The restoration of Budapest’s 1884 Royal Opera House combined faithful reconstruction of its historic design, atmosphere and acoustics with the careful integration of modern stage technology and contemporary architectural solutions.

“The project achieves a careful balance between the restoration of a historic theatre and modern performance requirements. Outstanding multidisciplinary work and the integration of advanced, sustainable technologies support the continued operation of the Hungarian State Opera House at the highest professional level.”

The long-term restoration of the Polirone Monastic Complex of San Benedetto Po stabilised earthquake damage, conserved historic fabric and reactivated the site with new cultural and civic functions.

“Solid interventions and high-quality structural consolidation define this exemplary approach to safeguarding the large monastic complex of San Benedetto Po in a seismic risk area. The project provides a clear example of adaptive reuse that respects historical integrity and offers a transferable reference model for endangered heritage sites across Europe.”

The DumBO project reactivated a 40,000 m² former railway yard in Bologna through minimal, reversible interventions, creating a flexible cultural hub with strong community impact on a modest budget. 

“This minimal intervention and flexible temporary-use model shows how culture can drive urban regeneration with significant community impact while operating with limited resources. DumBO stands as a pilot for the culture-led transition of post-industrial sites across European cities.”

The restoration of Nikolai Astrup’s former estate re-established the terraced garden landscape through archival research, the reintroduction of historic plant varieties and the conservation of timber farm buildings, allowing it to be reopened to the public.

“This restored garden landscape clearly shows how central it was to the artist’s life and work. The project highlights the importance of gardens as cultural documents rather than decorative spaces and strengthens recognition of historic gardens as a distinct and vulnerable heritage category.”

Bánffy Castle’s restoration returned the 19th-century noble residence and its park to public use, combining the conservation of its interiors and landscape with adaptation as a cultural centre in rural Transylvania.

“This restored garden landscape clearly shows how central it was to the artist’s life and work. The project highlights the importance of gardens as cultural documents rather than decorative spaces and strengthens recognition of historic gardens as a distinct and vulnerable heritage category.”

The Dome of the Church of Escuelas Pias of Valencia was revitalised by a restoration that stabilised the critically damaged 18th-century structure, renewed its tile covering, and reopened the lantern — combining research, craftsmanship and monitoring.

“This highly complex intervention, both technically and organisationally, was successfully delivered through a rigorous multidisciplinary approach. Initiated at the local level, it combines structural innovation with advanced research integrated into a regional heritage programme.” 

The restoration of the 1853 “Salinas de La Concepción” returned abandoned salt pans to active production, reviving traditional craft, strengthening local engagement and reconnecting a historic coastal landscape with its environmental and cultural role.

“This project illustrates the resilience of a traditional production landscape in the face of environmental and economic change. It successfully reconnects natural, cultural and landscape heritage, while supporting biodiversity and a sustainable local economy. The strong community involvement and privately led initiative demonstrate how heritage landscapes can be safeguarded through local commitment and long-term engagement. The recovery of the “Salinas de La Concepción” also reinforces awareness of this shared Mediterranean heritage across Europe.” 

The Cypriot Fiddler research project documents the life stories of traditional Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot musicians. Through long-term fieldwork, a documentary, a book and an open-access website, it preserves oral storytelling, local dialects and a shared musical heritage.

“With its sustained, bottom-up approach, The Cypriot Fiddler research project safeguards a shared intangible heritage and strengthens understanding of different communities across the dividing line, encouraging a new generation to value traditional musical expression.”

The National Historical Archive of Italian Restorers collects and preserves private archives of Italian conservators. Through its open-access RES.I. database, it makes restoration history available for research and future interventions.

“ASRI established, for the first time, a national archive of restorers and created a rare resource that supports future conservation decisions, offering a model that can be followed internationally.”

The FENIX research project develops AI-supported tools and open satellite-based risk analysis to help cultural heritage institutions prepare for natural and human-made disasters. Through simulations and training exercises, it improves emergency planning for heritage sites.

“FENIX combines innovative tools, like AI and open satellite technology, with practical emergency training to protect cultural heritage from natural and human-made disasters. More than 2,000 participants have taken part in large-scale exercises at heritage sites, and the project presents a methodology that many European countries have yet to develop.”

The Heritage Craft School preserves, promotes and documents Iceland’s turf-building tradition through hands-on training, research and the restoration of protected farm buildings, ensuring that a rare European craft remains practised and transmitted to new generations.

“This project addresses the decline of traditional building skills in Europe through sustained, hands-on transmission of knowledge and practice. It presents a strong intergenerational teaching model that safeguards both the physical structures and the knowledge required to sustain them. Rooted in authenticity and high craftsmanship, and strengthened through international and academic collaboration, the initiative offers a credible model for the preservation of turf-building heritage.”

The Office of Public Works in Ireland developed practical guidance and a technical training programme to help public authorities improve the energy performance of historic buildings without compromising their heritage value. It strengthens professional skills and proves that climate action and heritage conservation can be complimentary.

“The initiative strengthens the capacity of public authorities and heritage professionals to apply European energy-efficiency standards in historic buildings in a structured and practical way. It combines high technical quality with a balanced approach that safeguards heritage value while contributing to long-term climate goals.”

HIMASS is an international summer school where engineers and architects study historic masonry buildings through real case studies. It reconnects modern structural analysis with traditional geometry-based design principles while building an international community of specialists in structural conservation. 

“This is a highly conceptual programme with a strong academic basis, providing engineers and architects with tools to preserve and consolidate historic masonry buildings. HIMASS addresses the key issue of understanding ancient masonry design based on geometry rather than mechanics. The programme creates an international community of experts and learners engaged in conceptual thinking about structural restoration.”

A sustained grassroots project initiated by the NGO Cita Riga invites children aged 7 to 17 to explore Riga’s urban heritage through play and investigation. Low-cost and easily replicable, the programme turns neighbourhoods into learning spaces and builds lasting connections with local heritage.

“The Cita Riga initiative presents an innovative way of engaging communities and strengthening children’s attachment to a place. Through play and investigation, children develop active learning and critical thinking about urban heritage. Its long-term impact is evident in the number of participants who later return as volunteers.” 

The “Pacijenca” project revived the nearly extinct Dobrota lace tradition in Montenegro through hands-on training led by its last recognised guardian. Over three years, more than 50 women learned the craft, while public demonstrations and lace products have helped to secure its future.

“The “Pacijenca” project transformed a domestic craft into a shared cultural event that strengthens community life while supporting the economic empowerment of women. Through lace-making, it promotes patience as a social and cultural value, safeguards a fragile element of intangible heritage, and connects a small local tradition with wider audiences.”

The School of Renovation in Slovenia provides hands-on training in traditional building techniques through workshops held at heritage sites across the country. Since 2015, it has trained more than 1,000 participants and introduced younger generations to the skills needed to renovate historic buildings.

“The School of Renovation responds to the real need for skilled heritage renovation through practical workshops rooted in traditional building crafts. Initiated by the National Association of Historic Towns, it demonstrates how collaboration between institutions, experts and communities can sustain living heritage and offer a model that can inspire similar initiatives elsewhere.”

The Croatian Coral Center Zlarin presents the island’s coral heritage through exhibitions, educational programmes and cultural events. Open year-round, it welcomes visitors, schools and the local community — supporting sustainable development and new opportunities on this small Adriatic island.

“The distinctive focus of the Croatian Coral Center Zlarin on coral heritage is grounded in careful research and effectively communicated through strong outreach. Particularly impressive is the scale of impact for such a small island community: the center operates year-round, supports sustainable local development and offers a model that could inspire similar initiatives on small islands across Europe.”

The Leventis Municipal Museum of Nicosia carried out Sector 2: Nicosia – The Green Line Project to explore the history of the city’s Green Line through research, an exhibition and other public programmes. By involving all communities and presenting personal testimonies, it encourages reflection and dialogue on the divided city.

“Sector 2: Nicosia – The Green Line Project addresses a highly sensitive context and involves all communities in its documentation and presentation. Through the testimonies of witnesses, the programme stimulates open and thoughtful dialogue in a complex urban and social environment.”

The Gardens of Peace Project creates contemporary public gardens along the First World War front line in France and Belgium. Designed by landscape architects from countries once at war, the gardens invite reflection and dialogue on Europe’s shared history of conflict.

“With its powerful concept and strong cross-border symbolism, the Gardens of Peace Project links purpose-designed landscapes to the memory of the First World War. The gardens bring together tangible and intangible heritage and offer strong educational value, particularly for younger audiences.”

14 Henrietta Street in Dublin is a social history museum that explores the city’s intangible heritage through the lives of former residents. Through guided tours, oral histories and public programmes, it links the building’s architecture with everyday experiences and collective history. 

“14 Henrietta Street is a museum deeply rooted in collective memory which offers an exemplary model of lived heritage. Its high-quality storytelling links architecture with social history and actively engages the public.”

The Intorno a Minerva project in Breno has transformed an archaeological park into a meeting place for intercultural dialogue. By conducting excavations, educational activities and cultural events, refugees, local communities and students engage with the site’s history and with one another.

“The Intorno a Minerva project presents an innovative intercultural and interreligious approach to heritage. By bringing together refugees and local communities through archaeological work and public activities, it offers a rare model of social integration in an archaeological context. Inclusiveness forms the basis of the project and guides its public engagement.”

The Gothic Route initiative protects and promotes medieval churches in the Gemer-Malohont region of Slovakia, an area facing economic and demographic challenges. The project connects local communities and visitors with this remarkable heritage via restoration, research, festivals and guided visits. 

“The long-running Gothic Route initiative demonstrates a stable and sustained model for heritage protection in a disadvantaged region. It combines high-level conservation with strong community engagement and contributes to the preservation of important medieval monuments, including churches with wall paintings awarded the European Heritage Label.”

The painted house of Ukrainian naïve artist Polina Raiko, inaccessible since the Russian occupation, was flooded after the destruction of the Kakhovka dam in 2023. Through volunteer and community efforts, her work now lives on in archives, publications, exhibitions, workshops and digital projects.

“This initiative demonstrates how cultural heritage can be safeguarded even under conditions of war and occupation. Driven largely by volunteers, it has mobilised citizens, artists and designers to document and share the work of Polina Raiko through a crowdsourced archive, publications and exhibitions. Digital tools and augmented reality allow Raiko’s damaged and inaccessible painted house to remain present and meaningful for communities today.”

Din l-Art Helwa has protected the country’s cultural and natural heritage since 1965 through restoration, advocacy and public engagement. The volunteer-driven organisation manages historic sites and plays a leading role in heritage protection across the Maltese Islands.   

“Din l-Art Helwa demonstrates a strong and holistic mobilisation of civil society on a voluntary basis, combining restoration work, advocacy, legal reform and public engagement. Its long-term dedication has produced sustained national impact and stands as an impressive example of committed heritage stewardship.”

Factum Foundation documents cultural heritage through high-resolution digital recording and facsimiles. Its innovative approach returns artworks and sites to communities while protecting fragile originals and supports conservation, training and research internationally.

“Factum Foundation demonstrates pioneering use of digital technology for the preservation of cultural heritage. Its work combines scientific rigour, education and long-term vision. The approach is increasingly relevant for safeguarding heritage in situations of climate change, conflict and disaster recovery.”

The NGO Museum Open for Renovation began as an initiative to revitalise Ukraine’s museums. Since Russia's war of aggression began in 2022, the organisation has rapidly transformed itself into a system for evacuating and protecting cultural heritage from areas affected by active combat or under imminent threat.

“The NGO Museum Open for Renovation has shown exceptional courage and dedication in the defence of cultural heritage during wartime. Acting when institutions could not intervene immediately, its team safeguarded museum collections under extreme conditions and developed practical methods for packing, marking and evacuating objects in active conflict zones.”

Maryna Hrytsenko (1986-2025) was chief custodian of the Galagan Art Museum in Chernihiv. At the start of the war in 2022, she singlehandedly dismantled the Museum’s exhibitions and safeguarded over 17,000 objects in underground storage. In 2023, she joined the army as a paramedic and was killed in 2025 evacuating wounded soldiers.

“Maryna Hrytsenko demonstrated exceptional dedication and professional responsibility in safeguarding the Galagan Art Museum’s collections during the siege of Chernihiv. Acting under extreme risk and without access to basic resources, she protected a museum collection of major Ukrainian and European significance. Her actions highlight the vulnerability of cultural memory in times of war and are a testimony to her extraordinary courage.”