Will the New European Bauhaus transform into one of the EU Missions?

This one could be a real game-changer for our built environments and the way they look

The European Commission proposed the creation of a sixth Horizon Europe Mission, which will be based on the principles of the New European Bauhaus (NEB) movement, namely: aesthetics, sustainability and social inclusion. If approved and adopted by the member states, this new Mission could have a transformative impact on the way our cities look in the future.

The potential Mission has been described as a “game-changer or innovative materials and the built environment”.

It could present a remarkable opportunity for Europe to assert its position as a leader in research and development. By combining natural solutions emerging from evolution (No Tech) with advanced cognitive tools provided by science (High Tech), it could create ground-breaking new "Super Tech" solutions. 

European Missions tackle distinct areas of life

If it becomes a reality, the Mission would boost the powers of the New European Bauhaus, which is still mostly based on and inspired by grassroots initiatives. Urban planning, however, and especially on a grand scale, needs massive commitment, expertise and resources, which means that it would also require the wholehearted involvement of governments and the private sector.

That Mission would specifically focus on reimagining the residential districts – the places where people live, play, and increasingly also work. In other words, the places where we spend most of our time and which we consider home.

The Commission’s announcement, on 19 July, came on the same day on which the performance assessment of the already existing five EU Missions under Horizon Europe was published. The assessment shows that the Missions are on track to meet their 2030 ambition towards a greener and healthier continent.

The already existing five EU Missions are: Adaptation to Climate Change, Beating Cancer, Restoring the Oceans and Waters, 100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities and Transition to Healthy Soils.