The fight for hope: How Quarticciolo’s boxing gym is empowering youth
In Quarticciolo, one of Rome’s most marginalised neighbourhoods, a humble boxing gym is transforming the lives of its youth. Established in 2015 by a group
The 15-minute city at night: towards a holistic urban vision
How can cities function seamlessly both day and night? What happens when the 15-minute city concept meets the night-time economy? Can decentralising nightlife create safer, more accessible, and sustainable urban
Reviving the Donaukanal: Transforming Public Space Through Urban Swimming
The Schwimmverein Donaukanal (SVDK) exemplifies how social design can transform urban environments through community engagement. The initiative began as a small social design research project at the University of Applied
Wide space: Fighting for a vision of solidarity in Quarticciolo, Rome
Quarticciolo, a historic and working-class district of Rome, is undergoing significant transformation. While the Italian government promotes the Caivano emergency decree—focused on security, control, and militarisation—the neighbourhood is positioning itself
Civocracy: Revolutionising Digital Civic Engagement in Europe
Civocracy is revolutionising digital civic engagement by providing a secure and inclusive platform for citizens to actively participate in decision-making processes. By combining online tools with offline strategies, it bridges
Shaping spaces of sociability: Social infrastructure and the gentle transformation of Budapest’s Népszínház Street
I’m walking down Budapest’s Népszínház Street. Leaving behind Blaha Lujza Square, one of the city’s major public transportation hubs, I’m entering Józsefváros, a district that was, until not so long
Nature and the city: How Văcărești Urban Park supports biodiversity with urban life in Bucharest
In the heart of Bucharest, Văcărești Nature Park tells a story of transformation, resilience, and renewal. What was once a neighbourhood razed for a Communist-era water reservoir project in 1988,
Placemaking’s Dilemma: Creating Connections or Widening Gaps?
What makes a public space truly belong to the people who use it? Can design empower communities or does it risk excluding them? Is placemaking a tool for transformation –
Jardins do Bombarda: From a former psychiatric hospital to a cultural and social venue
Jardins do Bombarda is a cultural and community centre run by Largo Residências, a cultural and social solidarity cooperative. The organisation moved to the premises of the former psychiatry hospital
Fighting Energy Poverty: Solidarity Energy Community in East Naples
The Solidarity Energy Community of East Naples in San Giovanni a Teduccio is pioneering a transformative approach to renewable energy that combines hands-on education with sustainable practices. Launched during the
The social costs of energy transition and the opportunities of energy communities
Energy transition offers major structural changes to energy supply and consumption in our energy system in order to limit climate change. Especially after the breakout of the war in Ukraine,
Gdańsk Participatory Budgeting: a model for enhancing civic engagement
The Gdańsk participatory budgeting initiative, inaugurated in 2011, exemplifies a transformative approach to civic participation in urban development. This program allocates a specific portion of the city’s annual budget, approximately
Citizens’ participation and co-creation experiences in environmental issues
Over the past years an increasing attention towards environmental justice is gaining more public attention through media, activism and civic participation. The PUJ project in Prato, Italy, has explored many
