Governance, participation and co‑creation strategies for the design of public space

We are the Directorate-General for Spatial Planning, Urban Development and Urban Agenda within the Ministry of Development, Territorial Articulation and Housing of the Regional Government of Andalusia. Our mission is to promote sustainable urban development while effectively managing territorial planning across the region. We work collaboratively with various stakeholders to create innovative solutions that enhance the urban environment and improve the quality of life for our citizens. Together, we aim to drive forward the Urban Agenda in Andalusia, ensuring that growth and development are balanced with environmental and social considerations.

Through integrated spatial planning, we aim to deliver transformative solutions that enhance the connectivity, accessibility, and health of urban agglomerations by strengthening their relationship with nature through the design and management of supra-local public spaces. You can find examples of our work at the following link: https://lajunta.es/6espg

We propose to act as key partner in a strategic project aligned with the objectives of the New European Bauhaus (NEB) initiative, the European Green Deal, the EU Biodiversity Strategy.

We offer to the consortium the idea of the role of public space design as a driver for climate resilience, social inclusion, and environmental quality, embedding participatory governance and co-decision mechanisms as core components of territorial transformation.

We can offer to the consortium to implement a large-scale demonstrative project in peri-urban open spaces, testing innovative methodologies for the ecological and social requalification of transitional territories between urban and rural systems. The project will require a multidisciplinary consortium to co-develop and validate transferable approaches applicable across diverse European contexts.

From the Directorate-General, we will focus on planned open spaces associated with river systems that have been significantly anthropised and transformed, where interventions can generate measurable improvements in ecosystem functionality, landscape connectivity, and social well-being. These pilot actions will serve as living labs, demonstrating nature-based and design-driven solutions that integrate ecological restoration with inclusive public space development.

The pilot project aims to requalify peri-urban river environment placed in the south est of Spain, in a very dry weather area, related with the Andarax river, through a participatory and co-creative process that actively involves public authorities, technical stakeholders, local communities, and underrepresented groups. Special attention will be given to engaging actors that work and live on the territory, enabling a better understanding of conflicting uses and fostering negotiated solutions based on shared values.

By integrating governance innovation, spatial design, and environmental restoration, the project will deliver replicable models and policy-relevant outcomes, contributing to improved territorial decision-making processes. The ultimate goal is to achieve broad social consensus, ensuring long-term sustainability, scalability, and alignment with European priorities on climate adaptation, biodiversity enhancement, and inclusive urban development.

You can find information about the pilot area at the following link: https://lajunta.es/6espj

Expected results:

• A project aligned with the NEB—inclusive, sustainable and beautiful—that requalifies the relationship between peri-urban, urban and rural environments, enabling planners and designers to ensure efficient and effective integration of users' perspectives in the spatial design of public space.

• Through both the participatory methodology and the project objectives, the planned actions—both in participation and in the design of spaces—will generate a positive impact on climate, the environment, society and culture (including the fight against inequalities, the improvement of social cohesion, community resilience, civic participation and the sense of safety, belonging and identity).

This concept can be further tailored and refined to align with the specific needs and objectives of the consortium.