Vernacular architecture represents a great resource that has considerable potential to define principles for sustainable design and contemporary architecture. Traditional architecture and its methods and strategies are undervalued and unemployed in new construction. Nevertheless, very important principles and components can be learned from this heritage, to be applied nowadays, in sustainable architecture.The 5 partners have a significant curriculum, with relevant scientific publications and research in the area of vernacular heritage and sustainable architecture. The universities have experience in European research projects, a regular scientific collaboration, and a common strategy related to the development of an integrated European approach. They have also jointly published several reference books and international conference proceedings. Thus, they have a consolidated partnership of working together, which results of worthy efficiency providing relevant results. This project’s proposal is structured under 13 main activities, which are responsible for the broad-spectrum outreach of 2 International Conferences (one of them integrated in the most important official event in the area: CIAV 2013); 5 seminars (resulting from coordination reunions); a comprehensive website; a Synthesis booklet in 5 languages; an illustrated Publication; and the launching of a European Network. “Lessons from Vernacular Heritage for Sustainable Architecture” has the partnership of 5 universities from 4 countries (Portugal, Spain, France and Italy), the collaboration of 6 institutions from 5 countries (Sweden, United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Slovenia and Cyprus) and the institutional support from 3 international entities: ICOMOS-CIAV (International Council on Monuments and Sites - International Scientific Committee of Vernacular Architecture), ICOMOS-ISCEAH (International Scientific Committee on Earthen Architectural Heritage) and the European Network for Earth Building.