The REVIVE Handbook is a practical and forward-looking document born from the European project “Historic Towns and Sites - Sustainable and Inclusive Living Spaces for Future Generations Inspired by the New European Bauhaus.” Its core purpose is to offer a replicable methodology for revitalizing historic towns and sites through innovative, sustainable, and inclusive solutions - guided by the principles of the New European Bauhaus (NEB) and aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Urban Agenda.

 

At the heart of the REVIVE approach is the conviction that historic heritage should not remain frozen in time as a static museum, but instead become a living, dynamic space that responds to contemporary needs while preserving its identity. To achieve this, the project places young creative talents -students and early-career professionals from diverse fields such as architecture, design, anthropology, arts, and communication- at the center of the process. Guided by experienced mentors and working closely with local communities, these young innovators co-create real-world interventions across four European contexts: Tržič (Slovenia), Turku (Finland), Cellino Attanasio (Italy), and Iași (Romania).

 

The methodology is structured around six key steps:

1. Observe (analyze the place, its people, and its heritage),

2. Engage (build alliances with local stakeholders and form creative teams),

3. Vision (imagine desirable futures through workshops and bootcamps),

4. Experiment (implement on-site prototypes during intensive two-week residencies),

5. Learn (gather feedback and evaluate impacts), and

6. Share (disseminate tools, experiences, and best practices for wider replication).

 

Each of the four experiments tackled a distinct local challenge: creating participatory public spaces in Tržič; using digital technologies like video mapping to animate industrial heritage in Turku; transforming an abandoned church into a cultural and craft hub in Cellino Attanasio; and turning a disused power plant into an intercultural meeting point in Iași. Across all sites, the interventions prioritized local materials, circular economy principles, accessibility, community co-creation, and deep respect for historical identity.

 

More than the physical or digital outcomes, the true success of REVIVE lies in the process itself: building bridges across generations, disciplines, and cultures; empowering youth as change-makers; and demonstrating that the NEB’s three pillars - sustainability, aesthetics, and inclusion- can be meaningfully integrated into urban regeneration.

 

The Handbook is not merely a report - it is a living toolbox. It offers practical advice by phase, useful resources, common pitfalls to avoid, and testimonials from participants. Designed for municipalities, cultural institutions, universities, and civic organizations, it enables others to adapt the REVIVE model to their own contexts. In an era when many historic centers face depopulation, aging populations, and loss of identity, REVIVE provides a hopeful roadmap: reimagining heritage not as a burden from the past, but as a vibrant, living resource for more resilient, beautiful, and just futures.

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Download The REVIVE Handbook at the link.