Scientific publications


Keep an eye out for the latest scientific publications from the IN-HABIT partners. New materials will be uploaded to this page as they become available.


Perception of green spaces’ role in enhancing mental health and mental well-being in small and medium-sized cities

María Mar Delgado-Serrano, Katarína Melichova´, Isotta Mac Fadden, Catalina Cruz-Piedrahita

Land Use Policy 139 (2024), 107087; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2024.107087

Abstract & Keywords
📍 ABSTRACT: Understanding the impact of green spaces on public health is crucial for urban planning and mental well-being enhancement in small and medium-sized cities (SMSCs). This study compares the influence of green spaces on mental well-being and psychological distress in Córdoba and Nitra. Using a cross-sectional survey, responses from 632 participants were collected and evenly distributed between the two cities. Mental well-being and psychological distress were assessed using the WHO-5 and K6 scales, while also considering sociodemographic factors and green space usage frequency. The findings indicate that green space perception positively correlates with mental well-being in both cities. However, the extent and nature of engagement with these spaces, and their associated health benefits, significantly differ between Córdoba and Nitra. In Nitra, more time spent in green spaces was strongly linked to higher mental well-being scores. In contrast, in Córdoba, this association was significant only for those spending over three hours in green spaces. The impacts on psychological distress varied, with notable negative associations tied to the frequency of green exercise in Nitra. These results suggest that while green spaces generally support mental well-being and reduce psychological distress, the benefits are not uniformly experienced across different urban settings. Variations could be due to distinct urban characteristics like size and weather. This study highlights the need for a nuanced understanding of how green spaces influence public health, tailored to each city's specific characteristics. It emphasizes the importance for urban planners to consider these factors to maximize the health benefits of green spaces. 📍 KEYWORDS: green spaces; mental well-being; psychological distress;pPublic health; urban planning; small and medium-sized cities (SMSCs); Córdoba; Nitra.
Does Civic Engagement Support Relational and Mental Health of Urban Population?

Michal Hrivnák, Peter Moritz, Katarína Melichová and Soňa Bellérová

Societies 2023, 13, 46; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc13020046

Abstract & Keywords
📍 ABSTRACT: There is a general assumption that there is a relationship between civic engagement and mental health, but it has still received limited attention in empirical studies. This study provides estimates of the impact of civic engagement (measured in terms of political and community engagement) on the health of individuals in the case of a medium-sized urban settlement within the context of a post-socialist country. The impacts of civic engagement on mental and relational health are distinguished, which have received little attention in studies on the topic. Using primary data and utilising the tools of econometrics, we found positive effects of the population’s community engagement, including positive effects of volunteering, on relational health. Political participation of the population contributed to the reduction of depressive symptoms, but the relationship between community engagement and mental health was not found. A relatively high propensity towards participation in health and well-being projects, leading to improvements in the collective approach to public health and addressing unhealthy conditions in communities, was identified in the sample. 📍 KEYWORDS: community engagement; political engagement; volunteerism; well-being; mental health; relational health.

A Co-Created Assessment Framework to Measure Inclusive Health and Wellbeing in a Vulnerable Context in the South of Europe

Isotta Mac Fadden, Roberta Cocchioni and María Mar Delgado-Serrano

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21, 510. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21040510

Abstract & Keywords
📍 ABSTRACT: Rapid urbanisation exacerbates health and wellbeing disparities in vulnerable contexts and underscores the imperative need to develop innovative and participatory co-creation approaches to understand and address the specificities of these contexts. This paper presents a method to develop an assessment framework that integrates top-down dimensions with bottom-up perspectives to monitor the impact of inclusive health and wellbeing interventions tailored to the neighbourhood’s needs in Las Palmeras, a vulnerable neighbourhood in Cordoba (Spain). Drawing upon studies in the literature examining urban health and wellbeing trends, it delineates a participatory and inclusive framework, emphasising the need for context-specific indicators and assessment tools. Involving diverse stakeholders, including residents and professionals, it enriches the process and identifies key indicators and assessment methods. This approach provides valuable insights for managing innovative solutions, aligning them with local expectations, and measuring their impact. It contributes to the discourse on inclusive urban health by advocating for participatory, context-specific strategies and interdisciplinary collaboration. While not universally applicable, the framework offers a model for health assessment in vulnerable contexts, encouraging further development of community-based tools for promoting inclusive wellbeing. 📍 KEYWORDS: inclusive health and wellbeing; community engagement; indicator co-creation; participatory assessment; neighbourhood context.

Animals and Cities: A Reflection on Their Potential in Innovating Nature-Based Solutions

Giulia Granai, Carmen Borrelli, Chiara Mariti and Francesco Di Iacovo

Abstract & Keywords
📍 ABSTRACT: In recent decades, nature-based solutions (NBSs) have spread in scientific research, and they are increasingly deployed in cities’ strategic planning. While the number of nonhuman animals in cities is growing, a specific reflection on the advantages of human–animal interactions as potential NBSs is still lacking. This article aims to provide an overview of the current situation of animals in cities and to explore the roles of animals and their interactions with humans in such a context. These topics are crucial to the European project IN-HABIT in Lucca (Italy), which aims to codify an integrated policy on the relationship between people and animals; its outputs will then be transferred and replicated in other cities. This article concludes by highlighting the need for the involvement of different stakeholders in public–private–people partnerships to implement actions that aim to valorize human–animal relationships and their positive effects. This study presents a perspective on the relevance of animal NBSs to increase the quality of life in cities, both for citizens and for animals living in cities, and to also introduce the opportunity to develop an integrated animal urban policy able to valorize human–animal interactions in cities. 📍 KEYWORDS: nature-based solutions; animals; human–animal interaction.

The benefits of dog ownership on people as an undervalued resource in urban environments

Carmen Borrelli, Giulia Granai, Francesco Paolo Di Iacovo, Giacomo Riggio, Massimo Rovai, Roberta Moruzzo, Francesco Riccioli, Carlo Bibbiani, Angelo Gazzano, Chiara Mariti

Dog Behavior, 3-2022, pp. 21-39; https://doi.org/10.4454/db.v8i3.163

Abstract & Keywords
📍 ABSTRACT: In countries with a developed economy, life confined in built environment has generated a new need for contact with nature and non-human beings. Nowadays, there are many studies that investigate the possible outcomes of the human-animal bond on people’s health. Nevertheless, few studies have been carried out to assess the benefits of human-animal bond as an innovative resource to enhance people’s health and wellbeing. In this regard, the In-Habit (INclusive Health And wellBeing In small and medium size ciTies) project is a good example of a framework that proposes an innovative approach to the topic of human-animal interactions in the urban environment. The aim of this scoping review was to summarize and discuss the literature dealing with beneficial effects of dog ownership while introducing the INHABIT project as a mean to promote the integration of pets into society through the implementation of adequate pet policies based on multidisciplinary approaches like “One health”. A literature search was conducted in June-September 2021, and articles were selected using a 4-step screening process that allowed us to include 51 articles in the review. According to some of these studies, dog ownership seemed to have a positive effect on the owner’s cardiovascular activity, blood pressure and overall levels of physical activity. Other benefits are related to mental health, like the reduction of depression and loneliness in various categories of people.📍 KEYWORDS: dog ownership; Human-Animal Interaction; dog owners; zooeyia; pet friendly policies; urban environment.

Between Participatory Approaches and Politics, Promoting Social Innovation in Smart Cities: Building a Hum–Animal Smart City in Lucca

Giulia Granai, Carmen Borrelli, Roberta Moruzzo, Massimo Rovai, Francesco Riccioli, Chiara Mariti, Carlo Bibbiani and Francesco Di Iacovo

Sustainability 2022, 14, 7956. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14137956

Abstract & Keywords
📍 ABSTRACT: In recent decades, the interest in social innovation and nature-based solutions has spread in scientific articles, and they are increasingly deployed for cities’ strategic planning. In this scenario, participatory approaches become pivotal to engaging the population and stakeholders in the decisionmaking process. In this paper, we reflect on the first year’s results and the strengths and weaknesses— of the participatory activities realized in Lucca to co-design and co-deploy a smart city based on human–animal relationships in the framework of the European project Horizon 2020 (IN-HABIT). Human–animal bonds, as nature-based solutions, are scientifically and practically underestimated. Data were collected on the activities organized to implement a public–private–people partnership in co-designing infrastructural solutions (so-called Animal Lines) and soft nature-based solutions to be implemented in the city. Stakeholders actively engaged in mutual discussions with great enthusiasm, and the emergent ideas (the need to improve people’s knowledge of animals and develop a map showing pet-friendly services and places and the need for integration to create innovative pet services) were copious and different while showing many connections among the various points of view. At the same time, a deeper reflection on the relationships among the participatory activities and institutionally integrated arrangements also emerged. 📍 KEYWORDS: nature-based solutions; participatory processes; public–private–people partnership (PPPP); social innovation.

A Multidimensional Approach to Understanding Food Deserts in Vulnerable Contexts

Catalina Cruz-Piedrahita, Francisco-Javier Martinez-Carranza and Maria Mar Delgado-Serrano

Sustainability 2024, 16, 1136. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16031136

Abstract & Keywords
📍 ABSTRACT: This study examined the phenomenon of “food deserts” in Las Palmeras, a vulnerable neighborhood in Córdoba, Spain, a medium-sized city known for its agricultural traditions and Mediterranean diet. Through a mixed-methods approach, including spatial analysis, and quantitative and qualitative assessments, we compared dietary habits and food accessibility in Las Palmeras to other Córdoba neighborhoods. We found that Las Palmeras residents reported significantly lower fruit and vegetable consumption and expressed greater difficulty accessing healthy foods despite having a relatively short commute time to the nearest grocery store. Moreover, people in Las Palmeras reported spending more time preparing meals than people in other parts of the city. In contrast, El Brillante, a high-income neighborhood, reported consistent healthy food consumption, even with longer commutes to supermarkets and less time spent preparing meals. This disparity suggests that economic barriers and education levels play a critical role in food choices, emphasizing that food deserts are multidimensional and encompass more than just geographical accessibility to nutritious food. Utilizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a holistic approach, our study amplifies the discussion of sustainable urban development, examining the complex interplay of geographic proximity, socio-economic status, educational levels, generational changes, and the variety of food options in determining access to healthy food. This research offers valuable insights into food accessibility in Spain and contributes to the European dialogue on food deserts and food security, informing strategies for enhancing urban food security, particularly in vulnerable neighborhoods.📍 KEYWORDS: nutritional inequalities; access to healthy food; urban food accessibility; socio-economic factors; Córdoba.

Co-Designing Urban Interventions Through the Lens of SDGs: Insights From the IN-HABIT Project in Nitra, Slovakia

Katarína Melichová and Michal Hrivnák

Urban Planning 2025, Volume 10, Article 9133; https://doi.org/10.17645/up.9133

Abstract & Keywords
📍 ABSTRACT: Collaborative efforts and vertical and horizontal cooperation of stakeholders representing diverse interests are crucial for the effective achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In urban planning practice, however, coordination of more technocratic and bureaucratic top‐down processes and community‐driven bottom‐up efforts encounters many, sometimes seemingly insurmountable obstacles. The Horizon 2020 IN‐HABIT project, implemented in four European cities, brings together universities, the local public sector, and non‐governmental partners to co‐design, co‐deploy, and co‐manage integrated solutions, combining technological, nature‐based, cultural, and social innovations to promote inclusive health and wellbeing. This article focuses on the participatory co‐design process of innovative interventions in the Nitra pilot, utilizing mixed methods—questionnaire surveys and stakeholder interviews—to evaluate the contribution to select SDGs perceived by three groups of stakeholders: process facilitators, experts, and policymakers; urban planners; and target groups. The findings suggest that the co‐design process generally contributed to community engagement, strengthened partnerships, and enhanced the inclusiveness of public spaces. However, differences emerged in how stakeholders perceived these contributions, with target group representatives being more optimistic than the remaining participants. The article concludes with implications for urban planners and policymakers in making participatory processes more inclusive and effective for achieving sustainable urban development goals, e.g., incorporating capacity‐building and educational aspects into the process or introducing innovative co‐design methods like participatory site‐specific art residencies or other methods involving direct implementation of co‐designed solutions.📍 KEYWORDS: co‐design; inclusive public spaces; public–private–people partnership; sustainable development goals.

Promoting animal welfare and pet-friendly urban design: an educational program to foster knowledge and responsibility in primary school children

Carmen Borrelli, Giulia Granai, Francesco Paolo Di Iacovo, Miguel Luengo Pierrard, Angelo Gazzano, Chiara Mariti

Dog Behavior, 2-2024, pp. 11-18; https://doi.org/10.4454/db.v10i2.192

Abstract & Keywords
📍 ABSTRACT: The field of Human-Animal Interaction (HAI) has gained growing interest due to the numerous benefits animals bring to human well-being, particularly in educational contexts. This study investigates the impact of an educational anthrozoology program conducted in primary schools in Lucca, Italy. The program aimed to teach children how to responsibly interact with dogs, design pet-friendly cities, and understand the benefits dogs offer to various populations, including the elderly and individuals with disabilities. The intervention involved 4 classes of 1 hour each, with pre- and post-program questionnaires used to assess changes in knowledge and attitudes. Results showed a significant improvement in children’s understanding of dogs’ needs, pet-friendly urban features, and the societal benefits of pets. Qualitative analysis of children’s drawings and reflections revealed a increased sensitivity toward animal welfare and creative ideas for pet-inclusive community spaces, such as nursing home visits and designated pet parks. The program demonstrated that educational anthrozoology project, even without direct animal interaction, effectively promotes empathy, responsibility, and pro-social behaviour in children. This study highlights the potential of educational anthrozoology programs to inspire future generations to advocate for animal welfare and inclusive urban planning, fostering a more compassionate society.📍 KEYWORDS: Human Animal Interaction; HAI; Educational Anthrozoology; Pet-friendly cities.

Renaturalization practices applied to the creation of public spaces in peripheral urban areas

Soňa Bellérová, Marek Hus

Institute of Landscape Architecture, Faculty of Horticulture and Landscape Engineering, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 94976 Nitra, Slovakia; https://doi.org/10.11118/978-80-7701-025-2-0237

Abstract & Keywords
📍 ABSTRACT: Despite the significant emphasis placed by the professional community on the need to implement renaturalization procedures in the design of urban environments, these approaches are still applied rather sporadically in practice. Renaturalization, as a design approach, presents several challenges. These include specific aesthetic considerations, alternative ways of understanding the relationship between the user and the environment, as well as the often-demanding maintenance and management systems required in our conditions. As part of the IN-HABIT research project, the planning process for an experimental renaturalized public green space in the Nitra River retention zone has begun. The selection of species composition was based on phytocenological analysis, supplemented with renaturalization-supporting approaches such as integrated ecological design, co-design, and the Gestalt principle of contrast. This paper describes the principles applied in the renaturalization of the selected area, including the procedures used for creating and selecting suitable plants and herbs. It also discusses the methodologies employed in choosing native species that will contribute to the ecological stability of the area while enhancing its aesthetic value. An interdisciplinary team-comprising a designer, landscape architect, methodologist, implementers applying ecological, local, and historical landscape creation practices, community activators, meadow composition experts, dendrologists, engineers, and others-collaborated on creating this experimental space. The implemented solution will serve as a laboratory to monitor aspects of sustainability, the quality of the proposed designs and maintenance practices, as well as their acceptance and impact on the public.📍 KEYWORDS: biophilic urbanism, environmental design, nature-based solutions, autochthonous species, specific aestetics.

Nuevos enfoques teóricos y metodológicos para promover salud y bienestar urbanos inclusivos. El proyecto IN-HABIT 

María del Mar Delgado-Serrano, Francisco- Javier Martinez-Carranza, Catalina Cruz Piedrahita, Isotta Mac-Fadden

Cuadernos De Vivienda Y Urbanismo18. https://doi.org/10.11144/Javeriana.cvu18.netm

Abstract & Keywords
📍 ABSTRACT: This article presents the theoretical and methodological frameworks of analysis and evaluation developed and the integrated and visionary solutions implemented by the Inclusive Health and Wellbeing in Small and Medium-Sized Cities (IN-HABIT) project to foster inclusive health and wellbeing. e project aims to investigate how the integration of social and cultural innovations, with innovations in infrastructure, technology, and nature-based solutions, using participatory and inclusive methodologies to create multifunctional and inclusive public spaces, can increase health and wellbeing, particularly in vulnerable areas and groups at risk of social exclusion. These actions have been implemented in four European cities, Cordoba (Spain), Riga (Latvia), Lucca (Italy) and Nitra (Slovakia), and are being replicated initially in the cities of Bogota and Medellin (Colombia). Each city works with specific vulnerable collectives and focuses on specific resources, but all use this analytical and conceptual framework.📍 KEYWORDS: Co-Design, Co-Implementation, Co-Management, Co-Evaluation, Participatory Action Research, Inclusive Health And Well-Being.

Tracing and tracking the impact of a contemporary marketplace: the case of Āgenskalns Market

Emils Kilis, Ilze Mileiko, Miks Braslins, Talis Tisenkopts, Una Meiberga, Darja Trizna, Rudolfs Cimdins

Cuadernos De Vivienda Y Urbanismo18. https://doi.org/10.11144/Javeriana.cvu18.ttic

Abstract & Keywords
📍 ABSTRACT: The transformation of traditional neighbourhood markets into multifunctional community centres is an instance of creating inclusive, sustainable, and aesthetically pleasing spaces that serve multiple functions beyond their primary intended purpose. This paper looks at the multifunctional approach taken in the Āgenskalns Market renovation project in Riga, Latvia and explores how such transformations can impact community well-being and social inclusion, while also highlighting the need for methodological creativity to ensure that impact can be adequately captured. The paper argues that, despite their limitations, the data suggest that a multitude of changes have taken place, and the relative importance and impact of the market appears to be significant for the health and well-being of local residents. What is more, the study underlines the need to recognise unexpected forms of impact, while simultaneously being prepared to adjust methodological repertoires to avoid imposing ill-fitting metrics upon a complex situation.📍 KEYWORDS: Impact, Multifunctionality, Neighbourhood Markets, Health and Well-Being, Participatory Research.

Stakeholder Evaluation of Health and Wellbeing Outcomes of Inclusive Public Space Interventions Delivered by the IN-HABIT Project

Yuliia Hodnieva, Katarína Melichová, Soňa Bellérová, Jana Kuffová Popovicsová

Cuadernos De Vivienda Y Urbanismo18. https://doi.org/10.11144/Javeriana.cvu18.sehw

Abstract & Keywords
📍 ABSTRACT: The article reports on the evaluation of the health and well-being outcomes of inclusive public space interventions co-designed, co-deployed, and co-managed within the IN-HABIT project in Nitra, Slovakia. Based on data from a questionnaire survey, the research highlights variations in perceived benefits across diverse social groups. Psychological well-being improved most among marginalised communities, while social cohesion and spatial satisfaction were significant across all target groups. The most substantial benefits were reported not merely from experiencing improved public spaces but from active participation in their design, implementation, and governance. these findings suggest that genuinely inclusive and impactful urban development should prioritise meaningful community participation, ensuring that interventions reflect the needs, aspirations, and lived experiences of diverse populations. By embedding participatory approaches into urban planning, cities can foster more equitable, resilient, and health-promoting environments.📍 KEYWORDS: Co-Design, Health and Well-Being, Inclusive Urban Development, Participatory Urban Planning, Public Space Interventions, Vulnerable Communities.

Coproduction for Change: Participatory Tools for Inclusive Health and Wellbeing in European Small and Medium Size Cities

Laura Colini, Lorenzo Tripodi, Luis Miguel Benavides

Cuadernos De Vivienda Y Urbanismo18. https://doi.org/10.11144/Javeriana.cvu18.ccpt

Abstract & Keywords
📍 ABSTRACT: This paper outlines the participatory tools utilised in the IN-HABIT Horizon 2020 project, aimed at co-creating solutions for inclusive health and wellbeing (IHW) in four small to medium-sized European cities. Unlike conventional studies that prioritise greening measures for health and wellbeing, IN-HABIT highlights inclusivity, gender equality, and broad social involvement. Each city established a thematic emphasis within IHW, leading to the creation of four distinct projects. The co-creation methodology aims to improve public participation in these initiatives by including the theory of change, sustainable integrated development, and participatory action research, with the objective of engaging stakeholders and enabling IN-HABIT members to monitor and selfdocument their progress. The duration of IN-HABIT has facilitated the analysis of how these methodologies have been adaptively modified in response to changing public engagement dynamics over 5 years. The paper concludes with rediections on deviations, commonalities, and transnational learning across the four urban contexts📍 KEYWORDS: Citizen Participation, Co-Creation, Inclusive Health and Wellbeing, Co-Management, Nature-Based Solutions, Public Private People Partnerships.

Citizen-based monitoring of inclusive health and well-being

Delgado-Serrano, M. M., Checa-Claudel, J., Cubero Atienza, A. J., Jiménez, J., Poveda, A., & Ghysbrecht, J.

Abstract & Keywords
📍 ABSTRACT: Urban growth and socioeconomic inequalities increasingly impact health and well-being, especially for vulnerable populations, while urban policies often lack granular data to support inclusive planning. The IN-HABIT project addresses this challenge through a citizen-based monitoring platform implemented in Córdoba, Lucca, Riga, and Nitra, combining participatory approaches with data from sensors, cameras, open data, and citizen inputs. Using a FIWARE-based architecture (NGSI standards), the system integrates heterogeneous urban data in real time via Orion Context Broker and supports historical time-series analysis through Quantum Leap and CrateDB. Deployed in a containerised and resilient infrastructure, the platform enables dashboards for citizens and researchers, supporting evidence-based interventions and scalable, replicable solutions for inclusive and sustainable urban planning.📍 KEYWORDS: Citizen science; inclusive health; urban well-being; smart cities; public space monitoring.

Inhabited heritage: Rehabilitation of courtyards with cooperative processes and ecological and social safeguarding of areas of heritage values.

Redaelli, G., Ortiz Miranda, J., Anaya Sahuco, C.

Ciudad Y Territorio Estudios Territoriales, 57(225), 418–437; https://doi.org/10.37230/CyTET.2025.225.20

Abstract & Keywords
📍 ABSTRACT: The depopulation trend not only affects spanish emptying rural areas but also its historic centers, in cities that paradoxically continue to expand while their heritage areas suffer gentrification and touristification. Facing this challenge, the "heritage community" is actively involved in urban regeneration to reuse sensibles areas, as a way to be resilient to avoid its homogenization. The rehabilitation of casas de vecinos with cooperative processes emerges as a sustainable residential alternative in Córdoba, as both tangible and intangible heritage, as ecosocial cell of the mediterranean city. The paper examines social economy practices in urban regeneration within the framework of the Faro Convention Network of the Council of Europe, aiming to preserve inhabited heritage through the engagement of the "heritage community," facing touristification and depopulation. It then focuses on the PAX-Patios de la Axerquía strategy in Córdoba as a heritage laboratory.📍 KEYWORDS: gentrification; touristification; urban regeneration; social innovation; heritage community; courtyards.

The role of patios in creating equitable and sustainable cities.

Delgado-Serrano, M.M, Redaelli, G., Cruz Piedrahita, C.

Book Chapter: The role of patios in creating equitable and sustainable cities. In Okitasari, M., Hudson, P., & Suzuki, M. (Eds.) Equitable and sustainable cities: Economics and disruptive technologies (pp.8-30). Springer Nature.

FORTHCOMING (2025)

Abstract & Keywords
📍 ABSTRACT: Patios -inner courtyards- have been part of Cordoba city for centuries. Today, they represent a retro innovation and disruptive technology to fight climate change and to create equitable and sustainable cities. Patios use plant evapotranspiration as an economical and affordable technology to cool the houses and boost health and wellbeing. The combination of plants, water bodies, architectural features and wind circulation might act as a passive cooling system that reduces energy consumption and GHG emissions. But patios are also spaces for socialisation, creating places to meet and develop social activities in contact with nature This chapter describes the functioning of patios, the features that made them more efficient and the role they might play in boosting urban equality and sustainability. The experience of Cordoba, whose patios are recognised as UNESCO intangible heritage, might be used for other cities facing similar problems.📍 KEYWORDS: patios (inner courtyards); passive cooling; nature-based solutions (NBS); climate change adaptation; urban equity; energy efficiency.

Il patrimonio culturale di Cordova e Napoli promotore di azioni di sostenibilità urbana e sociale.

Redaelli, G., Romano, R.

.Journal: "Urbanistica", Istituto Nazionale di Urbanistica, Italia.

FORTHCOMING (2026)

Abstract & Keywords
📍 ABSTRACT: Cultural heritage is evidence of continuity from the past to the present, and plays an active role in urban regeneration processes through innovation and enhancement. Cultural heritage is a key factor in processes that support ecological, economic, social and cultural sustainability, and these processes are recognised through the European Heritage Awards/Europa Nostra Awards. In 2022, the PAX Patios de la Axerquía strategy in Córdoba (Spain) won the “Citizen Involvement and Awareness” category, and the Paranza cooperative in Naples won the “Heritage Champions” category. This paper critically analyses the two winners, highlighting the constructive role that cultural heritage can play in territorial and social reactivation processes. It will analyse the direct or indirect effects of the projects on the adaptation of historical cities to climate change, which is one of several contemporary challenges. In both cases, the past and the present come together to address an evolutionary process in which cultural heritage protection is based on tradition and innovation. 📍 KEYWORDS: Urban regeneration, historical fabric, climate change, adaptation, bottom up.

Socio-Ecological values of Urban Heritage for a more Sustainable City and a Resilient Heritage Community.

Redaelli, G., Romano R. 

Journal:."People, places, stories - Faro Convention inspired experiences", Council of Europe. Universitat Jaime I.

FORTHCOMING (2026)

Abstract & Keywords
📍 ABSTRACT: In the midst of a social and climatic emergency where global risks affect local cultures, it is important to recognise urban heritage as a shared resource and to use the Faro Convention, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, to protect it. The experience of regenerating Cordoba's historic centre through the PAX – Patios de la Axerquia strategy, a member of the FCN since 2018, demonstrates the impact of grassroots initiatives in re-inhabiting sensitive areas and integrating the 'heritage community' as a key stakeholder in the future of their habitat. This paper analyses the goals achieved by PAX in its role as a facilitator of urban culture between the administration, the university, civil society and citizens, as well as its impact on the conservation of courtyards and casas de vecinos as eco-social cells of the Mediterranean city. This is achieved through the direct engagement of the Heritage Community, in line with SDG 11 of the 2030 Agenda, for the preservation of the anthropological value of the courtyards, facing gentrification and touristification, and the implementation of ecological interactions within the care of the patios facing Climate Change effects.📍 KEYWORDS: Urban heritage, climate change, heritage community, patio, Córdoba.

Articles and other material


Keep an eye out for articles relating to the IN-HABIT thematics.