On 28-29 May 2026, partners of the SPICE project gathered in Bielsko-Biała, Poland, for a collaborative working visit focused on the city’s local demonstration site: 11 Listopada Street.
The Municipality of Bielsko-Biała welcomed representatives from IRIDRA and Codesign Toscana for two days of discussions, site visits, and stakeholder engagement activities.
The visit provided an important opportunity to explore the local context of the intervention area and exchange perspectives on its future development. Participants walked through the site, met with local stakeholders, and discussed how nature-based solutions could contribute to enhancing the area while addressing environmental and social challenges. Particular attention was given to the principles of the New European Bauhaus, with discussions focusing on sustainability, aesthetics, and the active involvement of residents and local users in shaping public spaces.
More than just a project site, 11 Listopada Street is a significant part of Bielsko-Biała’s city centre, with its own history, identity, and role within ongoing local development initiatives. Ensuring that SPICE activities are firmly rooted in the local context and build upon existing efforts remains a key priority for the project partners.
The visit brought together not only SPICE partners but also a range of local actors. Representatives from the Municipality of Bielsko-Biała, the City Development Office in Bielsko-Biała, and Punkt 11 played an important role in ensuring that meetings, workshops, and discussions reflected local needs, aspirations, and realities.
Alongside site-based activities, partners reviewed the project’s methodology, toolkit, and upcoming implementation steps. The exchange of ideas and expertise helped identify practical, place-based approaches for creating a more sustainable, accessible, and welcoming public space that responds to the needs of the people who live, work, and spend time in the area.
The visit marked an important milestone in the development of the Bielsko-Biała demonstration site and reinforced the collaborative spirit at the heart of the SPICE project.
