Collaborative local governance models to accelerate the emblematic transformation of urban environment and contribute to the New European Bauhaus initiative and the objectives of the European Green Deal

In order to contribute to the European Green Deal objectives of climate-neutrality, sustainability, prosperity and inclusiveness, cities will have to undergo a rapid and radical transformation and come up with creative, sustainable and collaborative solutions. Urban areas are characterized by diversity of resources, services, communities, interests and needs, which converge into public spaces design and management. A well co-designed public space provides the unique opportunity to improve its climate-neutrality (i.e. using bio-based and natural materials, nature based solutions, introducing new green spaces and circular economy concepts all across the construction life-cycle, new forms of work and commuting patterns, renewable energies, energy efficient lighting, smart digital services etc.) while increasing their attractiveness and social inclusiveness. As promoted by the New European Bauhaus initiative, a systemic co-designed approach to ‘quality climate-neutral urban transformation’ can create living space, where the best technical performances meet citizens’ social, emotional, cultural and aesthetic needs and values.

Proposals should include the following activities:

• Developing innovative and collaborative models of local governance to engage with citizens and local stakeholders in order to identify urban emblematic projects that simultaneously address the three dimensions of sustainability (including circularity), quality of experience (including aesthetics) and inclusion (including accessibility and affordability).
• Supporting cities in engaging with e.g. schools, universities, culture and arts professionals and institutions, citizens and civil society to harvest the needs, trends, challenges and expectations of citizens and communities in terms of quality climate-neutral urban transformation, in line with the New European Bauhaus initiative’s objectives and to start exploring how to match those needs with the existing possibilities.
• Promoting the New European Bauhaus principles among national, regional and local authorities, citizens and stakeholders through dedicated local initiatives (i.e. events, contests, citizens’ dialogues, living labs) and the development of a dedicated platform for sharing of experience and good practices on participatory governance and co-design at local level.

The project should work in close co-operation with the Horizon Europe Preparatory action ‘Coordination of complementary actions for missions’ (HORIZON-MISS-2021-COOR-01) and with the one stop shop platform to be established under the Horizon 2020 topic LC-GD-1-2-2020 on ‘Towards Climate-Neutral and Socially Innovative Cities’[[https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/lc-gd-1-2-2020]] while embedding citizens social, emotional, cultural and aesthetic needs and values.

The project should as well work in close collaboration with other complementary support actions that will be established in the frame of the New European Bauhaus, such as the technical assistance[[https://ted.europa.eu/]] to be published indicatively in Q2 2021 under the European Regional Development and Cohesion Funds.