Naples (Italy), 29 October 2026 – A motorway transformed into a green corridor, housing that brings nature into the city, and an abandoned building converted into homes for families displaced by war were among the projects recognised at the Build Europe Awards 2026 yesterday evening in Naples.
Held at Maschio Angioino during the opening of the Build Europe Congress, the awards brought together projects responding in different ways to Europe’s housing, environmental and urban challenges.
The jury awarded the Grand Prix ex aequo to Evanesens, developed by Roxim Promotion in France, and De Groene Loper, developed by Ballast Nedam Development in the Netherlands, with the two winners announced by Laura Lieto, Deputy Mayor of Naples, and Davide Albertini Petroni, President of Confindustria Assoimmobiliare. The projects were assessed by a jury chaired by Gianluca Brunetti, former Secretary-General of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), alongside Laura Lieto, Deputy Mayor of Naples; Xavier Callens, distinguished Belgian architect; Jean-Paul Scheuren, Vice-President of Build Europe; and Christophe Sykes, Director General of European Construction Products.
Evanesens was recognised for an architectural concept that makes vegetation an integral part of the residential environment. De Groene Loper takes a different approach to urban transformation: placing a major motorway underground has reconnected neighbourhoods and created a 2.6-kilometre green corridor with new homes and public spaces. The Pioneer Prize, awarded to the runner-up, went to Rockywood, developed by PRIMUS in Germany, for its innovative use of timber construction and adaptable spaces.
The most socially focused recognition of the evening, the Coup de Cœur, was awarded to Khutory Project by Housing for IDP & DOM Development. The Ukrainian project converted an abandoned building into 14 permanent apartments for 37 people displaced by the war, including children and veterans.
Naples itself was represented among the award recipients: CX Naples Centrale Campus & Hotel, developed by Investire SGR and CX Living, received by Andreas Ibel, President of Build Europe, the Special President’s Award for its contribution to the regeneration of the area surrounding Naples Central Station. Gianluca Brunetti, President of the jury and former Secretary-General of the European Economic and Social Committee, awarded a Special Mention to COIMA SGR for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Village project, designed to be converted into student housing after accommodating Olympic and Paralympic athletes. The other finalists, UpTown Milano by Near SGR SPA and La Canopée by Equilis, also received an official mention from the President of Build Europe.
The ceremony opened the Build Europe Congress, organised in cooperation with Confindustria Assoimmobiliare and taking place in Naples until 30 October. The programme includes discussions on housing policies at EU and national level, their impact on housing supply and possible solutions to make homes more affordable, as well as visits to CX Naples Centrale, Le Vele di Scampia, and the future America’s Cup site.
