FuturHist: Future Development of European Historic Buildings towards a Clean Energy Transition

The FuturHist project is dedicated to identifying tailored and scalable solutions for the future-proofing of historic buildings, based on an integrated typology-based approach, ensuring a clean energy transition. Rather than focusing on individual structures, FuturHist develops replicable retrofit solutions that promote the efficient, healthy, and durable management of historic built heritage.

By establishing a baseline of best practices and policies across Europe, the project aims to enhance the renovation of historic buildings through the development of passive solutions and active systems that align with conservation principles. These include the use of natural insulation materials; the creation of sustainable heating, ventilation, and cooling strategies; as well as a step-by-step decision-making toolkit to integrate these solutions into planning processes. The project solutions are being tested through four real-life demonstration cases in Poland, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom (Scotland), with the goal of expanding its impact to other historic buildings across Europe. Capacity-building and training activities are also planned to ensure the long-term sustainability and dissemination of the project’s impacts.

ICOMOS is one of 18 partner organizations and has appointed two experts from the ICOMOS International Scientific Committee on Energy and Sustainability (ISCES) to contribute to this European Commission Horizon Europe Programme funded initiative.