality construction. Add your name to this initiative and help shape a more sustainable and innovative future for the sector.
Read the full Declaration