RE-LIVE 15 – Seeking International Partners for Climate-Resilient, Inclusive and Circular 15-Minute Neighbourhoods

RE-LIVE 15 – International Partnership Opportunity

Project title: Adaptive Reuse of Urban Spaces for Climate-Resilient, Socially Inclusive and Circular 15-Minute Neighbourhoods

Programme: Driving Urban Transitions (DUT) Partnership – Call 2026

Call topic: Cross-cutting Topic 1 – Adaptive Reuse of Existing Urban Structures and Spaces

Transition Pathways: 15-Minute City (primary) and Circular Urban Economies (complementary)

Project approach: Innovation-Oriented Approach (IOA)

Proposed coordinator: Karadeniz Technical University (KTU), Türkiye

Duration: 36 months

Project Overview

Karadeniz Technical University is developing RE-LIVE 15, an international research and innovation proposal addressing the transformation of underused urban spaces, pedestrian corridors and existing urban infrastructure into climate-resilient, accessible, socially inclusive and environmentally sustainable neighbourhood environments.

The project aims to integrate the 15-minute city concept with blue-green infrastructure, circular resource management, climate adaptation and participatory urban planning.

RE-LIVE 15 will develop an integrated framework combining:

• Explainable AI-based GIS Decision Support System (AI-DSS): Supporting spatial suitability assessments, multi-criteria evaluations and alternative urban transformation scenarios.

• Interactive Urban e-Atlas: Providing spatial information, scenario visualisation, environmental indicators and accessible public information.

• Urban Living Labs: Engaging municipalities, researchers, residents and local stakeholders in participatory planning and co-design.

• Physical Micro-Pilot Interventions: Demonstrating adaptive reuse solutions within at least two pilot neighbourhoods in two different countries, with one selected physical intervention in each country.

• Environmental and Social Impact Assessment: Evaluating walkability, thermal comfort, stormwater management, biodiversity, social inclusion, circular material reuse and life-cycle carbon impacts.

The project will assess neighbourhoods using at least 12 common indicators and develop at least three alternative transformation scenarios for each pilot. Particular attention will be given to the needs of children, older adults, people with disabilities, low-income communities and other underrepresented groups.

Partners We Are Looking For

We are interested in establishing a multidisciplinary international consortium involving:

1. AI, GIS and Software Development Companies / SMEs

Technology partners with expertise in explainable AI, GIS-based decision support, spatial databases, interactive mapping, scenario modelling and web-based digital platforms. An eligible funded private-sector partner is particularly important for the selected DUT topic.

2. Universities and Research Institutions

Research teams specialising in urban and regional planning, sustainable mobility, urban climate modelling, blue-green infrastructure, environmental assessment, circular economy, life-cycle assessment and social inclusion.

3. Municipalities and Local Public Authorities

Municipalities interested in contributing urban data, supporting stakeholder engagement, hosting pilot activities and facilitating the implementation and long-term management of innovative public-space interventions.

4. Civil Society Organisations and Community-Based Stakeholders

Organisations experienced in citizen engagement, inclusive urban design, accessibility, participatory governance and community-based innovation.

Expected Outcomes

RE-LIVE 15 aims to deliver a validated AI-DSS/e-Atlas prototype, two physical micro-pilot interventions, comparative environmental and social performance assessments, life-cycle carbon evaluations, and a transferable municipal planning and implementation toolkit.

The project will also contribute to the DUT Knowledge Hub through knowledge exchange, capacity-building activities and policy-oriented recommendations.

Invitation to Collaborate

We welcome expressions of interest from organisations willing to contribute scientific expertise, technological solutions, pilot opportunities or implementation capacity.

Interested partners are invited to share their institutional expertise, relevant project experience, potential role in the consortium and national funding eligibility.

Contact:

Prof. Dr. Ertan Düzgüneş
Department of Landscape Architecture
Karadeniz Technical University, Türkiye
ertan.duzgunes@ktu.edu.tr