Europan18 invites multidisciplinary teams under 40 years old from Europe to submit proposals for 47 urban sites across 12 countries, including France, Spain, Germany, Sweden, and Norway.

This year’s competition emphasizes ‘re-sourcing’ existing neighborhoods and public spaces by re-evaluating natural elements, lifestyles, inclusivity, and materials. Each winning team will receive a cash prize of €12,000 and assistance in negotiating a commission to implement their project.

The brief states: ‘The fragility of the Earth’s ecosystem and social crises necessitate the exploration of alternative practices to mitigate harmful resource extraction, overconsumption, and pollution of living environments.

‘Projects that regenerate by integrating nature and culture should be conceived and executed. The goal is to create synergies between biogeophysical data and socio-spatial justice and health considerations.

‘Three primary directions for designing resilient and resourceful living environments can help reactivate various dynamics and narratives surrounding the ecologies of living and caring.’

Since its inception in 1989, Europan has aimed to support young European designers and foster open dialogue and collaboration among European nations regarding housing and urban planning issues.

Now in its 18th iteration, the competition is organized by a federation of national architecture organizations in Europe. Notably, the UK has again not submitted any sites, having last participated in 2008 for Europan 9.

This year’s sites focus on reusing abandoned structures, fostering open neighborhoods, establishing new urban relationships, managing water, revitalizing soils, and regenerating landscapes.

Featured plots include a 148.6ha former winery in Felanitx, Mallorca; the 26ha village of Roa near Oslo, Norway; the 410ha Klara Nova agricultural district in Novi Zagreb, Croatia; a 253ha railway land site adjacent to Lisbon’s Águas Livres Aqueduct; and a 103ha industrial site in Turku, Finland.

Competitors can apply for one site in each participating country, presenting either a strategic overview of the site or an architectural proposal for a specific area. All submissions will be reviewed by the Europan Scientific Council before national juries select the winners.

Teams must include at least one architect, with all members under 40 and either holding a European degree or working in Europe.

Submissions can be in English and potentially the local language of the competition site, requiring three A1-sized display boards, a project description, three promotional images, and a four-page project text. A €100 registration fee applies.

The winners will be announced on 17 November, each receiving €12,000 and support for negotiating a design commission. Runners-up will earn cash prizes of €6,000, with special mentions possible.

Competition Details

• Project Title Europan18
• Client Europan
• Contract Value Tbc
• First Round Deadline 29 July 2025
• Restrictions No competition organizer or their family members may participate in a site where they are involved, but they can enter another site where they are not involved. Europan adheres to EU public procurement laws and all applicable EU sanctions.

National sanctions may differ by country, and competitors are solely responsible for assessing their eligibility in light of these sanctions.

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