Post by Krystallia Kamvasinou

I'm so excited to share this incredible news! 🎉 Our COST Action ‘OBSERVISTA: Observatory of innovative strategies for repurposing terrain vague’ has been approved! This is a 4-year, ca. €600,000 pan-European initiative that will transform how we think about those overlooked urban vacant spaces (known as terrain vague) that dot our cities. We are bringing together a network of 40+ (and counting!) researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and community organisations from 10+ countries across Europe (and beyond) to unlock the hidden potential of these spaces. You can find out more about it and apply to join here: https://lnkd.in/eucMDB_8 I am grateful to the COST Association for the approval and for the introductory post to our new research networks – and to everyone who worked with me on the proposal or already joined OBSERVISTA! We are connecting urban planners, architects, landscape architects, ecologists, economists, geographers, social scientists, artists, public health experts, in one transdisciplinary network to exchange knowledge and learn from each other towards regenerative, healthy, and just cities. Moving beyond the perception of terrain vague spaces as empty or problematic, we aim to reimagine them as vital vessels for climate adaptation, biodiversity, social inclusion, and community wellbeing. We are building a community of practice across Europe by creating a comprehensive glossary of terminology, mapping innovative repurposing projects, analysing legal, policy and cultural challenges, and developing an interactive online observatory for cross-sectoral collaboration. You can choose among four working groups: 1. Ontology and terminology 2. Repurposing in practice 3. Cultural, political and legal contexts 4. Visual / Media Communication and Dissemination So excited about the incredible work ahead with what promises to be a wonderfully diverse and open pan-European team of colleagues! Particularly grateful for the contributions of the initial group of proposers: Lorenzo Stefano Iannizzotto Alexandra Paio Camilla Perrone Dermot Foley Maria Hadjisoteriou Raluca Manoliu Carmina Gheorghita Tom Grey Dimitra Xidous Ameera Akl Simon Myers FRSA Gino Brignoli Alcestis Rodi Polyxeni Mantzou Angela Kyriacou Petrou alessandra swiny Yiorgos Hadjichristou Fabiano Micocci Stefano Borgo Maria Luna Nobile Lavinia Andreea Bejan Jérôme Thibault Raquel Flamia Maria Kramer Zoran Đukanović Ben Pollock Paola Scala Eduardo Brito-Henriques Maria Freitas Isabel Loupa-Ramos Jorge Moita Nicholas Bigelow Ana Carolina Cardoso Ioanna Rossi Mari Cara d'Anjo claudia pipos Mariana Paisana Marco Bovati Kevin Santus Margarita Danou Antonis Peratikos Szabó Árpád Ilaria Esposito Alisia Tognon Giorgos Antoniou vasilis floudas 🏙️✨