Architecture as a cultural bridge across countries: The European House of Architecture – Upper Rhine

Operating across multiple countries can be both enriching and challenging. The Upper Rhine region spans three nations and covers approximately 18,000 km², meaning that coordinating activities across such a large and diverse area requires constant effort and adaptability. Moreover, the presence of three languages adds another layer of complexity, shaping both MEA’s activities and the audiences it seeks to engage.

A shared mission for a shared territory

MEA’s mission becomes particularly relevant when we reflect on the unique context in which it operates. The European Architecture House is dedicated to promoting and disseminating architectural culture among all audiences, whether professionals or architecture enthusiasts. By organizing a wide range of inclusive and accessible events, the association helps raising public awareness of the challenges and opportunities of contemporary architecture.

MEA aspires to foster the emergence of a shared Rhine-region architectural space by ensuring the continuity of diverse French, German, and Swiss initiatives centred on architecture – its issues, achievements, and key actors.

Their work is firmly guided by four core values:

1. Architecture as a common good;
2. Ecological responsibility;
3. Cooperation and intercultural dialogue;
4. Knowledge transmission at the heart of their mission.

Key milestones and projects

In 2025, The European House of Architecture – Upper Rhine reached a major milestone, proudly celebrating its 25^th anniversary, an achievement made possible also thanks to the strong network that has supported the association since its beginnings. While this anniversary offered a moment to look back, it also opened the door to a bright future filled with new activities and projects.

Preparations are already underway for the next edition of the Architecture Days, scheduled for October 2026. The event represents the largest cross-border architecture festival in Europe dedicated to the general public, bringing together around 150 events in forty cities across the Upper Rhine region.

At the same time, MEA continues to develop several educational and cultural initiatives. Among them is the cross border ‑border student competition Oscar, which rewards the construction of architectural models by students from kindergarten to the final year of secondary school throughout the Upper Rhine region.

A new initiative, A Creative Journey at the Heart of Europe, has been developed this year in partnership with the Lieu d’Europe, a cultural establishment based in Strasbourg. This two-day educational programme targets 14 to 15 year old students from French, German, and Swiss schools, inviting them to explore Europe, architecture, and collaborative creation. After visiting Strasbourg’s European Quarter and the Lieu d’Europe, participants are encouraged to imagine and build ten urban facilities in the form of scale models to be integrated into the European Quarter. The project aims to foster creativity and teamwork in a cross-border context, while raising awareness of European values, architecture, urban planning, and active citizenship.

In parallel, each May, MEA co-organises the European Architecture Meetings, an event that highlights the architectural culture of a different European country: this year, the focus will be on Luxembourg, with many other events taking place throughout the year.

International generosity and the role of Giving Europe

Of course, delivering such a rich programme requires significant resources. Securing funding remains an ongoing challenge, and each year MEA must mobilize its network to find partners and sponsors who help make these initiatives possible.

Help and support from everyone are most welcome, as they say: “there is no such thing as a small contribution. Each and every person can support us in different ways: by spreading the word about our work, attending our events, providing financial support, offering tools to help reduce our carbon footprint, sharing expertise, and much more.”

Being part of the Giving Europe network brings greater visibility to MEA, along with the opportunity to expand their connections, increased awareness of a shared territory – thereby strengthening international ties at the heart of our activities – and access to a lever for action that supports the development of shared solutions.

Looking ahead, MEA’s priorities for the coming years focus on ensuring the long-term sustainability of its network of relationships with all audiences, and, by extension, of its activities. The aim is to actively engage in discussions surrounding the culture of the built environment – and the definitions that emerge from it – as well as in debates on environmental challenges that will impact future generations.