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…
Kiel’s waterfront has long been the city's heart, where ships set sail for Scandinavia and the Baltic, embedding a deep maritime spirit into its culture. Over the years, however, parts of the waterfront became disconnected, leaving urban revitalisation opportunities untapped. The HörnAnkerHaus project is contributing to transforming a historically significant yet underutilised area into a thriving, sustainable urban quarter where housing, community, and commerce converge.
As CrAFt’s last Core Group of Students, we were thrown into a sea of knowledge that had been accumulated by the previous three core groups. Among them, a Think-Do Tank event in Milan became ours to execute, which we took over mid-planning. Incidentally, the intensity of this process influenced us to choose a different approach than previous editions of the TDT, and navigate towards the act of slowing down and sensing one's surroundings.
Lies Debbaut’s transition from teaching geography in a secondary school to coordinating urban climate policy highlights her passion for the environment and dedication to fostering sustainable cities. Five years ago, she made a decisive move into public administration, joining the climate team at the City of Bruges. There, she quickly took the lead on initiatives designed to lower the city's carbon emissions. Today, Lies is focused on transforming the Quay District, playing a central role in a groundbreaking project that seeks to revitalise Bruges' urban areas while tackling urgent climate issues.
The Swedish BID model showcases the transformative power of local cooperation among property owners in addressing urban challenges. Inspired by the North American concept of Business Improvement Districts, the Swedish adaptation focuses on voluntary, collective efforts to enhance safety, sustainability, and livability in suburban areas.
The RELAUNCHTOWIN project in Burgas, Bulgaria, is transforming a decaying sports hall into a Nearly Zero Energy Building (NZEB) and a vibrant community space. Driven by sustainability and inclusivity, the initiative prioritises citizen engagement as part of its commitment to the New European Bauhaus principles. This project aims to make this building and Burgas a model for modern urban development, blending innovation with community-focused design and green spaces.
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.
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.
Annick Vanhove, a renovation coach in Mechelen, Belgium, combines her expertise in renovation, team coaching, and strategic communication to assist condominium owners in driving sustainable, community-focused projects as part of her role at the Condoreno EU project.
Fastighetsägarna Sverige, a nationwide federation with 150 years of expertise, supports Sweden’s property industry through sustainable practices and community engagement. The organisation released a comprehensive guide on social sustainability in May 2023. This document offers practical tools and examples for property owners to enhance their social impact, emphasising ethical business practices, community building, and responsible urban development.
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.
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,…
Odd Vinje, a computer engineer involved in the NEB-Star project, works to bridge digital solutions with societal impact, aiming to foster collaboration across sectors. His passion for nature aligns seamlessly with the project's focus on environmental concerns, making his work meaningful and forward-thinking.
Started in 2021, the Planning Bus is a unique educational initiative revived by Markus Schwai and Erik Frydenlund Hofsbro to blend real-world urban planning challenges with student learning and community engagement in Norway.
Discover how an interdisciplinary group of students embarked on a journey to reimagine urban spaces through collaborative creativity, embodied engagement, and collective dreaming for sustainability in this insightful reflection on CrAFt's Think/Do Tank event in Amsterdam.
Giulia, 27, an Architecture and Construction Engineering student in Bologna, shares her journey exploring DumBO, a transformative urban project, focusing on environmental sustainability and collaborative community development using the New European Bauhaus (NEB) Impact Model.
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.
Raffaele, an architecture and engineering student in Bologna, reflects on the multidimensional nature of urban environments and the need for holistic approaches that integrate social, aesthetic, and cultural considerations in urban planning and development.
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.
The Marineterrein in Amsterdam is a test urban area that is gradually developing into a city quarter where there is room for open innovation, culture, sports, recreation and greenery.
The Green Mile Foundation, a collaboration of six diverse organisations, strives to turn a vibrant street into a sustainable haven for nature and people. Overcoming alignment challenges, their partnership with university students emphasises art, education, and diverse perspectives to create an inclusive, responsive community.
An interview with Orlaith Mayet, an art student who addressed her housing situation in an unconventional and sustainable way.