Decarbonising Architecture 2026

SPEAKERS

"Decarbonising Architecture 2026" will bring together some of the leading national and international experts in housing, sustainability and public policy, who will share innovative perspectives and real-world experiences on the challenges of decarbonisation and affordable housing.

Sandra Bestraten

[1]
Dean of the Architects' Association of Catalonia (COAC)

Greta Tresserra

[2]
President of the Architecture and Sustainability Association (AUS)

Marta Vall-llossera

[3]
President of the Council of Architects’ Associations of Spain (CSCAE)

Daniel Fügenschuh

[4]
President of the Architects’ Council of Europe (ACE-CAE)

Matthew Baldwin

[5]
Head of the Housing Task Force, European Commission

Lisa De Visscher

[6]
Chief Architect of Brussels Capital Region

Ciarán Cuffe

[7]
Architect and Co-Chair of the European Green Party

Teresa Táboas

[8]
Secretary General of the International Union of Architects (UIA)

Marta Peris & José Toral

[9]
Founders of Peris+Toral Arquitectos, RIBA International Award 2024 and XV BEAU Award

Helle Redder Momsen

[10]
Head of Secretariat at Nordic Sustainable Construction

Albert Cuchí

Professor at the Vallès School of Architecture (ETSAV-UPC)

Dolores Huerta

[11]
General Director of Green Building Council Spain (GBCe)

Evelin Lux

[12]
Vice-President of the Chamber of German Architects (BAK)

David Juárez

[13]
Founding partner at Straddle3

Luca Volpi

[14]
Partner at Societat Orgànica

Judit Kimpian

[15]
Professor at Bartlett, Faculty of the Built Environment (UCL) and RIBA representative

Nuria Matarredona

[16]
Deputy Director of Culture at the Valencia School of Architecture (ETSA-UPV)

Albert Gassull

[17]
Director of Public Space at the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona (AMB)

Josep Maria Borrell

[18]
Director of IMPSOL at the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona (AMB)

Isabel Suraña

President of the Council of Architects’ Associations of Andalusia

Sara Baldasano

[19]
Co-founder of LOOP, founder of ARCA and professor (ETSAV and ELISAVA)

Celobert Cooperativa

[20]
Architecture, engineering and urban planning cooperative

THE FUTURE OF HOUSING IN EUROPE: FROM POLICY TO IMPLEMENTATION

After four editions, "Decarbonising Architecture 2026" aims to take a step further by addressing the regulatory, economic and organisational barriers that hinder the transformation of the building sector, and by identifying the governance tools and mechanisms needed to make an affordable, healthy, resilient and decarbonised housing stock a reality.

Beyond showcasing exemplary architectural projects, the conference seeks to identify the conditions that make them possible: well-designed procurement processes, enabling regulations, incentives, new management models and best practices from across Europe that can be replicated.

Under the theme "The Future of Housing in Europe: From Policy to Implementation", this fifth edition focuses on an urgent issue that is also rich with opportunities: how to address the climate emergency and the housing crisis simultaneously. In this context, decarbonising the residencial building stock is an opportunity to rethink housing from a holistic perspective capable of reducing energy demand, ensuring healthy living conditions and strengthening social cohesion.

From diagnosis to action
The conference will bring together architects, public administration representatives and other key stakeholders to discuss the tools, governance models, financing mechanisms and regulatory frameworks needed to turn this transformation into reality. More than a forum for reflection, this edition is designed as a platform for action: an opportunity to share experiences, build partnerships and help shape recommendations that support housing solutions combining architectural quality, affordability, health, energy efficiency and climate resilience.

CONFERENCE PROGRAMME

Keynote:
THE HOMES WE NEED:
Affordable, climate-neutral and resilient

Session 1:
AGENDAS FOR CHANGE:
From European vision to local delivery

Sessión 2:
FROM EXISTING BUILDINGS TO BETTER HOMES
The existing housing stock, a great opportunity

Session 3:
FROM AMBITION TO ACTION:
Key enablers of change

Session 4:
EUROPE'S NEXT CHAPTER STARTS AT HOME
How do we make better housing the norm, not the exception?

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