HeritAct’s Nature-Based Solutions at Placemaking Week Europe
Following her experience last year in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, Ksenia Kuzmina attended Placemaking Week Europe 2025 in Reggio Emilia, Italy, showcasing one of LAND Research Lab’s EU-funded projects.
In her talk, “Nature-Based Placemaking: HeritAct project for Inclusion, Sustainability and Well-Being”, Ksenia Kuzmina showcased how Nature-Based Solutions can transform temporarily vacant spaces into inclusive, sustainable and vibrant places.
Aligned with the principles of the New European Bauhaus, LAND Research Lab promotes a transdisciplinary approach based on participation and multi-level engagement, generating concrete benefits such as:
- public activities during construction phases,
- citizen engagement and shared maintenance,
- participatory co-design processes,
- flexible and adaptable strategies.
Within this framework, HeritAct stands as a virtuous example of reactivating cultural heritage through shared recognition and co-design.
Funded by Horizon Europe, the project involves LAND together with the Municipality of Milan, Stefano Boeri Architetti, THINGS and 14 partners including public administrations, universities and research bodies across five countries: Greece, Ireland, Italy, Spain and Belgium. Running from 2023 to 2026, HeritAct focuses on three pilot cities – Eleusis, Ballina and Milan – aiming to transform them into resilient hubs through Nature-Based Solutions.
During Placemaking Week Europe, Kuzmina also contributed to an episode of the international podcast “Good Place”, hosted by Plot Twist Placemaking, sharing her personal perspective on the future of urban spaces.
