Organisation
It is a registered non-profit under German law, with the purpose to promote science and research; arts and culture; public education; and environmental and climate protection – with a focus on the built environment, the construction industry and the building sector. (Find out more here).
Objectives
Across the European Union, the building and construction sector is a major driver of environmental impact. Buildings account for around 38% of CO2 emission (operational and construction costs). A value that is recognised in the “European Green Deal” and reflected in the “Renovation Wave” strategy, which aims to make Europe’s building stock climate neutral by 2050. Construction and demolition activities also generate more than 36% of all waste in the EU, making it the single largest waste producer in the union. Beyond environmental impact, the built environment holds significant economic weight. Buildings and real estate represent the largest asset class globally, making the sector key for economic growth and employment. As a result, millions of people in the European Union work in construction and related fields. Where there is big impact, there is big potential for change.
One of the core activities of HouseEurope! is the translation of shared knowledge and lived experience into policy proposals and advocacy formats. The organisation connects insights from practice and research with political and institutional processes, developing evidence-based proposals grounded in local realities and transferable across different contexts. In parallel, it works to make these processes understandable and accessible to a broader public, based on the understanding that political change depends on public awareness and civic engagement.
HouseEurope! understands the built environment as both a material and a political field. Questions of renovation, demolition, housing, and land use are not only technical issues, but questions of value, responsibility, and the common good. For this reason, the organisation combines research, policy work, and public communication, using formats such as publications, films, exhibitions, lectures, and citizen-driven initiatives. These formats are developed as tools to support volunteers and interested individuals in sharing knowledge, engaging others, and raising awareness.
Transformation
HouseEurope! originated as a European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) with over 80.000 supporters and 250 partners across Europe. It has since evolved into an organisation informed by real-world experience across the value chain of the built environment. This practical competency allows HouseEurope! to identify systemic problems as well as concrete points of intervention.
Currently, HouseEurope! is in a phase of organisational development. What began as an initiative is being transformed into a durable organisation in order to scale citizen power, supported by transparent governance, clearly defined responsibilities, and long-term structures.