In this episode of the CrAFt video series, we explore how the city of Amsterdam is pioneering new approaches to climate-neutral urban living. As one of three Sandbox Cities in the European CrAFt project, Amsterdam is at the forefront of…
Vittoria Lombardi, a cultural practitioner based in Turin, Italy, uses art to spark social change and foster community engagement. With a diverse background in political science and the arts, she works for Milano Mediterranea. This nomadic participatory arts organisation connects communities through creative processes and innovative projects like the Neighbourhood Communities of Care initiative.
This 15th-century building, located in the United Kingdom, blends historic preservation with modern sustainability. Renewable energy investments have cut its carbon footprint by 100 tonnes annually, while restoration efforts maintain its legacy with eco-friendly materials. Awarded the European Sustainable Heritage Award 2024, Athelhampton sets a benchmark for sustainable heritage.
Across Europe, more homeowners are generating surplus solar energy—but what if, instead of sending it back to the grid, they could share it locally? Thanks to innovative online platforms, homeowners can now trade excess power with their neighbours, cutting costs, reducing waste, and driving the shift towards a greener, community-powered future.
Imagine this: a resident sitting comfortably in their living room, enjoying a book, a cold beer, or a football match. Meanwhile, every lightbulb is switched on, every gadget plugged in, and every electric appliance contributes not only to their comfort but also to a communal reserve fund dedicated to improving their building. This is the reality at the Marius Renard building in Anderlecht, in the Brussels Region, where an ambitious energy community has turned sustainability into a way of life.
Making cities greener is more complex than it seems, especially when creating shared gardens. What looks like an easy project can run into unexpected problems, like people living unofficially in an area who worry about their homes if the space becomes public. This project showed Elham, a member of CrAFt's Core Groups of students, that changing parts of a city isn't just about adding plants or benches; it's also about understanding how these changes affect the people who live there.
As European capital cities deal with rapid population growth, some towns face the opposite problem: population decline and economic downturns. Miodrag Kuč's project in Eisenhüttenstadt (Germany) and Visaginas (Lithuania) tackles these issues in two monofunctional cities dependent on heavy industries such as steel and nuclear energy. He helps residents craft a collective vision for their cities' futures through creative projects and extensive community involvement.
Every revolution carries a song or hymn, a symbol of its values, hopes, and collective spirit. CrAFt, as a transformative initiative under the New European Bauhaus, embodies inclusiveness, aesthetics, and sustainability in the pursuit of climate-neutral cities, the cities of…
On 31 May 2024, the conference “Climate Change and Climate Adaptation: Living Below Sea Levels” was held in Amsterdam. The event, organised by Vereniging Eigen Huis and the International Union of Property Owners (UIPI), brought together 45 participants, including property owners,…
Architecture-engineering student Raffaele Tommaso Isernia shares his insights on cultural space DumBo, where art and community dialogue breathe new life into the industrial landscape, honouring the legacy of 90s graffiti artists while fostering contemporary creativity.
Ruxandra, one of ÎntreVecini's Community builders, explains this Romanian organisation's innovative method to foster environmental sustainability and vibrant urban spaces by empowering neighbours and supporting long-lasting community initiatives.
In the waters of the Johan van Hasselt canal in the North of Amsterdam stands Schoonschip, a community-driven floating neighbourhood comprising 46 households representing a pioneering experiment in eco-friendly living.
In the heart of Sluisbuurt, Amsterdam, Marijn van der Eyden's journey unfolds, bridging disciplines from mathematics to the arts. Her passion for cultural heritage intertwines with community engagement, showcasing art as a catalyst for social change in times of rapid urbanisation.
Learn about Amsterdam's hidden underground cultural scene with Expeditie Vrije Ruimte, an excellent example of a Free Cultural Space (FCS) and a project empowering citizens to become architects of their living environments.
A group of eight international CrAFt students embarked on a transformative journey to organise a Think/Do Tank event in Manchester. Together with participants, they explored the role of universities in closing intergenerational gaps and fostering inclusiveness in cities.
The cultural and creative industries have a crucial role in the urban redevelopment of Amsterdam. In this article we take a look at two excellent examples: Marineterrein and Expeditie Vrije Ruimte.
An interview with Orlaith Mayet, an art student who addressed her housing situation in an unconventional and sustainable way.