According to the jury chaired by Smiljan Radić, the finalist projects are exemplary contributions to the future of European architecture, demonstrating how the discipline can respond simultaneously to specific local conditions and broader social, cultural, and environmental challenges. The selected works range from interventions in former industrial sites, small villages, and peripheral urban areas to carefully calibrated projects within larger cities.
The new structure enters the existing building on its own terms. A row of thin metal poles carries an I-beam stretching from front to back. When needed, beams are interrupted. These cuts are exposed and celebrated. The new elements are painted in bright red and blue. They occupy positions within the space that are deliberately disruptive, blocking doors, windows and passages. Because of that inconvenience the structure becomes visible. It is an active participant of the space.
The European Commission and the Fundació Mies van der Rohe have announced the 40 shortlisted works for the 2026 European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture - Mies van der Rohe Awards, selected from a total of 410 nominations. The shortlist brings together projects from 18 countries and 36 cities, offering an overview of contemporary architectural production across Europe. Among the shortlisted works, France accounts for nine projects, followed by Spain with seven
Tucked into a quiet cul-de-sac near São Paulo's Ibirapuera Park, Casa MA, designed by RUA 141 arquitetura, proves that constraint can be a powerful design catalyst. With just 13 feet of frontage and a depth of just under 60 feet, the narrow lot might suggest compromise. Instead, the house unfolds as a layered, light-filled retreat shaped by movement, materials, and nature integration.
The expansion project of this residence was carried out with the acquisition of the neighboring lot adjacent to the existing residence, with its original profile and vegetation preserved. Two new buildings were proposed for this lot.
The renovation project for this apartment aimed to enhance the spaciousness of the original 1970s floor plan, overcoming certain shortcomings through minor interventions. The scarcity of natural light and the need to expand the living areas prompted a rearrangement of the kitchen, laundry, and living room programs, as well as the connections between them. In this shift, the laundry room was relocated to the apartment's private wing.
Casa da Rocha Quebrada by SO Arquitetos stands on the southern coast of São Miguel in the Azores, occupying the final open plot along a line of older houses facing the Atlantic. Set against lava rock and open water, the house addresses a landscape shaped by salt and wind, where buildings are designed to endure the coastal elements. The project was conceived for the parents of one of the studio's founders, a circumstance that allowed decisions to remain close to daily use and long-term inhabitation.