From ideas to process-projects

This project category explores the potential of vacant or residual spaces to become new micro-hubs and links between neighbourhoods, landscapes and transportation networks. Rather than viewing them as peripheral areas, these strategies treat them as anchor points to re-connect the city: car parks, brownfield sites, disused infrastructure and reconfigured junctions. They employ a form of ‘urban acupuncture’: small, targeted interventions following changes in mobility patterns to create shared, comfortable and porous spaces, and to strengthen pedestrian and cycle routes, parks, facilities and active ground floors; the idea being to redistribute flows and create new centres of activity.

1 / Slow-motion first

Making room for living environments through mobility approaches. Re-using and transforming in-between and vacant spaces into new living environments in line with new mobility trends – which are slower, softer and shared. Urban ‘acupuncture’ as an articulation, involving a series of small, targeted interventions that redefine routes, slow down traffic flows, strengthen proximity hubs and encourage people to reconnect with the time and space of everyday life.

2 / Inclusive places

Addressing social needs working with the natural potential of the area. Designing inclusive spaces based on the landscape, the ecological resources and the local expertise in order to welcome a wide variety of people. These open, accessible and reversible spaces not only encourage interaction, care, education and sharing, they also forge connections between nature, culture and solidarity, in order to strengthen social cohesion across the region.