With the EU project “Sleeping Beauty”, forgotten public spaces are revived and developed into nature-inspired encounters. From the 4th to 6th June 2025 the starting signal in Vienna- with the aim of six European pilot locations (LV), Wrocl̸aw (PL), Fröseke (SE), Bozen (IT), Kozani (EL) and Collegno (IT)- through natural-based solutions and the values of the new European Bauhaus sustainably, inclusive and aesthetically.
Sleeping Beautya project funded by the European Commission and was guided by the AIT, the goal of arousing the beauty of overlooked and neglected public spaces and shaping them into living locations. In doing so, flourishing cities and municipalities are to be inspired and connected by the beauty of nature. From the 4. to June 6, 2025 was the project with a kick -off event in Film quarters Vienna officially started. Partner organizations from all over Europe came together to tackle the revitalization of six so -called “sleeeping bauties” – i.e. pilot locations -: Riga (lv), wrocl̸aw (PL), Fröseke (SE), Bozen (IT), Kozani (EL) and Collegno (IT). These locations are transformed into multifunctional habitats, guided by the principles and values of natural -based solutions (NBS) and the new European Bauhaus (NEB) – a connection between sustainability, inclusion and aesthetic quality.
Creative start in the heart of Vienna
The project start of Sleeping Beauty was a creative and lively event, embedded in a theatrical setting full of nature and joie de vivre. The venue was that Film quarters Vienna – A formerly sealed and neglected room that was transformed into a green oasis in the heart of the city. This place examines the goal of the project as an example: to arouse the beauty of forgotten public spaces.
From forgetting to nature closeness: think re -thinking public spaces
The project is coordinated by AIT Austrian Institute of Technology. Overall work 21 organizations from 9 European countries Together on the goal of awakening the potential of overlooked, under -used and forgotten public spaces. The pilot locations have different climatic and social requirements, from rural to urban, and face different challenges such as urban heat islands, emigration, lack of greening or light pollution. Every location is rethought as multifunctional habitatdesigned by the integration of NBS and NEB values. The project relies on six central principles: Regenerate, new in-value, reuse, re-establish, reorganize it and Replicate. These form the foundation for creative combinations of NEB & NBS to promote biodiversity, health, resilience and social participation.
A creative, transdisciplinary approach
‘Sleeping Beauty combines NEB values with natural-based solutions in one creative, transdisciplinary and co-creative process. The transformation process follows one three -phase frame model:
Set the frame – implement innovation – high -scaling & anchoring. In doing so, iterative Co-creative methods used with a wide variety of actors. The aim is to redefine the “natural beauty” of every pilot location. This is a result of this process „Compendiumof New Practices“A lively collection of strategies and methods from areas such as design, construction, ecosystem science, climate adaptation, inclusion, co-government and technological innovation.
Ko-creation as a key to interior design
Sleeping Beauty promotes consciousness formation, empowerment and co-creation over a wide variety of interest groups. The Community of Practice (CoP) is a central tool here: a trusting, inclusive space for the exchange of knowledge between administration, specialists and civil society. Funded by the research and innovation program Horizon Europe of the European Union (support agreement No. 101181784), the project runs over four years and develops a future-based, natural-based vision for the design of public spaces.