Sagunto (Spain) is currently developing an urban regeneration process around the Gerencia–Pantalán industrial waterfront area, linked to its industrial and maritime heritage. The city aims to transform former industrial and waterfront spaces into more sustainable, accessible and liveable urban environments through an integrated approach combining climate adaptation, industrial heritage valorisation, citizen participation and inclusive urban design.

Project Summary

Across European urban and functional areas, mobility systems are becoming more advanced, better integrated and increasingly aligned with climate goals. However, a fundamental gap remains: there is still a disconnect between mobility planning and lived experience, as many people do not use these systems in their daily lives.

Many European cities are facing a growing social and urban challenge: older people are increasingly excluded from historic centres due to barriers in accessibility, mobility and services, while at the same time many heritage buildings remain vacant or underused. In heritage-rich cities, this dynamic contributes to a progressive loss of residential use and everyday urban life, with historic areas increasingly oriented towards tourism and short-term uses rather than supporting inclusive and liveable communities.

Across many European cities, urban cores are facing a visible increase in vacant ground-floor premises, declining local commerce and a gradual weakening of everyday urban life. At the same time, municipalities are challenged to revitalise these areas without compromising sustainable urban development, ensuring a balanced use of public space that supports economic activity while enhancing residents’ quality of life.

GEN-MED addresses a structural challenge shared by Mediterranean mid-sized cities: the simultaneous decline of youth population and the underutilisation of culture as a lever for sustainable urban regeneration.