Urban Planning for Social Resilience in Urban Neighborhoods. Transformative Change through Civic Engagement (UPRUN) explored how urban planning, civic engagement and social innovation can contribute to more resilient, inclusive and sustainable neighbourhoods.
Across many European cities, civil society actors are increasingly shaping public spaces and co-producing their neighbourhoods. In experimental urban spaces, local initiatives, community groups and “city makers” develop new practices, test social innovations and respond to challenges such as fragmentation, exclusion and uncertainty. UPRUN investigated how these forms of civic engagement can strengthen neighbourhood resilience and what role urban planning and built environment professionals can play in supporting such transformative processes.
The project analysed potentials, risks and conditions for civic engagement, social participation, democratic development and sustainable urban transitions in a comparative European perspective. Its findings contributed to a broader understanding of resilient urban neighbourhoods and generated strategies for both civil society initiatives and urban planners.
Based on this research, UPRUN developed a digital, interactive knowledge and learning platform with hybrid teaching modules, studios, workshops and methodological resources. These materials support students, educators and professionals in understanding neighbourhood resilience and in developing planning and design approaches that foster collective action, innovation and learning in urban communities.