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…
This episode of the CrAFt Sandbox City video series invites you into the heart of Bologna, where an abandoned industrial site has been reimagined as DUMBO—a dynamic cultural centre and a pilot project for sustainable, inclusive urban regeneration. As part…
In this CrAFt video episode, we head to Prague—a city known for its stunning historic character—to discover how innovation, creativity and collaboration are shaping its path toward a climate-neutral future. As one of three CrAFt Sandbox Cities, Prague is exploring…
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.
With nearly two decades of experience securing and implementing European-funded projects, Adrian Craciun and George Lupascu are seasoned professionals who have played pivotal roles in shaping the strategic development of the Constanța metropolitan area in Romania. In the summer of 2024, we had the opportunity to speak with them about how their city is transforming its city centre and integrating the New European Bauhaus principles.
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.
In this interview, Karel Koch, Lab Lead of Sluislab and Associate Lector at Inholland University of Applied Sciences, discusses the role of arts and culture in Amsterdam’s Sluisbuurt development. He explores how citizen engagement, creative interventions, and the New European Bauhaus principles are shaping the neighbourhood’s future while balancing flexibility and strategic urban planning.
Kuba Depczyński is the curator of public programmes at Warsaw's Museum of Modern Art and co-founder of the Office for Post-Artistic Services, a collective of artists and activists in Poland. This collective's work bridges art and social issues, mainly through projects like Opolno-Zdrój is the Future!, where they engage with communities facing the challenges of transitioning from coal mining to sustainable futures.
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.
Peter Hareide, CEO of Sørsida Utvikling AS, envisions a transformed Ålesund where sustainability is integral to urban planning. He aims to attract a thousand new residents to the city centre, boost commercial activity, and create a vibrant urban atmosphere.
Madeleine Kate McGowan is an artist with a background in arts, speculative design, and ecology. Her innovative Garden Caretaker project, transforms urban spaces by integrating art, communities and ecological practices. Her work emphasises the interconnectedness of human and non-human life. Discover her Garden Caretaker project in Denmark.
Filipa Corais—a researcher, PhD student, architect, urban planner and head of mobility at the Municipality of Braga—blends theory and practice to reclaim public spaces for pedestrians and cyclists. Launched in 2022, her Transition Experiments introduced participatory processes in the city's urban planning by engaging various stakeholders.
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.
This double interview delves into Matilde’s and A'mina’s insights on Bologna's cultural landscape, their experiences with the transformative urban space DumBO, and their perspectives on enhancing its vibrancy and inclusivity.
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.
This story follows Noemí Julián's role as a manager in Bologna's Climate Citizens' Assembly, aimed at addressing climate change and engaging citizens in shaping the city's sustainable future. Noemí highlights the transformative impact of the Assembly, activating previously inactive citizens and validating the city's climate neutrality plans.