FuturHist is a European research project that supports the energy-efficient renovation of historic buildings while respecting their cultural and architectural value. Through research, practical tools and international collaboration, the project helps professionals adapt heritage buildings to today’s climate goals. The FuturHist Retrofit Academy is part of this mission, offering a two-step capacity building programme for architects, engineers and heritage practitioners who want to support the sustainable transformation of Europe’s built heritage.
ABOUT THE FUTURHIST RETROFIT ACADEMY
As Europe accelerates toward carbon-neutral goals, the sensitive energy renovation of historic buildings presents both challenges and opportunities. The FuturHist Retrofit Academy equips practitioners with the methodologies, tools and technical knowledge developed within the multidisciplinary FuturHist Horizon Europe research project: a consortium committed to future-proofing historic buildings through scalable, typology-based strategies.
Co-organised by the Sendzimir Foundation and ICOMOS, with contributions from leading academic and technical partners across Europe, this capacity-building programme supports participants in navigating the complex balance between built heritage preservation and modern energy performance.
A PRACTICAL TRAINING WEEK IN KRAKÓW
The European Summer Academy on the Refurbishment of Historic Buildings is the second stage of the FuturHist Retrofit Academy. This intensive, on-site training will take place in Kraków, Poland, from 7 to 13 September 2026 and offers a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the retrofit of historic buildings.
Designed as a seven-day immersive programme, the Summer Academy focuses on the energy-efficient refurbishment of historic buildings. It builds on the knowledge acquired during the online course (Stage 1) and allows participants to apply innovative retrofit methodologies in real-life conditions. Participants will work on actual buildings identified for renovation by local authorities in Kraków. In multidisciplinary teams, they will carry out building diagnostics, define performance objectives, and develop compatible passive and active retrofit solutions that respect heritage values.
The training also includes the application of the FuturHist decision-making methodology and its step-by-step toolkit. Energy performance calculations and life-cycle assessment (LCA) will support the development of sustainable and conservation-sensitive proposals.
PROGRAMME OF THE TRAINING
During the on-site training, participants will:
- Conduct building diagnostics and evaluate existing performance conditions.
- Define performance objectives consistent with heritage values and energy targets.
- Identify and assess compatible passive and active retrofit solutions.
- Apply the FuturHist step-by-step decision-making methodology and test its practical toolkit.
- Carry out energy calculations and life-cycle assessment (LCA) to measure environmental impact.
- Examine the transferability of developed strategies to other building typologies and regional contexts.
This hands-on approach will allow participants to engage directly with the complexity of heritage retrofit projects while strengthening analytical and collaborative skills.
PARTICIPATION AND SELECTION
Attendance is by invitation only. The Summer Academy is reserved for the top 20 participants from the Stage 1 e-learning course, selected based on their engagement and performance.
To provide the best environment for knowledge and experience sharing in the recruitment process, organizers will take into account the diversity of represented countries and institutions, as well as the professional motivation described in the registration form. This stage is directed in particular to individuals professionally involved in the future-proofing of European heritage buildings. The participation in the training is free of charge.