Don’t shoot the gringo: On the recent protests against gentrification
It’s always easy to discredit legitimate arguments when those making them seem to contradict themselves. Radical right-wing commentators love posting pictures of housing activists or anti-tourism slogans next to vacation selfies from the pyramids of Egypt, the beaches of Indonesia, or the ruins of Tulum. But maybe we’re aiming at the wrong target.
Why Reggio Emilia? Placemaking Week Europe 2025
This year, our placemaking festival takes place in a city that is more than just a spot on the map—it is a true crossroads of history, values, and potential: Reggio Emilia.
Why cultural institutions are meant to take a central role in the housing crisis
Reflections after participating in the 2025 Global Cultural Districts Network (GCDN) Annual Convening, hosted by the Music Center in Los Angeles. A gathering on the future of cultural districts—held in a city where the housing emergency can’t be ignored.
Cork: Placemaking as a Tool for Transforming Fragmented Efforts into a Cohesive Urban Policy
Over the past two years, Cork has undergone a transformative journey in placemaking. What once was a fragmented and often unrecognised effort is now evolving into a structured, value-driven approach, explicit in policy, shaping urban development and fostering community engagement.
The Place Game: A Citizen-Led Revival of Bucharest’s Historic Square
Grădina Revoluției has yielded valuable lessons for other placemaking initiatives, particularly those focused on reclaiming historically significant urban spaces.
Creative placemaking als economische motor: Flint, Verenigde Staten (🇳🇱 Dutch)
Intro Kunst en cultuur inzetten als motor voor economische groei: het gebeurde nergens zo overtuigend en allesomvattend als in Flint, in de Amerikaanse staat Michigan. Deze stad heeft in haar […]
Why we keep organising Placemaking Week Europe
Looking ahead to Reggio Emilia and the values that guide us
Innovation for recovery: a place-led initiative for reconstruction after flooding in Valencia
When disaster strikes, rebuilding must mean more than returning to the way things were. After the devastating floods caused by the DANA storm in southern Valencia, we are launching a […]
Placemaking the ‘Smart City’: Can We Humanize Technology the Same Way We Humanize Cities?
What happens when humans and technology work together? When humans are able to intervene in automated decision-making processes? And when technology, too, can become “lighter, cheaper, faster”?
Bradford: Placemaking as a Bridge Between Culture, Community, and Change
Bradford’s evolving approach to placemaking responds to some of the most pressing challenges of our time—climate change, social equity, and public health. Data-driven decision-making and a test-and-learn methodology are guiding strategic urban interventions, such as enhancing green infrastructure and enabling active lifestyles.
