Should Interior Architecture Have a Common European Framework?

This was one of the key questions raised at Interior Architecture Connects Europe, held in Warsaw on 17–20 September 2026.

As a member of SAW (the Association of Interior Architects in Poland), I had the opportunity to attend this exceptional gathering of the interior architecture community, bringing together professionals from across Europe.

Representatives of 22 professional organisations met in Warsaw, with more than 300 participants from 23 countries. Events took place at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw and other distinctive venues across the city, providing a valuable opportunity to exchange experiences and compare professional practices across Europe.

One of the conference’s central topics was the legal status and regulation of interior architecture in different countries. While some countries have regulations governing the professional title, others take a very different approach. These differences highlight the many paths towards the professional recognition of our field.

A particularly important milestone was the launch of work on a European Charter for Interior Architecture. Participants continued developing its underlying principles the following day. The document is still in its early stages, making it especially interesting to follow how this initiative will evolve.

Other discussions covered education, cooperation between professional organisations and universities, educational standards, Polish design and craftsmanship, revitalisation, and the future of the profession. The impact of AI on both education and design practice was also explored.

For me, the most valuable aspect was the opportunity to confront different perspectives. When professionals from 22 organisations come together, it becomes clear just how differently we approach questions of professional competence, education and the future of interior architecture — and how much we can learn from one another.