A working meeting of the UrbCitizenPower project was hosted by the Dutch partner city of Groningen during three days in June. The project team, together with two representatives from the Municipality of Košice, participated in an intensive and diverse program that supported one of the main pillars of the project – sharing experiences between partners and local experts. Discussions, professional presentations, interactive workshops, and formal project meetings brought a wealth of inspiration and contributed to deepening cooperation.
The goal of the second Urban Living Lab was to share approaches to creating public spaces and find effective ways to actively involve local communities and residents in this process. Project partners from Groningen prepared a diverse program consisting of a series of lectures, discussions, and interactive workshops.
Interactive approach to public space design and community participation
he first day of the meeting was already dedicated to presenting the city of Groningen itself. From the head of the urban planning department, we learned more about the so-called “DNA of Groningen” – the fundamental values, principles, and vision that shape the city’s development. This was followed by presentations focused on approaches to designing public spaces and involving residents in their creation and improvement. All contributions were led directly by municipal employees.
An important part of the program was also the practical verification of the presented methodologies through an active field walk. During this walk, participants observed specific urban spaces, identified well-designed public spaces, as well as places with potential for improvement. Groups were divided according to thematic areas of the methodology – some focused on mobility, others on the overall impression and atmosphere of the environment, blue and green infrastructure, or on public spaces designated for socialization and active leisure activities.
What will the streets of tomorrow look like? Workshop on innovative approaches and transformation of public spaces through the eyes of the chief architect
The second day of the meeting continued with a walk through the center of Groningen accompanied by the city’s chief architect, who introduced participants to key transformations of public spaces and explained the principles that the city applies in their modifications.
The afternoon was dedicated to an interactive workshop, during which participants in small groups designed the “future of streets” using the methodology presented by representatives of the city of Groningen. This activity allowed for a deeper understanding of urban planning principles while offering the opportunity to look at public space design through the eyes of local experts.
The day also included informal conversations with local public space experts, which brought additional inspiration and valuable insights. The third day of the meeting was devoted to internal project negotiations among partners and joint reflection on the activities and knowledge gained during the stay in Groningen.
Meeting with experts and exchanging experiences is also crucial for development and innovation in Košice
The Urban Living Lab meeting was also attended by two representatives from the Municipality of Košice – Ján Dlabal from the Chief Architect’s Office and Richard Dlhý, head of the Strategic Department.
Their participation enabled not only establishing new professional contacts, but also gaining valuable practical experience that can enrich the development of public spaces in Košice.
Richard Dlhý particularly appreciated the comprehensiveness and practicality of the program: “Representatives of the Groningen municipal government prepared a very valuable program for us. It was useful to learn how they address mobility issues in their city (restricting individual car transport), climate adaptation measures. I am grateful for the opportunity to learn how they engage ‘locals’ in jointly solving these issues in the territory.”
This approach to inclusive and sustainable planning of public spaces brings new impulses that could also be an inspiration for the urban environment of Košice.
Ján Dlabal emphasized the value of direct communication and exchange of experiences between project partners: “Overall positive experience. Despite the relatively short time frame, the lectures, workshop and field exercises were beneficial. The possibility of communicating with representatives of individual cities provides insight into possible solutions to recurring problems in European metropolises. The host city factually presented possible solutions to problematic spaces in terms of transport, green-blue infrastructure and social aspects, population participation in choosing how to transform public space.”
It is precisely these experiences and knowledge that create a solid foundation for further steps in the development of Košice, which can be inspired by proven practices and trends from European cities.
The project is co-funded by the Interreg Europe programme.
