In a landmark event held at the former pre-primary school building, the local partner, Make it Better, together with the Municipality of Cuba, officially launched another important breakground on the participatory programme of activities predicted by the URWAN (Urban Regenerative Water Avant-garde[N]) project, a pioneering initiative under the Interreg Euro-MED Programme. Alentejo, one of most drought-prone regions in Europe, faces increasing threats from extreme weather events, water shortages, and urbanization with limited green infrastructure. The URWAN project responds to these challenges by integrating nature-based solutions (NbS) into urban planning. These include many types of green solutions, and also water reuse systems that not only mitigate climate impacts but also enhance biodiversity and social cohesion. Having this challenging scenario in consideration, the event marked the beginning of a transformative journey toward climate-resilient urban spaces, with a strong emphasis on community participation and nature-based solutions. The session, attended by municipal leaders, project partner team, and relevant local stakeholders, unveiled two major URWAN outcomes. The first, the requalification of the former pre-primary school building, as a flagship site for sustainable innovation. This building will be “transformed” into a multifunctional hub that embodies the concept of Nature-based Solutions, and the principles of the New European Bauhaus (sustainability, aesthetics behind functionality, and inclusion), while addressing the pressing challenges of water scarcity and climate change in Cuba and in the Alentejo region. The second key highlight of the event was the announcement of Start Park activities to be implemented in the short in Cuba. As a participatory engine for green community-led innovation, Start Park will support residents and stakeholders in co-designing climate-resilient green spaces, thus empowering local community to actively participate in the co-creation of solutions that serve ecological, recreational, and educational purposes. In Cuba, Start Park will focus on redesigning a specific green infrastructure (the Eco-Park of Albergaria dos Fusos) that may demonstrate urban water reuse good practices and, together with the pilot building, serve as a living lab for testing and showcasing NbS tailored to Mediterranean climates. All these activities are closely aligned with the URWAN Catalogue, a toolkit that compiles best practices and guides local actors in implementing effective NbS strategies. By combining local action with international collaboration, the local partners aim at positioning Cuba at the forefront of climate adaptation and urban innovation in southern Europe.
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- URWAN in Cuba > Participatory opportunities for co-designing the future of urban areas
