Developed by Lead Expert Daniele Terzariol in cooperation with the Lead Partner Ostrava and all Network partners, the study sets the foundation for the next phase of our work. It builds on Ostrava’s awarded Good Practice Tvoříme prostor, which shows an innovative approach to activating underused urban spaces through small-scale, low-cost interventions, open calls, and strong community involvement.
In a context where traditional top-down urban planning is no longer sufficient, cities are increasingly seeking more flexible, participatory, and experimental approaches. The We Create Space Network responds to this need by promoting a model based on co-creation, placemaking, and adaptive governance. Rather than simply replicating Ostrava’s model, the Network focuses on transferring its underlying methodology, allowing each partner city to adapt it to its own local context.
The partnership brings together cities with diverse conditions and levels of participatory experience: Metropole Rouen Normandie, Bucharest District 6, Koszalin, Pescara, Niš, and Granollers. What unites them is a common goal: to move from discussions to actions and to actively involve communities in shaping public space.
The study is structured into three main parts:
1. An in-depth presentation of the Good Practice and its transfer potential,
2. An overview of the partner cities and their local contexts,
3. A Transfer Plan outlining the methodology and tools for adaptation, potential for improvement of the Ostrava’s Good Practice, and the overall Network roadmap.
A key element is the modular structure of the practice, which allows each city to select and adapt the elements (modules) that best fit its own needs. This is supported by testing actions, Urban Local Groups, and continuous peer learning among partners.
This document marks the transition from the “Understand” to the “Adapt” phase of the URBACT methodology. It provides a shared framework for turning knowledge into action and supports cities in testing new approaches to the activation of urban spaces. It also opens the next stage of cooperation, where cities work together to shape more vibrant and resilient public spaces across Europe.
The full document can be found here.