Stjärnorp Castle Ruin shortlisted for EUmies Awards 2026

Stjärnorps Castle Ruin, photo: Felix Gerlach

Stjärnorp Castle Ruin, located outside Linköping in Sweden, is one of 40 projects selected for the shortlist of the EUmies Awards 2026—Europe’s most prestigious and influential architecture prize. The project is recognized for its sensitive balance between historical restoration and contemporary architecture, selected from 410 nominations across 40 countries.

The EUmies Awards are presented by the Fundació Mies van der Rohe and the European Union. This year, particular emphasis is placed on projects characterized by transformation, reuse, and long-term sustainability. Nearly half of the shortlisted projects are based on the transformation of existing environments rather than new construction.

— The work at Stjärnorp has been about securing and preserving the ruin for the future, but also about adding something contemporary without distorting the site’s history. That the project is now being recognized internationally is a fine acknowledgment of that ambition, says Erik Wikerstål, lead architect at Tengbom.

Since the EUmies Awards were established in 1988, Sweden has had fewer nominated projects than the other Nordic countries. The shortlisting of Stjärnorp Castle Ruin is therefore especially significant, both for the project itself and for Swedish architecture in a European context. In its selection, the jury emphasized the social value, climate awareness, and contextual sensitivity of the projects.

Stjärnorp Castle Ruin was originally constructed in the 17th century and remained unprotected for over 230 years following a devastating fire in 1789. Through a long-term and careful restoration process, the ruin has now been made accessible and secured for future generations. At the same time, new architectural additions in materials such as wood, glass, and corten steel signal the present day.

The project has previously been awarded the Östergötland Architecture Prize and has been praised in the professional press for its high level of craftsmanship and its clear stance: to preserve the ruin as a ruin, rather than to recreate what was lost.

— Stjärnorp demonstrates how architecture can help make cultural heritage accessible and relevant to more people, without simplifying or romanticizing history, says Wikerstål.

The winners of the EUmies Awards 2026 will be announced later this year.

Facts: EUmies Awards 2026

• Established in 1988 by the Fundació Mies van der Rohe and the European Union

• 410 nominations from 40 countries

• 40 projects on the shortlist from 18 countries

• Focus in 2026: transformation, sustainability, social value, and contextual sensitivity

Contact
Erik Wikerstål
erik.wikerstal@tengbom.se
+46 705 23 81 03