Polymnia Futura receives a special mention at Europan 18

EUROPAN 18, the 18th edition of Europe’s leading competition for young designers, has come to a close. This year’s theme — RE-SOURCING — attracted 1,085 design teams across 47 sites throughout Europe, resulting in 158 award-winning projects: 45 winners, 47 runners-up and 61 special mentions.

Of the 47 European sites, Polignano a Mare was the only one in Apulia and one of the most talked-about due to the urban pressure it faces: an iconic historic centre perched on the cliffs, a tourism industry in constant growth, and an infrastructure system struggling to keep pace. A total of four Italian projects were recognised — one winner, one runner-up and two special mentions — and among these is Polymnia Futura, the proposal by Barberio Colella Architetti with Angelo Figliola and Khaled Gamal Abdelnaser Ahmed Mohamed, which received the Special Mention.

Polymnia Futura does not focus on a single plot: it approaches Polignano a Mare as a network of interconnections. The proposal outlines the transformation of the Distretto Marconi into a low-density residential neighborhood with high energy standards, the introduction of a new urban park connected to the pedestrian and cycling network, and the conversion of Via Lepore into a sustainable mobility corridor with a new intermodal hub. The overarching theme is a vision that prioritises residents’ lifestyles and respect for the Apulian coastal landscape.

Discover the Polymnia Futura project

The four Italian projects will be presented in the coming days in Polignano a Mare at the Pino Pascali Foundation, during a packed three-day event organised by the Forum in collaboration with the local council, FS Sistemi Urbani and Europan Italia. The exhibition will remain open until 23 May 2026.

Summary programme:

• 14 May, 3.00 pm — Opening of the exhibition of projects submitted for Polignano and presentation of the winning projects by the young teams, with talks and a focus on the theme of RE-SOURCING.
• 15 May, 9.30 am — Workshop with the competition organisers, institutional representatives, experts and stakeholders, with the aim of drawing up a roadmap for launching the implementation process.
• 16 May, 10.00 am — Awards ceremony for the winning Italian teams in Europan 18 and presentation of the workshop results.

The event is open to everyone — members of the public, professionals and students — and is particularly aimed at those who wish to learn about projects for their own city and attend the presentations by the award-winning young designers. 7 training credits are required, spread over the course of the event.

For further information: contact@europan-italia.eu