With the support of Creative Europe, ACE is proud to release the Peer Learning Group Report on Architecture Awards as Instruments of Systemic Change. Produced by ACE’s Awards Peer Learning Group, the report demonstrates how architectural awards can serve as catalysts for scaling up excellence—while addressing Europe’s most pressing challenges.
The report features 14 case studies from six European countries (Germany, Finland, Ireland, Bulgaria, Lithuania, and Spain). While these examples demonstrate remarkable creativity and ambition, they also highlight persistent gaps in verification, feedback, and scalability. To address these challenges, the report offers recommendations and opportunities for strengthening the role of architectural awards in advancing climate performance, user wellbeing, and social value - ultimately improving the quality of life across Europe.