35 Years of the Euregio Architecture Prize

The annual initiative by SCHUNCK provides recent architecture graduates with a platform while strengthening collaboration between the five architecture programs in the Meuse-Rhine Euregio. Senior Curator Architecture & Urbanism Andrea Croé has been closely involved with the organization for over twenty years and shares her thoughts on the significance of this anniversary year.

You’ve been involved with the Euregio Architecture Prize since 2003. How did it start?

“At the time, I took over the organization of the prize as head of the Vitruvianum Architecture Centre. Since 2009, I have been leading the project as Senior Curator Architecture & Urbanism at SCHUNCK, working closely with the five architecture programs in the Meuse-Rhine Euregio and the Architektenkammer NRW (AKNW). The prize itself has existed since 1991 and has been organized from Heerlen since 1995. Since then, I’ve seen the EAP grow significantly. In the beginning, it was mainly an award ceremony; now it’s a full program with an exhibition, lectures, a cabinet presentation, a workshop, and a small exhibition at the AKNW. And what many people don’t know: in 1996, I was selected for participation in the prize with my own graduation project. Even though I didn’t win, I know exactly what it feels like to be on the other side of the table.”

What makes this 35th edition special for you?

“The EAP is a highlight in our program every year, but anniversary editions feel extra special. It’s wonderful to show at SCHUNCK how the prize has developed. Each year, around four to five hundred students graduate from the five participating schools. From these, the thirty best graduation projects are selected to take part in the prize. The projects exhibited at SCHUNCK truly showcase the cream of young design talent in our Euregio. The EAP is not just an award but also a mirror of how architectural education evolves. Through mutual exchange, schools learn from each other’s approaches, which is reflected in their curricula and in the quality of the submissions.”

Why is this cross-border prize so valuable?

“The EAP brings together students, teachers, and professionals from the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany. That’s really unique. Even just the differences between the programs are interesting: one is result-oriented, another process-oriented. That creates a rich dialogue. This becomes even clearer during the newly implemented workshop. Students from the three countries work together in small groups and sometimes discover that a single word does not even evoke the same meaning. You learn from each other and broaden your own perspective. Collaborating this way allows you to discover other cultures — that’s exactly what the project is about.”

The workshop is a new component. How does it work exactly?

“Last year we ran a first pilot, which was an immediate success. Each school can send seven students, so a total of 35 students can participate. This is a different group from the graduates competing for the prize: these students are often still in the middle of their studies. Selection methods vary per school. Sometimes they must submit a motivation letter or even a kind of application; other schools invite candidates directly. The exciting part is that in the workshop, students work in mixed teams with peers from all three countries. This sparks discussions about language, methods, and culture—but above all about collaborative design. It often produces surprising insights and results.”

What can visitors expect from the anniversary edition at SCHUNCK Glaspaleis?

“The award ceremony takes place on 15 November, and the exhibition will then be on view until 11 December on the first floor of SCHUNCK Glaspaleis. There, we present the thirty selected graduation projects competing for the prize. Alongside them is the new Dreaming Out Loud presentation by Koen Savelkoul, who himself received an honorable mention at the EAP in 2013. There is also a limited-edition anniversary booklet with an overview of all winners from the past 35 years. This booklet provides a fascinating insight into the diverse careers and creative paths of former EAP winners and shows how the prize has influenced architectural practice. Two more inspiring lectures will follow in December and January, delivered by the newly crowned winners and Koen Savelkoul. And for those who want more, the winners will travel after the SCHUNCK exhibition to the Architektenkammer in Düsseldorf.”

“My hope? That the prize and the workshop will continue for many years. They bring together international cultures and generations and support young talent in our beautiful Euregio—that’s exactly what the EAP stands for.”

Euregio Architecture Prize (EAP) 2025

• Award ceremony: Saturday, 15 November 2025, 7:00 PM
• Exhibition: 16 November – 11 December 2025, SCHUNCK Glaspaleis