How can we build cities that truly work for everyone?
This fundamental question shaped the UTOPIZE Forum, held online on 9 June 2026 as a Satellite Event of the New European Bauhaus Festival 2026. Bringing together experts in architecture, democratic governance, research, digital innovation, and participatory urban transformation, the Forum explored how public spaces can become more inclusive, sustainable, and responsive to the needs of the people who use them every day.
Representing the SPICE – Sustainable Public Spaces through Inclusive Community Engagement project, Nefeli Georgakopoulou (CERTH) joined Bahanur Nasya (Wonderland – Platform for European Architecture), Carlotta Fontana Valenti (Democratic Society), and Pia Fricker and Chiara Chioni (Aalto University) in a roundtable discussion moderated by Marília Cunha (INOVA+).
Throughout the discussion, participants shared a common understanding: participation should not be treated as the final step of urban transformation; it should be the foundation upon which transformation begins. Communities need to be involved from the earliest stages of identifying challenges, shaping priorities, and co-creating solutions that reflect local needs and aspirations.
The conversation also highlighted that meaningful participation extends beyond institutional settings. Engaging citizens requires reaching people in their everyday environments, working through trusted local networks, and ensuring that voices often underrepresented in decision-making processes are actively included.
Another key topic was the role of digital and creative tools in supporting participatory governance. Rather than replacing human interaction, these tools can help communities better understand complex urban challenges, facilitate dialogue, and create more transparent and collaborative decision-making processes.
Participants had the opportunity to put these ideas into practice through the interactive “Crisis in the City” exercise, which encouraged collaborative problem-solving around an imagined urban challenge. The activity demonstrated how dialogue, cooperation, and collective decision-making can strengthen community resilience when cities face uncertainty.
For SPICE, the Forum reaffirmed one of the project’s core principles: creating sustainable public spaces is not only about redesigning places – it is about strengthening the relationships between people, communities, and local institutions.
As the project continues across its four demonstration sites in Greece, Poland, Finland, and Portugal, SPICE remains committed to empowering citizens to actively participate in shaping greener, more inclusive, and resilient neighbourhoods through the principles of the New European Bauhaus.
The full discussion is available to watch here.
