New European Bauhaus Academy consortium at the Brussels festival.
The 2026 New European Bauhaus (NEB) Festival brought together experts in the built environment, design, and sustainability from across Europe in Brussels. As part of the festival programme, Sille Pihlak, Dean of the Faculty of Architecture at the Estonian Academy of Arts (EKA), presented the activities of the North Hub of the New European Bauhaus Academy Alliance and shared insights into how Northern European cooperation helps implement NEB principles at the local level.
The festival focused on the future of a sustainable built environment and regional solutions for adapting to climate change. Discussions highlighted the role of northern regions, where the effects of global warming are particularly evident. The North Hub brings together Estonian Academy of Arts, Aalto University, and the Swedish research institute RISE. The collaboration focuses on sustainable construction, material circularity, carbon reduction, and the creation of high-quality living environments.
“In the Nordic and Baltic countries, sustainable built environment issues have been addressed consistently for decades. The New European Bauhaus network provides an opportunity to share this knowledge more broadly and to connect research, education, and professional communities around a common goal,” said Pihlak.
The meeting also addressed the development of the New European Bauhaus Academy. The initiative traces its origins to 2021, when the creation of a Europe-wide training network was announced at the Into the Woods conference in Finland, attended by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The Academy aims to support the green and digital transition of the construction sector through lifelong learning and to strengthen skills across the industry throughout Europe.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the Prime Ministers of Estonia, Finland, and Sweden, September 2021.
In Brussels, participants also discussed the Academy’s future directions and the European Commission’s continued support for the initiative. Speaking at the festival, President von der Leyen announced a €50 million investment to expand the activities of the NEB Academy and strengthen the development of skills needed for the green and digital transition of the construction sector across Europe.
Today, the NEB Academy platform offers training programmes covering topics such as natural materials, circular design, renovation, sustainability, and digital skills. The new investment will enable the expansion of the training network, foster international partnerships, and support the development of training programmes that better respond to regional needs. One example available on the platform is the training programme of the Estonian Union of Co-operative Housing Associations on apartment building renovation in line with New European Bauhaus principles, providing practical knowledge for housing association members and others involved in renovation projects.
“Lifelong learning is one of the most important tools for the sustainable transformation of the construction and design sectors. The more new knowledge is translated into practice, the greater its impact on our everyday living environment,” Pihlak added.