EUROPAN, the competition where young architects design new ways of living.
WHAT IS EUROPAN?
Europan is an architecture and urban planning ideas competition, aimed at architects and multidisciplinary teams under 40 years of age. Its objective is to explore new ways of living, regenerate cities and propose innovative urban models.
Europan is a biennial competition of European scope, in which various countries propose real sites for young architects and teams to develop innovative ideas in architecture and urban planning.
Its approach is openly innovative and seeks responses to contemporary challenges such as housing, sustainability, urban regeneration and new ways of living.
In addition to financial prizes, winning teams are offered the possibility of materializing the proposals for the sites through real commissions from the host administrations.
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WHY DO WE APPLY?
Santa Pola commits to EUROPAN18 to regenerate the "Varadero-Cantera" area.
Participation in EUROPAN arises from a real need: to transform the urban void left by the former shipyard activity (Blasco and Vatasa) and the quarry, a strategic enclave between the protected mountain and the sea. This space, currently unused, concentrates landscape potential and urban expectations that require a comprehensive vision.
EUROPAN offers precisely that: the opportunity to receive innovative proposals from young European architects and open a regeneration process capable of transforming the area into a public park integrated into the green infrastructure and into a metropolitan cultural and sports hub. Applying means assuming a clear commitment: select the best idea, elevate it to a project through a Special Plan and bring it to reality, through the activation of new uses and the comprehensive restoration of the environment.
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THE PROCESS
A journey of work and defense of the municipality that began by achieving EUROPAN site status and continued consolidating our candidacy
The first challenge was to be selected as a EUROPAN site, a competitive process that we accessed by preparing a video and specific documentation to show the potential of the "Varadero-Cantera" area as an attractive and transformative project.
Once accepted, we began a journey of presentations and public defenses: events in Madrid and Valencia, institutional communications and active participation in competition sessions.
Finally, we went to Barcelona and Lisbon to contribute our vision as part of the jury work and show local commitment to the process. Each phase has reinforced the strength of our candidacy and the relevance of the project for Santa Pola.
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5
Finalist
projects
Twenty-five teams registered, of which 15 projects were submitted. The jury selected five finalists in its first session, held in Barcelona in July 2025. In the jury's second session, held in Lisbon in October 2025, the following awards were given: First Prize, Second Prize and a Special Mention.
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