Networks and cities' news

A sense of place: positioning identity in northern Portugal

If you can't beat them, work together.

Age-old rivalry often makes for the best stories. But in modern times, instead of driving apart, distinct characteristics providing fodder for timeless feuds between cities can be parlayed into collective assets. In northwest Portugal, four cities with four different urban contexts have come together to create Quadrilátero Urbano, a policy tool to combine the strengths of its members: Barcelos, Braga, Vila Nova de Famalicão and Guimarães. Separated by an average of 20 kilometers, the four cities all have their distinct identity. Rather than vying for prominence as the historical context might encourage, each city is improving their public policy by leaning into specific attributes in a uniquely modern way.

Guimarães holds the lofty title as the “Birthplace of Portugal”. A plaque on the ancient city fortifications proclaims the phrase “Aqui nasceu Portugal” (Portugal was born here). A short drive away lies the city of Vila Nova de Famalicão, the New City of Famalicao. One city boasts history while another conjures youth in its name. Braga is known as the city of churches but in the 21th Century, the city is an ardent believer in culture, of its youth and the diversity of recently arrived inhabitants. Rising above the Cávado River rich in a clay perfectly suited to crafting spellbinding ceramics, notably the emblematic Portuguese rooster figurine, Barcelos is a capital for artisans and handicrafts. 

City branding: more than a slogan

With such proximity, identity and local traditions are the key to economic and social vitality for all four cities, instilling a sense of pride in the overall region. City branding is a relatively new phenomenon but has always existed in the cultural consciousness. New York is the city that never sleeps. Paris is the city of lights. In an era of intense globalisation and big-city fatigue, smaller cities are looking to stake their claim as an alternative to aggressively dense megalopolises. Place branding plays a key role in forging a new identity for lesser-known urban areas, allowing smaller cities to compete with global capitals.

Much more than a logo or slogan, a successful city brand is backed by good policy and defines the essence of a place, proclaiming what exactly that city has to offer. All too often, a place brand fails to dive deep, opting for a catch phrase and a cryptic visual meant to distill centuries of history and context in a few hundred pixels. Seen through the Cities@Heart lens, city centres serve as a showroom for cities on the rise and the identity they choose for their future. A famous example of revolutionary city branding is the “Bilbao Effect”. Once a hub of industry, the city invited the Guggenheim museum to set up a satellite museum in its declining downtown area, an architectural landmark successfully repositioning the Basque city as a cultural capital on the world stage at the dawn of the new millennium. With a finite number of international museum outposts, it’s not every city that can rely on the media power of “starchitects”. Whether a city embraces its history or decides to take on a rebranding project, authenticity remains at the core of any successful place promotion initiative.

Planning Industrial Corridors with a User-Centered Approach

When designing new developments, it’s essential to consider the diverse needs of different user groups. In the URBACT EcoCore Action Planning Network, this means creating green industrial corridors that are welcoming, safe, and sustainable—encouraging low-carbon transport options while ensuring accessibility for all.

A user-centered approach that prioritizes inclusion and diversity doesn’t just improve functionality—it drives innovation and sustainability. So, how can we design industrial spaces that close skills gaps, foster collaboration, and attract a diverse workforce?

III Circular Architecture Marathon: Onda towards a Green and Circular Lung

The Department of Circular Architecture of the Universitat Jaume I (UJI) has taken another step forward in its commitment to sustainability and circularity in the built environment by organising the third edition of the idea’s competition (III Circular Architecture Marathon). The main objective of this event is to promote reflection and dissemination among students and professionals on the implementation of the concepts of sustainability and circularity in construction and urban planning processes, contributing to the transformation of the sector towards a circular economy and supporting the decarbonisation of urban environments. In this edition, the initiative has been supported by the Onda City Council and had as a case study the project (Onda's Green Lung). 

A unique milestone at the midpoint of the Urbact program with a distinctly European dimension ! The 6th TNM took place in Brussels in October 2024. 

First Steps in Selecting Experiments Following the Ideation Phase  The 5th Transnational Meeting (TNM) was held in Isernia, Italy, on June 18-19, 2024. 

A unique milestone at the midpoint of the Urbact program with a distinctly European dimension ! The 6th TNM took place in Brussels in October 2024. 

Redefining Urban Security for Inclusive Cities

Urban security encompasses the comprehensive safety and well-being of individuals within urban environments, acknowledging the intricate interplay between tangible threats and the perception of security. The goal of the project is to overcome the securitarian approach, which focuses primarily on law enforcement and punitive measures, fostering instead the underlying causes of insecurity. While crime must be prosecuted, a more comprehensive strategy is needed to foster a sense of safety and well-being.

6th URBACT Local Group Meeting Held in Pula

Including a field visit to Vallelunga brownfield site.