The Guide for Replication of Social-Cultural Urban Hubs by Mikser, developed for the euPOLIS project, serves as a comprehensive roadmap to foster sustainable urban development through inclusive, vibrant, and gender-sensitive public spaces. This guide is part of the broader euPOLIS initiative, which integrates nature-based solutions (NBS) to enhance public health, well-being, and resilience in urban environments.

Overview of the Guide and Its Purpose

The guide provides detailed methodologies and frameworks to replicate social-cultural urban hubs, which are active community nodes designed to transform public spaces into inclusive, accessible, and culturally rich environments. These hubs are intended to boost citizen engagement, social cohesion, and urban livability by integrating social, cultural, economic, and environmental dimensions into urban planning.

Key Features of the Guide

• Gender-Sensitive Public Spaces: The guide emphasizes designing urban hubs that consider the needs and safety of all genders, ensuring equitable access and participation.
• Community-Centered Approach: It promotes a liveability model rooted in community needs, engaging diverse local potentials to co-create urban solutions tailored to specific contexts.
• Nature-Based Solutions Integration: The hubs incorporate natural elements and green infrastructure to improve environmental quality, biodiversity, and urban resilience, aligning with the Blue-Green Solutions paradigm.
• Participatory Urban Planning: The guide supports enhanced participatory processes, encouraging active involvement of stakeholders, including marginalized groups, in the redesign and transformation of public spaces.
• Replication and Mentoring: It includes strategies for mentoring follower cities to adopt and adapt the social-cultural urban hub model, facilitating knowledge transfer and capacity building across different urban contexts.

Implementation and Impact

The euPOLIS project tested these approaches in four front-runner cities- Belgrade, Lodz, Piraeus, and Gladsaxe- and is extending the methodology to follower cities like Palermo, Limassol, Trebinje, and Bogotá through mentoring and coaching programs. The guide also outlines monitoring and assessment frameworks to evaluate the impacts of the hubs on public health, well-being, social cohesion, and environmental outcomes using multidimensional indicators.

Conclusion

Mikser’s Guide for Replication of Social-Cultural Urban Hubs is a vital resource for urban planners, policymakers, and community stakeholders aiming to create sustainable, inclusive, and resilient urban spaces. By combining nature-based solutions with participatory design and social innovation, the guide offers a replicable model that addresses contemporary urban challenges while enhancing the quality of life for city residents across Europe and beyond.

Check out our new TOOLS page for new, upcoming, useful resources for making your cities great(er)!