An Irish event showcases how the European Urban Initiative and New European Bauhaus principles drive innovative town centre revitalisation, offering fresh approaches to urban development and empowering cities to tackle their most pressing challenges.

Cities face pressing challenges: housing shortages, climate change, social inequality, and aging infrastructure. Home to two-thirds of Europeans—a number set to grow—they drive economic activity and innovation but also bear the brunt of sustainability challenges.

The European Urban Initiative (EUI), part of the EU’s Cohesion Policy, supports cities of all sizes with tools, funding, and expertise to address these issues. It promotes green and digital transitions, contributes to reducing inequalities, and helps cities design tailored strategies for sustainable development. The EUI funds innovative action projects like energy-efficient neighbourhoods, accessible public spaces, and greener transport systems. It promotes collaboration between cities to share successful ideas and scales up innovative projects.

When contributing to the New European Bauhaus (NEB), which promotes sustainability, inclusiveness, and beauty, the EUI combines experimentation and pragmatism with aesthetics to enhance urban quality of life. Together, these initiatives help cities transform challenges into opportunities, creating greener, smarter, and more inclusive spaces for all.

In Ireland, the interplay between NEB values and EUI’s mission comes together in the Town Centre First Heritage Revival (THRIVE) scheme, an initiative aimed at revitalizing town centers by renovating and repurposing vacant or derelict heritage buildings in the context of the EU’s Cohesion Policy. By focusing on the adaptive reuse of heritage buildings, THRIVE aims to breathe new life into town centers, making them more attractive places to live, work, and visit, while preserving Ireland's rich architectural heritage for future generations.

You can find out more here.