Celebrating Heritage and Shaping Cities: Lessons from the 2025 European Heritage Awards

The recently announced winners of the 2025 European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards are a celebration of Europe’s rich cultural legacy.  These winners also present a compelling case for the role of heritage in shaping the cities of tomorrow.

With 30 laureates across four categories and 24 countries, this year’s awards show the relevance of cultural preservation in contemporary urban planning, particularly through conservation, adaptive reuse, and civic participation.

Urban Regeneration through Adaptive Reuse

Several of this year’s winners illustrate how historical buildings can be sensitively adapted for modern use, enriching urban environments without erasing their past. The Antwerp City Hall in Belgium, for instance, has undergone extensive conservation that preserved its Renaissance grandeur while ensuring it functions as a 21st-century municipal hub.

Similarly, EC1 Łódź – City of Culture Complex in Poland transformed a former power plant into a cultural centre, breathing new life into a post-industrial space and contributing to the city’s creative economy.

Adaptive reuse is fast becoming a cornerstone of sustainable urban development. By retaining embodied energy and reducing the environmental costs of demolition and new construction, these projects contribute directly to climate goals. They also help maintain the social fabric of cities, offering continuity in rapidly changing urban landscapes.

Civic Engagement as a Planning Tool

Another key theme emerging from this year’s awards is the growing importance of public involvement in the management of cultural heritage.

The Art of Protecting Bedechka project in Bulgaria is a strong example of grassroots activism protecting public space against inappropriate development. The campaign mobilised citizens around the value of their urban park, resulting in tangible political and planning outcomes.

Projects like these highlight how civic participation can influence urban policy. Integrating heritage concerns into planning decisions means making room for community voices in shaping inclusive, liveable cities.

Heritage as Social Infrastructure

Europe’s heritage is not only preserved in buildings but also in cultural practices and collective memory. The ASTRA Center for Activities and Regional Resources in Romania and the Saber Fazer programme in Portugal both show how traditional crafts and skills are being revitalised and passed on through education and training. These initiatives treat heritage as a living system that evolves with each generation.

Incorporating this thinking into urban planning means treating cultural institutions and heritage sites as essential components of social infrastructure. They foster a sense of place, support wellbeing, and encourage intercultural and intergenerational exchange; all vital elements of resilient urban communities.

A Vision for Europe’s Cities

As Commissioner Glenn Micallef remarked, Europe’s cultural heritage is a shared responsibility. In a time of climate crisis, social transformation, and technological change, the 2025 laureates remind us that heritage is not about preserving the past for its own sake, but about weaving it meaningfully into the present.

For urban planners, policymakers, and citizens alike, this year’s awards offer a reminder: Europe’s heritage can inspire more sustainable, inclusive, and human-centred cities.

To explore the full list of award-winning projects and their impact across Europe, follow this link.