European Council of Interior Architects

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ECIA Interior Award 2027

The ECIA Interior award is a competition for Interior Architects of the ECIA member organisations. This competition is a tribute to excellence in European interior architecture and design.

The ECIA Interior Awards aim to identify, recognise and promote best practices in interior architecture and design, highlighting the important role of the profession in addressing contemporary challenges within the built environment.

The inaugural ECIA Interior Award was launched in 2024, with the award ceremony held in Oslo, Norway. The first edition focused on recognising the most forward-thinking European projects in interior architecture, celebrating innovation, creativity and excellence in design.

Building on the success of the inaugural edition, the second ECIA Interior Award took place in Warsaw, Poland, in 2026, attracting an impressive number of submissions from across Europe. Under the theme “Responsible Design Within Space”, the award recognised projects demonstrating a holistic approach to environmental, social and cultural responsibility, while promoting wellbeing, inclusion and adaptability. The 2026 edition featured two categories, Residential and Commercial, with projects shortlisted by representatives of ECIA's National Organisations and evaluated by an independent professional jury.

The ECIA Interior Award is open to:

  • Innovative interior architecture / design projects (products and movable furniture are excluded)

  • Projects designed by members of the ECIA effective and institutional members

  • Projects carried out or largely finalized in the last two years

  • Project which significantly contribute to a quality building culture in accordance with the Davos Quality System

Criteria

The ECIA Interior Award 2026 is inspired by the New European Bauhaus (NEB), supports the green transition by encouraging all Europeans to envision and create a sustainable and inclusive future that is beautiful for our eyes, minds, and souls. It focuses on transforming sectors like the built environment to contribute to climate goals and improve citizens' quality of life. On 17 May 2021, the Swiss Federal Office of Culture (FOC) introduced the Davos Baukultur Quality System. This system is a key contribution to the NEB and the Davos Process, which started with the 2018 Davos Declaration “Towards a high-quality Baukultur for Europe”. High-quality Baukultur is characterised by well-designed, enjoyable living spaces that preserve the historical value of the built environment, respond to societal needs and are good for people‘s well-being and health. The eight criteria of the Davos Quality System will be used as a tool to judge the entries for this award.

Submissions deadline

to be announced shortly

Award Ceremony

Three finalists will be selected by a professional jury. The location of the award ceremony will take place in Valencia, in September 2027 at the ECIA General Assembly (dates have yet to be announced). The winner of the award becomes an ambassador for European Interior architecture.

BCSP Projects

The BCSP project is consisting of six subprojects:

Sub Project 1:

Spider Models Research

To collect data to be able to get a good overview on the profession in the different countries of the EU / Europe. This was done in collaboration with the University of Antwerp. Research and networking.

Sub Project 2:

Growing the network

Growing the network of ECIA by attracting new members, assisting European countries to set up a NO for interior architects/designers and stakeholders networking

Sub Project 3:

Exchanging knowledge

To improve the skills of the professionals by organising workshops, trainings on various topics (also on topics like New Green Deal and Renovation Wave) with differnt partners (NO’s, universities, other organisations).

Sub Project 4:

ECIA Interior Award 2027

The ECIA Interior award is a competition for Interior Architects of the ECIA member organisations. This competition is a tribute to excellence in European interior architecture and design.

Sub Project 5:

Promoting the ECIA Charter

Promoting the ECIA Charter of Interior Architecture Training, as a tool to work towards a higher standard for Interior Architects education and consequently the profession in the EU. This also includes the organisation of a Charter networking conference in collaboration with subprojects 1, 3 and 6.

Sub Project 6:

Representing the network

Representing the network by setting op policy work groups to brainstorm and to discuss about policy and regulatory questions, organise stakeholder events and ECIA round tables.
Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or Creative Europe. Neither the European Union nor Creative Europe can be held responsible for them.