This year's distinguished Obel Award went to HouseEurope!, a registered non-profit organization that was founded as a groundbreaking policy lab and citizen-led project supporting the social and ecological transformation of Europe's built environment. 

In light of this year's "Ready Made" theme, the Obel Jury, which is presented yearly by Obel, a foundation that acknowledges and rewards architecture's capacity to serve as concrete change agents, recognizes HouseEurope! for its leading role in bringing attention to and rallying public support for a paradigm shift in European housing and construction culture. 

HouseEurope! Assembly by Edgar Rodtmann

"HouseEurope! demonstrates the scale, agency, and responsibility inherent in architecture. As architects, we are not merely practitioners who receive and execute instructions—we can and should act as civic agents within the political and social frameworks to work towards the common good," said Nathalie de Vries, MVRDV, Chair of the Obel Jury.

Power to Renovation, courtesy of HouseEurope!

HouseEurope! promotes architecture as a weapon for the public and political good in a field dominated by polluting demolition and for-profit development. Enacting new EU legislation aims to make building renovation and transformation more accessible, economical, and socially equitable. 

In order to raise awareness of the issue and encourage a change in values, HouseEurope! seeks one million signatures from all EU member states by January 31, 2026. You can sign the petition here.

Renovate don't Speculate, courtesy of HouseEurope!

"Every minute, a building in Europe is destroyed—not by natural disasters, but by financial speculation. And while a few profit, we all pay the price: with rising rents and rising temperatures. We’re running out of time! HouseEurope! is a call to action: sign and support now to stop the demolition drama and renovate, don’t speculate!," said Olaf Grawert and Alina Kolar, HouseEurope!, Co-Initiators and Campaign Managers.

Still from the documentary To Build Law, 2024 © CCA_25.00_40_21_05.Still047

The Obel Jury's decision to award HouseEurope! makes it clearly apparent to the architectural community and to next generations of architects that the profession has the ability to confront and change the structures that influence our shared way of life. 

On October 21, in Brussels, the seat of the European Union, the Obel Award 2025 will be formally delivered. During this time, the ECI will promote change through scheduled events and public actions throughout Europe.

Still from the documentary To Build Law, 2024 © CCA_25.00_48_09_20.Still068

"We are proud to present this year’s OBEL Award to HouseEurope!—a choice that not only reflects architecture’s inherent potential but also demonstrates the spirit of Obel. In a field as complex and restricted as the building industry, no one project can fully represent the systemic change we urgently need," said Jesper Eis Eriksen, Executive Director, Obel.

This year’s winner is both a source of inspiration and a call to action, and we will support HouseEurope! in bringing their work to a broader global context," Eriksen added.

Still from the documentary To Build Law, 2024 © CCA_25.00_48_26_16.Still071

The Obel 2025 Jury was composed of Nathalie de Vries, Chair of Jury - Founding Partner of MVRDV, Rotterdam, Tiantian Xu - Founding Principal of DnA, Beijing, Sumayya Vally - Founder and Principal of Counterspace in Johannesburg, SA + London, Aric Chen - General and Artistic Director of the Nieuwe Instituut, Rotterdam, Anne Marie Galmstrup - Founder of Galmstrup Architects, London.

The Obel Award is a foundation that acknowledges and rewards architecture's capacity to serve as concrete change agents that advance ecological and social development on a worldwide scale. Obel, which was established in 2019, promotes diversity in architecture by extending the scope of what and who defines our built environment. 

Still from the documentary To Build Law, 2024 © CCA_STILL2_00086401_RGB

Still from the documentary To Build Law, 2024 © CCA_To_Build_Law_Still_4_00086402

A nonprofit organization and policy lab called HouseEurope! promotes the social and environmental reform of the building sector. It urges a change in EU policy toward a sustainable and socially conscious building sector using legislative tools, cultural activities, and a European Citizens' Initiative.

Previous winning projects include Junya Ishigami's Art Biotop Water Garden in Japan, Carlos Moreno's 15-Minute City Concept, Anna Heringer's Anandaloy in rural Bangladesh. 

The top image in the article: Renovate don't Speculate, courtesy of HouseEurope!.

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HouseEurope! Obel Award