View source for InPlaLabs Events and Outreach

= Palermo Knowledge Exchange Workshop =

The first transnational workshop of the InPlaLabs project partners was held in Palermo, Italy, hosted by the project partner Bond of Union, a social cooperative based in the city. The meeting marked an important milestone for the partnership, allowing all participating organisations to meet in person, exchange methodologies, and align their objectives towards a shared vision for the implementation of the project.

Bond of Union operates in the field of education and European cooperation, working at both local and international levels. The cooperative promotes participatory processes that foster social inclusion and active citizenship through the design and implementation of educational initiatives, training programmes, and collaborative projects. Its approach is grounded in the belief that learning and cooperation are key tools for empowering individuals and communities. Thanks to its experience and strong engagement with local stakeholders, Bond of Union provided an ideal setting for hosting this first transnational exchange.

The meeting lasted two days and included a combination of workshops, collaborative sessions, and local exploration activities. The agenda was designed to encourage mutual learning, facilitate the exchange of practices, and strengthen cooperation among partners.

Each organisation presented its experience, methodologies, and areas of expertise, enabling a rich and diverse dialogue among participants. Through interactive sessions and group discussions, the partners worked together to define a shared framework for the project, identifying common objectives, key priorities, and potential synergies among their respective activities.

An important component of the meeting was the engagement of local stakeholders. This took place through a networking event organised in collaboration with marememoriaviva, an eco-museum in Palermo that documents and communicates the history of the city’s northern coastline.

This activity provided an opportunity to connect the project’s objectives with local realities and to explore the role of cultural and community-based organisations in promoting education, sustainability, and social inclusion.

The event was attended by academics, professionals, practitioners, and university students, contributing to a multidisciplinary dialogue around the themes addressed by the project. The exchange of perspectives supported the co-development of a shared vision for the establishment of a multidisciplinary network that will facilitate future collaboration between the project consortium and local stakeholders.

The Palermo meeting marked a crucial step in building the foundations of the project, both in terms of internal cooperation among partners and external engagement with relevant stakeholders. The workshop demonstrated the consortium’s commitment to participatory approaches, knowledge exchange, and sustainable networking as key principles of its work.

The partners express their sincere appreciation to marememoriaviva and epyc_palermo (European Palermo Youth Centre) for their hospitality and active participation. Their contribution significantly enriched the meeting and strengthened the connection between the project and the local context of Palermo.

= International Multiplier Event and Knowledge Co-Creation Workshop in Nicosia =

November 2024 marked an important milestone in the development of the InPlaLabs project. During the second week of the month, project partners from Italy, Sweden, and Greece gathered in Nicosia, Cyprus, for the first International Multiplier Event and a series of Knowledge Co-Creation Workshops. The activities were hosted by the University of Cyprus, with the support of its research laboratory ''The Society and Urban Form (SURF)'', a multidisciplinary hub dedicated to studying how the built environment affects society and translating this knowledge into urban design and policy practice.

The first day of the gathering was dedicated to the 1st International Multiplier Event, organised by the University of Cyprus. The leading partner, the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), opened the session with an introduction to the project’s aims and structure, followed by presentations from the partners ''commonspace'' (Athens) and ''Urban Calculator'' (Gothenburg).

''commonspace'' highlighted the importance of participatory methods in urban planning and presented an open-source Participatory Toolkit developed for the InPlaLabs network. The toolkit offers practical instruments designed to engage diverse stakeholders in decision-making processes and to support inclusive planning approaches.

''Urban Calculator'' presented their quantitative study methods and showcased the Urban Calculator software, an innovative design-support tool for students and practitioners. The software enables users to test different planning and design scenarios dynamically, analysing how variations in street layouts or spatial configurations affect centrality, accessibility, density, and proximity. Through intuitive interfaces and data-driven visualisations, the tool helps bridge the gap between analysis and design, enabling more informed and evidence-based decisions.

The following two days were devoted to the Knowledge Co-Creation Workshops, during which all partners collaborated on the design of the project’s minicourses for students and professionals. Each minicourse was conceived as a modular learning unit combining theoretical input, practical exercises, and digital tools aimed at strengthening interdisciplinary education in spatial planning and urban design.

The event in Nicosia represented a significant step forward for the InPlaLabs network, reinforcing collaboration among universities, research groups, and professional organisations. Through shared learning and co-creation, the partners contributed to the development of a framework for integrated planning education that connects spatial analysis, participatory methods, and design practice.

= InPlaLabs Local Multiplier Event in Athens: Integrated Planning, Education, and Synergies for the Future of Urban Development =

On February 14, 2025, the historic neighbourhood of Plaka in Athens hosted a successful and inspiring gathering dedicated to Integrated Spatial Planning in Higher Education. The event, organised by ''commonspace'' within the framework of the InPlaLabs project, brought together experts, academics, and professionals to discuss how education, research, and practice can converge to support more sustainable and inclusive planning approaches.

Held at the premises of SADAS-PEA of Attica, the meeting provided a vibrant environment for dialogue and reflection on the evolving role of spatial planning in shaping cities and regions. Participants explored how universities, public institutions, and professional networks can collaborate to strengthen interdisciplinary planning education and promote innovative urban strategies.

The event opened with a presentation by Yannis Paraskevopoulos (NTUA), who introduced the vision behind InPlaLabs and highlighted the important role of universities in fostering integrated planning frameworks. His presentation set the tone for a day focused on collaboration, critical thinking, and knowledge co-creation.

A panel discussion followed, moderated by Thanos Andritsos (NTUA, ''commonspace'' co-op), bringing together speakers from academia and professional practice who shared their perspectives on the future of spatial planning education and practice.

The panel included:

* Sophia Tsadari (NTUA, SEPOX, ECTP-CEU) – Architect and Urban Planner, Board Member of SEPOX, and Representative at ECTP-CEU
* Katerina Christoforaki (NTUA) – Architect and Lecturer at the NTUA School of Architecture
* Ioulia Leventopoulou (URBANA Group) – Architect and Member of the URBANA Group
* Pantelis Skagiannis (University of Thessaly, POLIS University, AESOP) – Emeritus Professor and AESOP Representative
* Rena Klampatsea (NTUA) – Associate Professor at the NTUA School of Architecture

The speakers addressed key topics such as the role of interdisciplinary education in spatial planning, collaborative approaches between academia and professional practice, and the importance of networks in fostering innovative planning solutions. Their exchanges highlighted the need to strengthen the connections between teaching, research, and real-world planning practice, ensuring that future planners are equipped to address complex territorial challenges.

The InPlaLabs event in Athens functioned as a space for dialogue and exchange, where participants shared experiences, methodologies, and visions for the future of integrated planning. Through open discussion and collaborative engagement, the gathering reinforced the importance of synergy as a driving force for progress in urban and regional planning.

Participants expressed a shared commitment to continuing collaboration within the InPlaLabs Network, exploring opportunities for joint initiatives, educational exchanges, and applied research. The meeting also strengthened the sense of a growing European community of planners and educators dedicated to integrated, participatory, and sustainable spatial development.

= InPlaLabs in Gothenburg: Advancing Integrated Spatial Planning in Swedish Practice =

In May 2025, Gothenburg, Sweden, hosted a significant gathering focused on Integrated Spatial Planning in Swedish practice, organised within the framework of the InPlaLabs project. The event brought together experts, academics, and planning professionals from six Swedish municipalities—Stockholm, Gothenburg, Uppsala, Eskilstuna, Östersund, and Norrköping—at Chalmers University of Technology and the Gothenburg City Planning Office. Over three days, participants engaged in lectures, discussions, and training sessions centred on the digitalisation of integrated spatial planning processes in Sweden. The event was organised by the Spatial Morphology Group (SMoG) and Urban Calculator AB.

The event opened with a presentation by Ioanna Stavroulaki (Chalmers University, SMoG, Urban Calculator AB), who introduced the vision behind InPlaLabs and emphasised the importance of evidence-based design in shaping integrated spatial planning practice. This was followed by a series of presentations focusing on digital urban form models as tools to strengthen planning practice. The six participating municipalities presented three pilot studies demonstrating how these digital tools can be used to analyse street centrality, accessibility, and density, with the aim of revitalising public life and improving urban quality.

Prominent speakers included Ann Legeby (KTH Stockholm), Professor of Applied Urban Design; Lars Marcus (Chalmers University, SMoG), Professor of Urban Design and leader of SMoG; Meta Berghauser Pont (Chalmers University, SMoG, Urban Calculator AB), Professor of Urban Morphology and co-founder of Urban Calculator AB; Ioanna Stavroulaki (Chalmers University, SMoG, Urban Calculator AB), Associate Professor in Urban Design and Planning; and Jorge Gil (Chalmers University, SMoG), Associate Professor and Head of the Division of Urban Design and Planning. Representatives from the Gothenburg City Planning Office, including Shraddha Kapri, Sara Nilsson, and Malin Klarqvist, also contributed to the discussions, providing perspectives grounded in real-world planning challenges.

Throughout the event, discussions highlighted several key themes. Participants explored new working methods enabled by the digitalisation of planning processes and discussed the importance of establishing robust professional standards in urban planning practice. Particular emphasis was placed on strengthening collaboration between research and practice, ensuring that academic knowledge informs planning processes while practical experiences contribute to advancing research.

The Gothenburg meeting demonstrated the potential of digital urban form models to support evidence-based planning and enhance decision-making processes within municipalities. By combining advanced analytical tools with participatory approaches, the pilot studies illustrated how digital technologies can strengthen planning outcomes, promote inclusivity, and guide sustainable urban development.

The event also reinforced the collaborative mission of InPlaLabs: building networks that connect research, practice, and professional communities across borders. Participants were encouraged to join the InPlaLabs Network in order to stay informed about future workshops, events, and opportunities for collaboration. Through its activities, the initiative continues to provide resources, tools, and knowledge that support the development of sustainable, resilient, and data-driven urban planning practices across Europe.