Placemaking Europe

Innovation for Recovery After València's DANA Floods
2025-05-07 00:00 - 23:59 (Europe/Amsterdam) | Florida Universitaria, Carrer del Rei En Jaume I, 2, Catarroja, Valencia, 46470
We are pleased to announce a significant event organised by Placemaking Europe, in collaboration with eldiario.es and the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities. On 7 May 2025, we’ll be bringing together international experts, local leaders, and community stakeholders to explore innovative strategies that can help drive recovery and resilience following the devastating DANA floods in València and surrounding regions.

This one-day event will focus on key areas for rebuilding the region, including civic engagement, territorial development, and water and resource management. By drawing on a range of perspectives, we hope to identify sustainable solutions that can strengthen the region’s long-term resilience.

In preparation for the event, eldiario.es has launched a public survey to gather valuable quantitative feedback from residents in flood-affected areas, with over 1,600 responses received so far. Additionally, a focus group with 30 local stakeholders will take place on 30 April to capture qualitative insights. This focus group will identify and document current recovery initiatives, analyse synergies and gaps, and prioritise joint objectives and recommendations for institutional support. Together, these efforts will ensure that the discussions on 7 May are grounded in the real-world challenges and opportunities faced by those most affected.

Programme Highlights:

Innovation in Civic Engagement

Innovation in Territorial Development

Innovation in Water and Resource Management

City & Town Perspectives

Spotlight Speakers:

Diana Morant, Minister of Science, Innovation and Universities

José María Ángel, DANA Commissioner

Gabriella Gómez-Mont (Laboratorio para la Ciudad)

Hans Karssenberg (STIPO)

Plus mayors from municipalities affected by DANA and additional experts sharing global urban experiences

A Conclusions Report will be created after the event, capturing the key insights, recommendations, and outcomes. This valuable resource will reflect contributions from both international experts and local stakeholders, helping to inform and shape future recovery efforts.

Place-Led Development Deep Dive: The Making of Elephant Park
2025-03-27 17:00 - 18:00
Join us for an engaging online event exploring the transformation of Elephant Park, one of London’s most ambitious urban regeneration projects. An area with a rich history and a diverse community, Elephant Park is a thriving, eco-conscious community with homes, retail spaces, and inviting public areas.

Through the lens of tactical placemaking, we’ll uncover how innovative, community-driven interventions helped shape Elephant Park into the vibrant destination it is today. Expect compelling visuals, practical insights, and real-world lessons from the placemakers who made it happen.

This event will feature special guests Angela Brennan, Development Management Executive Director at Lendlease and Stephen Platts, Director of Planning and Growth, London Borough of Southwark who both played a key role in the project. The event will be co-hosted by Kristen Zupancic and Laura Pellegrinelli, members of Placemaking Europe’s Place-led Development Working Group.

📆Date: 27 March, 2025🕔Time: 5:00pm – 6:00pm CET📍Location: Online💻 Livestream: http://meet.google.com/kxd-vhtv-xtq

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from the experts and discover how placemaking can transform urban spaces.

If you want to attend, simply click on the right to add the event to your calendar to not miss it! But remember the webinar will be streamed through this link: http://meet.google.com/kxd-vhtv-xtq

Bios

About Angela Brennan, Development Management Executive Director, Lendlease

As Development Management Executive Director, Angela is responsible for the development services provided across Lendlease’s UK portfolio. Most recently, she led Lendlease’s Elephant Park team, progressing the delivery of this £2.5 billion regeneration project in partnership with Southwark Council. During her 24 years at Lendlease, Angela has worked across Australia and the UK on range of major projects including Stratford Cross, Overgate Shopping Centre in Dundee and Bluewater. She has also held the roles of Development Director and Project Lead.

About Stephen Platts, Director of Planning and Growth, London Borough of Southwark

Stephen Platts has been the Director of Planning and Growth at the London Borough of Southwark since April 2022. He has worked for the council for around 30 years is a Chartered Surveyor and a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. Stephen has been involved with the Elephant Park project and worked with Lendlease to support the regeneration from the outset.

About the Elephant Park project

Lendlease is transforming a historic part of Central London, building on Elephant & Castle’s rich heritage to create a vibrant and sustainable community. Delivered in partnership with Southwark Council, the £2.5bn Elephant Park regeneration project will provide over 3,000 high-quality homes, new retail and office spaces, job opportunities, and exceptional green spaces for Londoners.

Designed with sustainability and community at its heart, Elephant Park features a central green space that brings nature and wildlife into the city. It is also home to innovative public spaces such as Elephant Springs, a unique waterscape and play area for all ages.

Set for completion in 2028, Elephant Park will be net zero in operation – a commitment made by Lendlease when it secured planning consent in 2013 – cementing its status as one of the world’s most sustainable inner-city developments. Read more about the project here.

Cities in Placemaking: Open Q&A
2025-03-18 11:00 - 11:45
Join the conversation! With the March 31 application deadline approaching for the next edition of the Cities in Placemaking Program, we’re hosting an interactive Q&A session on March 18 from 11:00 to 11:45. This is a chance for city representatives to learn more about the program – its aims as well values for the participating cities and ask questions. The session will be led by our co-director Ramon and project lead Marta.

The Cities in Placemaking Program supports European cities in embedding placemaking into long-term urban development strategies. Over two years, participating cities receive expert guidance, collaborate with peers, and develop innovative approaches to tackle challenges like social inequity, climate resilience, and fragmented governance.

If your city is considering applying, this session will provide valuable insights into how the program works and what to expect. Stay tuned for details on how to join!

Quick reminder to all interested in applying:

Open Call

Cities in Placemaking

[Preview webinar] POWER OF PLACE: An Introduction to Designing Places For Life
2025-03-04 12:00 - 13:00
Jenny Andersson, designer and host of regenerative learning journey Power of Place, who was one of our speakers in Rotterdam, invites the Placemaking Europe community to two preview webinars of the programme. In Rotterdam Jenny spoke about how the way we design, invest, govern and build the places we inhabit has to make a significant shift towards regenerative design.

Power of Place is a space for leaders, placemakers and practitioners to dive deeply into the value-adding process of regenerative design. This 5 month learning journey will enable you to embrace the complexity of bringing regenerative Places For Life into being. You will connect with peers, and engage in real-world applications of regenerative design. Really Regenerative has also designed a special offer for member of our community which Jenny will share in the upcoming webinars. There are very few opportunities to take a deep dive into regenerative esign with peers in an action-learning enviornment where learningthrough active practice is encouraged over theoretic study. Power of Place is for courageous placemakers who are prepared to develop their practice through ongoing learning, eperimental iteration and deep personal resolve to shape transformative change…

[Preview webinar] POWER OF PLACE: An Introduction to Designing Places For Life
2025-02-27 16:00 - 17:00
Jenny Andersson, designer and host of regenerative learning journey Power of Place, who was one of our speakers in Rotterdam, invites the Placemaking Europe community to two preview webinars of the programme. In Rotterdam Jenny spoke about how the way we design, invest, govern and build the places we inhabit has to make a significant shift towards regenerative design.

Power of Place is a space for leaders, placemakers and practitioners to dive deeply into the value-adding process of regenerative design. This 5 month learning journey will enable you to embrace the complexity of bringing regenerative Places For Life into being. You will connect with peers, and engage in real-world applications of regenerative design. Really Regenerative has also designed a special offer for member of our community which Jenny will share in the upcoming webinars. There are very few opportunities to take a deep dive into regenerative esign with peers in an action-learning enviornment where learningthrough active practice is encouraged over theoretic study. Power of Place is for courageous placemakers who are prepared to develop their practice through ongoing learning, eperimental iteration and deep personal resolve to shape transformative change..

🔴 Livestream | Cities in Placemaking - Official Discussion: Systemic placemaking to tackle urban challenges Livestream
2025-02-11 16:00 - 18:00 | Amare, Spuiplein 150, Den Haag, 2511 EN, Netherlands
Official Discussion: Systemic placemaking to tackle urban challenges

This session will kick off with a presentation of the agenda, setting the stage for a dynamic discussion on the future of placemaking in cities across Europe. Reflections from the Cities in Placemaking programme will be shared, followed by a Mayor’s Discussion, featuring city representatives from The Hague, Rotterdam, Wroclaw, Reggio Emilia, Budapest, and Trencin, who will share insights on their progress, challenges, and ambitions in embedding placemaking in urban development. The session will include an open Q&A, inviting participants to engage with speakers and contribute to the conversation on how to make placemaking a systemic and transformative force in cities.

Hosted and moderated by: Charlot Schans and Fredrik Lindstal

16:00 – 16:05Welcome by The Hague16:05 – 16:15Presentation of the Agenda for making Placemaking systemic16:15 – 16:20Summary video of the programme16:20 – 16:55Panel discussion16:55 – 17:30Part 1: Placemaking as a Political and Strategic PrioritySpeakers:• Richard Rybníček – Mayor of the City of Trenčín• Jakub Mazur – Deputy Mayor of Wroclaw• Chantal Zeegers – Deputy Mayor of Rotterdam• Robert Van Asten – Alderman of The HagueModerated by Fredrik Lindstal16:55 – 17:05Q&ABy Charlot Schans17:05 – 17:40Part 2: From Vision to Action: Placemaking in PracticeSpeakers:• Nur Icar – Alderman, The Hague (work and participation)• Daniel Radai – Deputy Mayor of District 8 Budapest• Ben Freeman – Council of Europe• Davide Prandi – Councillor in the city of Reggio EmiliaModerated by Charlot17:40 – 17:50Q&ABy Fredrik Lindstal17:50 – 18:00SigningWrap upShort conversation between Fredrik and Charlot

Cities in Placemaking gathers in The Hague
2025-02-11 00:00 - 2025-02-12 23:59
On February 11–12, 2025, The Hague will host Cities in Placemaking: 12 Cities Embracing Placemaking to Tackle Urban Challenges, marking the culmination of a transformative two-year journey led by Placemaking Europe. This initiative brought together 12 European cities and key international partners to co-create the Agenda for Making Placemaking Systemic, a groundbreaking roadmap for integrating placemaking into urban governance.

As the global capital of human rights, The Hague provides a fitting backdrop for this milestone event. With its deep-rooted commitment to dialogue, social justice, and diplomacy, the city symbolizes the values at the heart of the Cities in Placemaking programme: community connection, growth, and democratic expression.

At the gathering, city leaders will formally commit to the Agenda for Making Placemaking Systemic, which outlines key principles:

Innovate through organizational reform and adaptive systems

Involve communities through co-creation and leadership

Invest in long-term resources to sustain public space initiatives

These commitments underscore the critical role of public spaces in fostering equity, inclusion, and resilience while addressing today’s pressing urban challenges.

Program:

Open sessions and workshops with local and international placemakers

Site visits showcasing innovative placemaking efforts in The Hague

Collaborative discussions among mayors, vice-mayors, and decision-makers to explore how placemaking can address urban challenges and inspire systemic change

Tuesday, February 11th, 13.00-20.00 CET (ALL DAY EVENT):

Site visits and Placemaking event – let’s hear from the local placemaking heroes

This is an IN-PERSON event.

Wednesday, February 12th, 16:00 – 18:00 CET: Official Ceremony: Systemic Placemaking to Tackle Urban Challenges

Presentation of the Agenda for making placemaking systemic

Mayor’s Discussion

Q&A Session

Note* This event will also be available in a hybrid format. If you are unable to attend in person, please register nonetheless to receive the access link.

Location

The event will be held in the city of The Hague. The venues of the event will be announced.

Partners

The program has been enriched by the contributions of partners such as the Council of Europe’s Intercultural Cities program, the Creative Bureaucracy Festival, and the International Society for Urban Health. Their expertise in promoting interculturality, creative governance, and urban health has strengthened the framework for equitable and thriving communities.For more information click here.

Interested in joining? Register now via this link

Placemaking Week Europe 2024 - Rotterdam
2024-09-24 18:00 - 2024-09-27 20:00 | Keilepand, Keilestraat 9f, Rotterdam, 3029 BP, Netherlands
Placemaking Week Europe is the largest placemaking festival in Europe

Every year at Placemaking Week Europe, placemakers from around the world come together each year in a new host city to present expertise and ideas, share projects, discuss placemaking strategies and methodology, and work together with city municipalities to launch new placemaking initiatives in-situ. It is the most embedded urban festival in Europe with the distinct mission of creating better cities, together.

Placemaking is the approach of building communities around a place, and places by communities. People are invited to reimagine and reinvent public spaces collectively. Placemaking connects economic and social well-being, as well as, quality of life strategically. Builds on the human need for prosperity, sociability and security. The movement builds on more than 50 years of experience in more than 50 countries.

Rotterdam Skyline by Pascal Striebel

The festival’s co-host city for 2024 is Rotterdam, Netherlands!

Rotterdam is known for its harbor, lively cultural life, modern architecture and… placemaking. The extensive distribution system including rail, roads, and waterways have earned Rotterdam the nicknames “Gateway to Europe” and “Gateway to the World.” The city’s nightlife is filled with diversity. Glamorous cocktail bars and classic pubs, hip and happening dance clubs and intimate concert venues. Rotterdam also has a varied architectural landscape, including skyscrapers designed by architects such as Rem Koolhaas, Piet Blom and Ben van Berkel. Rotterdam exhibits impressive examples of placemaking and sets a stage for a future of initiatives that cater to diverse groups and that address complex issues across various topics in the city.

In Rotterdam, during Placemaking Week Europe 2024, you can explore the hidden forces in placemaking and aspects of the process that are vital for innovation. Engage in inventive thinking and explore how this can contribute to making your city a more inclusive, resilient, and dynamic urban environment. In this quest we team up with local heroes who sometimes navigate beyond existing power structures to create a sense of place. Next to that we invite you to join the discussion on how to acknowledge and ensure placemaking in the systemic reality.

Join us in Rotterdam, let’s create space to make a lasting place!

Rotterdam Tourist Information | Rotterdam Info

by Denys Nevozhai on Unsplash

Rotterdam is a bold, forward, and dynamic city in the Netherlands. It is Europe’s largest seaport and home to people from all corners of the world. Time and time again, the city has had to forge its own path and collectively build – from rebellious creatives to legislators, and from neighborhood leaders to project developers. Everyone has played their part in creating the current vibrant city.

Rotterdam is in a constant flux, with a changing harbor, ongoing urban transformations, a growing emphasis on individual expression, and residents with evolving needs. There is also a growing call for a more balanced relationship with water, nature, and addressing climate change. This all leads to a competition for public space and a demand for an innovative and flexible approach to create spaces where people feel a sense of belonging. That is why Rotterdam is working hard to support, protect and utilize placemaking and placemakers for society and the economy.

Explore Rotterdam like a do-rist (dorotterdam.com)

Keilepand: Industrial Hub at the Heart of Rotterdam’s Sustainable Future by HomeAdore

This Year’s Main Venue

Our home base for the week will be at The Keilepand, located in the Rotterdam Makers District of Merwe-Vierhavens (M4H) Rotterdam, is a special site that tells an impressive placemaking story:

The Keilepand has been transformed by GROUP A in collaboration with studioADAMS from a pre-war fruit and vegetable shed into an activity-based building where similar-minded entrepreneurs give meaning to a sustainable future.

The building is a cultural and culinary breeding ground, where passionate entrepreneurs from various disciplines work on their creative ambitions, in the unique mix of making, doing and dreaming that characterizes the Keile Collective.

With various activities such as the lecture series AANKEILEN and CARBON STORIES and exhibitions on themes related to the area development of M4H, the KeileCollectief connects knowledge and experience to the environment. In this way, the users of the building participate in an innovative way in the organic transition of the future living-working area and the Keilepand is the place where the M4H community meets.

The Keile Collective addresses, initiates, and participates in current spatial challenges in its own unique way and, with the Keilepand as its home base, it forms a catalyst for urban renewal. Click here to read more about the ongoing transition of the Keilepand and the surrounding area.

Schouwburgplein by Claire Droppert

This year’s themes:

Placemaking Europe explores transversal topics like gender-inclusive urbanism, multigenerational places, place-based economic development, technology and data, inclusive prosperity, creative bureaucracy, arts & culture.

This year’s festival will focus in 4 overarching themes that correlate both with the state of placemaking in the city of Rotterdam, as well as the city’s future goals, and important timely topics in the larger world of placemaking:

Creating Place & Making It Last

Climate Adaptation: Together Towards Change

Living with Water: The Flow of the City

Local Power & The Battle for Space

To read more about this year’s festival and themes, visit the Placemaking Week Europe website.

Luchtsingel by Iris van den Broek

Hands-On in the City

A major part of this year’s festival will be incorporating visits and workshops at local placemaking site visits across the city. This will be a unique part of Placemaking Week Europe 2024 in Rotterdam – we will interweave our work and our learnings with the fabric of the city in a number of capacities. Get ready to immerse yourself in this year’s festival more than ever before!

Afrikaanderplein by Jan de Groen

Find out more about Placemaking Week Europe 2024 – Rotterdam here!

Tickets are available here!

Regional Network Gathering
2024-08-22 16:00 - 17:30
As Placemaking Europe we are pleased to witness so many local networks taking shape across Europe, from those already professionalized to others still in the planning stages. We acknowledge the emergence of local and regional networks and collectives, such as Placemaking Switzerland, Placemaking Sweden, Placemaking Norway, Place Collective UK, Placemaking Poland, Placemaking Western Balkans, Placemaking Barcelona, and many others.

–

We invite you to our first online regional network gathering on August 22 from 16:00 to 17:30 PM. This virtual meeting is an open event and will be a great chance for us to meet, learn from each other and prepare for Placemaking Week Europe 2024 in Rotterdam

–

Looking forward to connecting with you all and building a stronger placemaking network together.

————————————————MEETING INFORMATION:

Placemaking Europe Regional Networks ExchangeDate: Thursday, August 22 · 16:00 – 17:30 CESTTime zone: Europe/Madrid

Google Meet joining info:Video call link: https://meet.google.com/jkv-webv-ynt

Or dial: ‪(ES) +34 910 48 95 10‬ PIN: ‪263 345 302 1670‬#More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/jkv-webv-ynt?pin=2633453021670

Placemaking Europe x City of Arts Webinar 3 - How can the arts build community resilience in urban transformation?
2024-06-17 18:00 - 19:00
—

Join us for a FREE virtual event!

Event: Webinar 3 – How can the arts build community resilience in urban transformation?

Date: Monday, June 17, 2024

Time: 18:00-19:00 (Central European Summer Time)

—

How can artistic performances, dancing, imagination, creativity, culture, and diversity be integrated into city-making to foster community resilience?

Join us for the third discussion in our webinar series, where we explore the vital role of the arts and co-creation processes in cultivating resilient and vibrant cities.

—Gain insights from two passionate and knowledgeable professionals:

Charles Landry: A pioneer in leveraging imagination and creativity in urban transformation, renowned for popularizing the Creative City concept.

Madeleine Kate Mcgowan: An artist and expert in experimenting with speculative design and artistic performances, transforming our landscapes into inspiring and beautiful places.

Moderated by Mustafa Sherif, a dedicated urban planner and placemaker with extensive experience in hosting urban discussions.

—Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from this outstanding panel about how cultural and artistic interventions can enhance and illuminate our cities. Save the date!

—

JOIN VIA ZOOM HERE:

Topic: Placemaking Europe x City of Arts Webinar 3 – How can the arts build community resilience in urban transformation?

Time: Jun 17, 2024 05:40 PM Madrid

Link to Join: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89320651442?pwd=[REDACTED]

Meeting ID: 893 2065 1442

Passcode: [REDACTED]

—

We look forward to seeing you on Monday, June 17th, at 6:00 PM CET

The Creative Bureaucracy Festival - Live in Berlin
2024-06-14 09:00 - 19:00
THE LARGEST FESTIVAL FOR PUBLIC SECTOR INNOVATION!

Every year over a thousand international participants from government, politics, civil society and other change-making organisations join us to share and celebrate outstanding examples of innovative public administrations.

The Creative Bureaucracy Festival will return on 13 June 2024 in Berlin to rethink principles, processes and practices of our public institutions. Once again we will welcome creative minds, public sector innovators and creative changemakers from all over the world.

In 2023 we welcomed more than 1,300 participants onsite in Berlin as well as about 1,500 viewers who joined us live via our online stream. In 73 English and German speaking sessions, 182 speakers and project participants from 34 countries shared their expertise on administrative innovations. You can watch all mainstage session from 2023 on our YouTube channel here.

Prior to the live festival in Berlin, the Digital Kick-Off Day on 21 March 2024, ushers in a new year for administrative innovation with forward-looking ideas and projects. The online event consists of the entries selected by the festival jury from the annual Call for Participation – we are taking submissions until 15 December 2023.

INFORMATION ABOUT THE FESTIVAL 2024:

WHEN?

The Festival takes place on 13 June 2024. Doors open at 8:00 (CEST) and all programme sessions will run between 9:00 – 19:00 (CEST). And to ensure this really feels like the festival we all deserve, we were excited to also offer a day of music, art and entertainment throughout the day until late.

WHERE?

The Festival takes place at a location in Berlin. More information on the exact place will be shared very soon.

WHAT’S ON?

Similar to previous years we will offer over 70 sessions with almost 200 speakers from around the world presenting innovative solutions for the administration of tomorrow: faster digitalisation, strategies for comprehensive equality, a more skilled work force, and better coordination of collective action on the biggest challenges of our time. Our programme schedule and all speakers will be announced in April/May 2024.

HOW TO TAKE PART?

To join us on site in Berlin make sure to secure your festival ticket. Tickets will go on sale in March 2024. It gives you access to all stages and areas at the venue, allowing you to take part in the entire programme. You can’t travel to be with us on site? You can watch our livestream for free and join us digitally! We stream our mainstage which hosts several keynotes, specialist lectures and project presentations on a variety of themes.DIGITALKICK-OFFDAYCALLFORPARTICIPATIONPREVIOUSEDITIONSNEWS&UPDATESABOUTPRESS
