The Romanian project “Făget Forest-Park; Cluj’s Green Lung” among the winners of the New European Bauhaus Prizes 2024

The European Commission announced on Friday evening the 20 winners of the 2024 New European Bauhaus (NEB) Awards, organised with funding from the Cohesion Policy. The Romanian project “Făget Forest-Park; Cluj’s Green Lung” is the winner in the category “Reconnecting with Nature”, under Component A – “NBE Awards Champions”.

These prizes reward outstanding projects and initiatives that combine sustainability, inclusion and aesthetics, demonstrating how the European Green Deal transition can practically enrich the lives of people and communities. The prizes are 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”).

The 2024 edition includes a special award for reconstruction projects from Ukraine, as well as a strong focus on EU regions facing socio-economic constraints or green transition challenges.

Winners received their awards today during a ceremony at the New European Bauhaus Festival from 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.

Elisa Ferreira, Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms said: “With Cohesion Policy support, the NEB prizes celebrate young people and initiatives that put the New European Bauhaus principles into action. For a fourth year, we are inspired by the creativity and enthusiasm with which local communities, projects and concepts embrace sustainability, inclusiveness, and beauty to improve lifestyles and living spaces. This year, we also give special recognition to Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction effort to build back better. We appreciate each and every application, congratulations to all who participated – you are the champions and the rising stars of the New European Bauhaus!”

Iliana Ivanova, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, said: “Warm congratulations to all the winning as well as nominated projects! Your achievements are incredibly diverse but they all show the transformative power of innovative vision of inspired people like you, coupled with dedication and hard work. These are the exact qualities that propel us forward on the path towards a more sustainable and inclusive future. This is why your projects embody the principles of the New European Bauhaus and why this festival marks a milestone in our journey towards a better future. I am especially impressed by the projects from Ukraine that show incredible resilience and determination in the face of adversity.”

New European Bauhaus Prizes 2024 laureates

The winners and runners-up of the ‘New European Bauhaus Champions’ prize for accomplished projects are:

• Map4Water: One thousand fountains city (Bosnia and Herzegovina) won the public vote conducted across all the categories. The project is mapping and enhancing public water fountains in Sarajevo, with broad public involvement including the local authority, citizens and tourists.
• Făget Forest Park; Cluj’s Green Lung (Romania), winner in the category “Reconnecting with nature”, for managing recreation in and conservation of a large forest-park.
• Flytevi – Blue Urban Community Garden (Sweden), runner-up in the category “Reconnecting with nature”, for empowering communities with sustainable food and water solutions.
• SET Community Gardens (The Netherlands), winner in the category “Regaining a sense of belonging”, for connecting generations from diverse socio-cultural backgrounds through an urban permaculture community garden and centre.
• Concrete to Culture (Bulgaria), runner-up in the category “Regaining a sense of belonging”, for transforming an office complex in the outskirts of Sofia into an active community space.
• Rooftop Garden (Spain), winner in the category “Prioritising the places and people that need it the most”, for promoting the social inclusion of people with disabilities through horticulture.
• Yes We Camp (France), runner-up in the category “Prioritising the places and people that need it the most”, for empowering communities through space activation initiatives.
• A Sustainable Campus Transformation (Luxembourg), winner in the category “Shaping a circular industrial ecosystem and supporting life-cycle thinking”, for renovating buildings using reclaimed materials to minimise environmental impact.
• Re-Sourcing Commons (Austria), runner-up in the category “Shaping a circular industrial ecosystem and supporting life-cycle thinking”, for promoting sustainability by using reclaimed materials and ensuring community collaboration in a public park.

The winners and runners-up of the ‘New European Bauhaus Rising Stars’ prize for promising concepts are:

• Regenerative Agriculture Hub (Spain) won the public vote in the Rising Stars strand, for focusing on sustainable, eco-friendly farming practices that promote biodiversity.
• Cultivating Companionship (Germany), winner in the category “Reconnecting with nature”, for proposing a research residency win a cornfield to promote life-centred design thinking for architects and farmers.
• Hydroscape Lisbon (Portugal), runner-up in the category “Reconnecting with nature”, for exploring water’s role in climate resilience and community space in the city.
• Cooperative Ownership of Communities (Hungary), winner in the category “Regaining a sense of belonging”, for promoting affordable housing and inclusivity through circular renovation and sustainable practices.
• Co-llection (Greece), runner-up in the category “Regaining a sense of belonging”, for reimagining rural narratives through art and community collaboration.
• Community reBuilding (Ukraine), winner in the category “Prioritising the places and people that need it the most”, for empowering Ukraine’s communities by creating or rejuvenating Community Building Centres.
• Teufelsberg Transformation Lab (Germany), runner-up in the category “Prioritising the places and people that need it the most”, for pioneering collaborative policy innovation through Design Thinking.
• Urban_MYCOskin (Portugal), winner in the category “Shaping a circular industrial ecosystem and supporting life-cycle thinking”, for transforming waste into eco-friendly valuable material.
• The Station (Belgium), runner-up in the category “Shaping a circular industrial ecosystem and supporting life-cycle thinking”, for proposing an autonomous working station fuelled by renewable energy to transform seasonal harvests.

The winner and runner-up of the ‘Special Recognition to Ukraine’s Reconstruction and Recovery Effort’ are:

• Nad Dzherelom from the Lviv City Council, winner, recognised for restoring an abandoned natural area for social integration while preserving ecosystem and biodiversity.
• Leo States, runner-up, for providing temporary accommodation for internally displaced people in Ukraine.

The 20 awarded projects were selected from 49 finalists that embody the principles of the New European Bauhaus. They will receive a monetary prize of up to €30,000 and a communications package to help them further develop their projects or replicate them around Europe.