[{"command":"openDialog","selector":"#drupal-modal","settings":null,"data":"\u003Cdiv id=\u0022republish_modal_form\u0022\u003E\u003Cform class=\u0022modal-form-example-modal-form ecl-form\u0022 data-drupal-selector=\u0022modal-form-example-modal-form\u0022 action=\u0022\/mt\/article\/modal\/11626\u0022 method=\u0022post\u0022 id=\u0022modal-form-example-modal-form\u0022 accept-charset=\u0022UTF-8\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHorizon articles can be republished for free under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence.\u003C\/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003EYou must give appropriate credit. We ask you to do this by:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n      1) Using the original journalist\u0027s byline\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n      2) Linking back to our original story\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n      3) Using the following text in the footer: This article was originally published in \u003Ca href=\u0027#\u0027\u003EHorizon, the EU Research and Innovation magazine\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003ESee our full republication guidelines \u003Ca href=\u0027\/horizon-magazine\/republish-our-stories\u0027\u003Ehere\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003EHTML for this article, including the attribution and page view counter, is below:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022js-form-item form-item js-form-type-textarea form-item-body-content js-form-item-body-content ecl-form-group ecl-form-group--text-area form-no-label ecl-u-mv-m\u0022\u003E\n        \n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n  \u003Ctextarea data-drupal-selector=\u0022edit-body-content\u0022 aria-describedby=\u0022edit-body-content--description\u0022 id=\u0022edit-body-content\u0022 name=\u0022body_content\u0022 rows=\u00225\u0022 cols=\u002260\u0022 class=\u0022form-textarea ecl-text-area\u0022\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EThe hands-on drive for sustainable living in Europe\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn the Italian town of Nepi last year, a school covered floorspace in sheets and asked children to draw how they would change the urban layout. Elsewhere in the town, a care centre for elderly people quizzed them on the same topic in a questionnaire.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe drawings by the children and answers from the care centre\u2019s occupants touched on issues affecting wellbeing including water, food, energy and social interaction. Sustainability was also a primary concern, with children even coming up with an idea that resulted in a planned rain garden for water purification.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPeople power\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBoth groups in Nepi, which has a population of about 10 000 and is located 50 kilometres north of Rome, took part in a research project that received EU funding to help spur the development of more environmentally sustainable, socially inclusive and aesthetically pleasing urban areas.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u2018It\u2019s more of a bottom-up, people-centric approach \u2013 starting from the people living in the cities themselves,\u2019 said Alessia Peluchetti, an urban-simulation engineer at Italy-based Rina Consulting, which manages the project and specialises in energy, transport and infrastructure development.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECalled\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cordis.europa.eu\/project\/id\/101079948\u0022\u003EEHHUR\u003C\/a\u003E, the project began in October 2022 and is due to run through September 2025.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe initiative is also getting urban residents and businesses involved in regenerating cities in Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Greece, Portugal and Turkey.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe project takes inspiration from the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/new-european-bauhaus.europa.eu\/index_en\u0022\u003ENew European Bauhaus\u003C\/a\u003E (NEB) initiative to make living in Europe more sustainable, enriching and inclusive. The EU is organising an\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/new-european-bauhaus.europa.eu\/festival_en\u0022\u003ENEB festival\u003C\/a\u003E in the Belgian capital Brussels on 9-13 April.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEEHUR also supports the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/commission.europa.eu\/strategy-and-policy\/priorities-2019-2024\/european-green-deal_en\u0022\u003EEuropean Green Deal\u003C\/a\u003E seeking to make the EU climate neutral by 2050.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECities are central to Europe\u2019s climate goal because they\u2019re home to around three-quarters of EU residents and are responsible for most of the continent\u2019s energy consumption and greenhouse-gas emissions.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHearts and hands\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEHHUR is an acronym for \u201cEyes Hearts Hands Urban Revolution\u201d \u2013 meant to capture the visual, social and practical considerations driving the project.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\u0022text-center text-blue font-bold text-2xl w-full lg:w-1\/2 border-2 border-blue p-12 my-8 lg:m-12 lg:-ml-16 float-left\u0022\u003E\n  \u003Cspan class=\u0022text-5xl rotate-180\u0022\u003E\u201c\u003C\/span\u003E\n  \u003Cp class=\u0022font-serif italic\u0022\u003EWe need to create spaces that are attractive and help reduce inequalities.\u003C\/p\u003E\n  \u003Cfooter\u003E\n    \u003Ccite class=\u0022not-italic font-normal text-sm text-black\u0022\u003EAlessia Peluchetti, EHHUR\u003C\/cite\u003E\n  \u003C\/footer\u003E\n\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\n\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u2018If we want people to use city spaces, we need to create spaces that are attractive and help reduce inequalities,\u2019 said Peluchetti.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEnergy efficiency is one focus of EHHUR, which is harnessing new technologies as well as the arts.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPlanned renovations for energy savings at two primary schools and a university in the northern Greek city of Kozani, for example, include better heat insulation and rooftop solar panels.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELocal residents were involved in the design by helping decide on the aesthetics of the refurbished buildings. The renovations are scheduled to start within six months.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn the northern Portuguese municipality of Maia outside Porto, EHHUR researchers plan to organise events in which local artists will perform on the street in July 2025. One spectacle will be a puppet show. The aim is to celebrate the talents and culture of residents and facilitate integration in the community.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn the northern Belgian municipality of Zoersel, a renovated library will host local-language lessons for foreigners in a bid to strengthen integration.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThree other key urban demonstration sites under the project are H\u00f8je-Taastrup in Denmark, Osijek in Croatia and Izmir in Turkey. All seven places \u2013 including Nepi, Kozani, Maia and Zoersel \u2013 are dubbed \u201c\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/eyesheartshands.eu\/districts\/\u0022\u003Elighthouse districts\u003C\/a\u003E\u201d.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe overall aim is to build a sense of joint ownership of and investment in shared spaces.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn H\u00f8je-Taastrup, an \u201cenergy community\u2019\u2019 will be established for local residents to decide on their preferred clean-power options such as solar panels and electric-vehicle charging points.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn Izmir, a historic shopping centre will undergo regeneration to create a craft and cultural space. The aim is to strengthen public awareness of the history of the city \u2013 one of the oldest in the Mediterranean world and known as Smyrna in antiquity \u2013 as well as bonds among people.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u201cMeanwhile spaces\u201d\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECities across Europe are full of vacant buildings, empty plots of land and underused areas \u2013 all of which another EU-funded project believes can be tapped to accelerate regeneration.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENamed\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cordis.europa.eu\/project\/id\/868887\u0022\u003ET-Factor\u003C\/a\u003E, the project has demonstrated temporary-use options for such spots and describes them as \u201cmeanwhile spaces\u201d. It started in June 2020 and is due to run through May 2024.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u2018We have been trying to understand how we could turn empty and transient spaces into opportunities for more inclusive and equitable urban regeneration,\u2019 said Laura Martelloni, who co-leads T-Factor and is a designer at ANCI Toscana, the regional network of Tuscan municipalities in Italy.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESix test sites in Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and the UK are part of the project. They range from the Euston neighbourhood in London to the former industrial site of Zorrotzaurre in Bilbao.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMore inclusive\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn Euston, community festivals and engagement through arts were developed to make public spaces more liveable, safe and convivial.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ET-Factor worked with community groups to help them have a say within official bodies overseeing the area\u2019s redevelopment. That means local residents can influence urban-development decisions and become more empowered to champion \u201cmeanwhile uses\u201d for inclusive participation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\u0022text-center text-blue font-bold text-2xl w-full lg:w-1\/2 border-2 border-blue p-12 my-8 lg:m-12 lg:-ml-16 float-left\u0022\u003E\n  \u003Cspan class=\u0022text-5xl rotate-180\u0022\u003E\u201c\u003C\/span\u003E\n  \u003Cp class=\u0022font-serif italic\u0022\u003ECities continuously need regeneration because they change so fast.\u003C\/p\u003E\n  \u003Cfooter\u003E\n    \u003Ccite class=\u0022not-italic font-normal text-sm text-black\u0022\u003ELaura Martelloni, T-Factor\u003C\/cite\u003E\n  \u003C\/footer\u003E\n\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\n\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA similar story occurred in Zorrotzaurre.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThere, T-Factor worked for the sustainable use and recycling of resources among creative associations, digital innovators and designers and residents. This experience is now leading to the creation of a civic design council in which involved Bilbao residents will have more of a say over future development of the city.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor example, they could use their voice in the council to turn the successful temporary use of a space as a market into a permanent feature.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ET-Factor plans to publish a paper in April 2024 with recommendations for spreading the temporary use of city spaces and making it a stronger feature of urban regeneration across Europe.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne planned recommendation is for temporary-use projects to take a \u201cportfolio approach\u201d so that complex challenges such as climate stress and social inequalities are tackled simultaneously rather than in isolation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnother draft proposal is for a new generation of professionals with expertise in the field to be encouraged and to become resources within municipal organisations as they develop temporary-use arrangements.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn general, policymakers should experiment with temporary uses of public spaces with a view, when such tests prove successful, to making them more lasting, according to Martelloni. She signalled that the task itself is permanent.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u2018Cities continuously need regeneration because they change so fast,\u2019 Martelloni said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EResearch in this article was funded by the EU\u2019s Horizon Programme. The views of the interviewees don\u2019t necessarily reflect those of the European Commission. If you liked this article, please consider sharing it on social media.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022text-center bg-bluelightest p-12 my-12 -mx-16\u0022\u003E\n  \u003Ch3 class=\u0022font-sans font-bold text-blue uppercase text-lg mb-8\u0022\u003ENew European Bauhaus\u003C\/h3\u003E\n  \u003Cspan class=\u0022inline-block w-1\/6 h-1 bg-blue mb-8\u0022\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\n  \u003Cp\u003EA century after it emerged in Germany, the Bauhaus school of art, architecture and design is getting a rebirth in Europe in a bid to improve urban life.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/new-european-bauhaus.europa.eu\/index_en\u0022\u003ENew European Bauhaus\u003C\/a\u003E (NEB) aims to help cities across the EU become less polluting and more attractive through artistic, cultural and technological projects reaching many millions of residents.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EInitiated by the European Commission in 2020, the NEB has three prime goals: reduce environmental harm including climate change, tackle social inequalities such as exclusion and spruce up public areas.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EChanging the design and use of urban spaces and structures is central to the whole undertaking, with sustainability, inclusion and aesthetics shaping the overall vision.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile serving policy goals set at EU level, the NEB relies on bottom-up initiatives undertaken by a range of people and organisations. These include city dwellers, artistic groups, architectural experts and local businesses, authorities and students.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EResearch is a main feature of the NEB, with\u0026nbsp;almost\u0026nbsp;\u20ac160 million for EU projects in 2021-2024.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/textarea\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\n            \u003Cdiv id=\u0022edit-body-content--description\u0022 class=\u0022ecl-help-block description\u0022\u003E\n      Please copy the above code and embed it onto your website to republish.\n    \u003C\/div\u003E\n  \u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cinput autocomplete=\u0022off\u0022 data-drupal-selector=\u0022form-fwulu0eix5udwn6drxz3iwxgynfjr-kb5k9jzxphit4\u0022 type=\u0022hidden\u0022 name=\u0022form_build_id\u0022 value=\u0022form-fwUlu0eix5uDwn6drxz3iWXgYnfjR_Kb5k9JZxpHIt4\u0022 \/\u003E\n\u003Cinput data-drupal-selector=\u0022edit-modal-form-example-modal-form\u0022 type=\u0022hidden\u0022 name=\u0022form_id\u0022 value=\u0022modal_form_example_modal_form\u0022 \/\u003E\n\u003C\/form\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E","dialogOptions":{"width":"800","modal":true,"title":"Republish this content"}}]