Cross-cutting Topic 1: Adaptive reuse of existing urban structures and spaces

Transformative projects in urban contexts require holistic approaches, and the integration of thematic and organisational layers. The connected level of complexity asks for systemic approaches, balancing conflicting objectives, and engagement of a diversity of stakeholder groups. For this cross-cutting innovation-oriented topic, we encourage potential applicants to compile inter- and transdisciplinary consortia that go beyond single-sector perspectives and explore combinations of aspects from all DUT Transition Pathways.

Please note that:

• This topic is only open for applications making use of the Innovation Oriented Approach (IOA).
• Beyond the general DUT criteria to include an urban public authority in the consortium, this topic has a specific transnational eligibility criteria to include at least one private sector organisation (see section 3.1).
• For administrative reasons, proposals need to select one main thematic focus / one Transition Pathway (15mC / CUE / PED) in the submission system. However, an integrated approach is expected, combining specific aspects (see below) of at least two of the three Transition Pathways.
• Please consult Table 1 and 2 in Annex A for an overview of which of the Funding Agencies that fund this as well as the TP-specific topics. 

Across Europe, cities are made of extensive stocks of buildings, infrastructures, streets, industrial sites, green and blue areas; some of them underused, vacant or obsolete. These assets embody large amounts of material, energy, economic, and cultural value, but also spatial potential. At the same time, urban areas face accelerating pressures from risks caused by climate change, energy dependency and energy poverty, social inequality, shortage of affordable housing, mobility challenges, and resource constraints. Continuing to prioritise new construction on green fields over the transformation of existing urban structures risks locking cities into carbon-intensive pathways, increasing land take, and missing opportunities for faster, more inclusive, and cost-effective urban transitions.

Adaptive reuse refers to repurposing an existing building, infrastructure or urban space for a new functions while preserving much of its original material. Instead of demolishing buildings or sites, adaptive reuse offers a powerful lever to reimagine and repurpose existing structures and spaces to meet present and future needs. When strategically implemented, adaptive reuse can reduce material and energy demand, activate underused urban space, support compact and people-centred urban living, and enable the integration of renewable energy systems and flexible infrastructures. 

At the same time, adaptive reuse can generate latent effects and unexpected outcomes for inhabitants. These may include shifts in social dynamics, changes in affordability and accessibility, and the potential for both community revitalisation and displacement (e.g., through gentrification). Altered spatial layouts and building characteristics can also influence everyday practices, comfort, and perceptions of place. While adaptive reuse can strengthen local identity and cultural continuity, it may also introduce tensions between preservation and new uses. Understanding these unintended or indirect impacts is therefore critical to ensuring that adaptive reuse contributes not only to environmental and economic goals, but also to socially equitable and inclusive urban development.

Despite its potential, the real-world implementation of adaptive reuse remains fragmented. Regulatory barriers, fragmented ownership, misaligned incentives and sectoral silos are some of the aspects that hinder large-scale application. There is a strong need for innovative projects that move beyond individual buildings or isolated interventions and demonstrate adaptive reuse as a systemic, cross-sectoral urban transformation strategy. This is at the core of this topic, which invites proposals to tackle the above-mentioned challenges through integrated, place-based, and systemic approaches.

Project proposals submitted under this topic should address one or several of the following questions:

• How can adaptive reuse and redevelopment of existing buildings, retail spaces, infrastructures, (semi-)public space, brownfields, or industrial areas and green and blue spaces be implemented as an integrated strategy that simultaneously supports circular resource use, low-carbon energy systems, and a city of short distances?
• How can underused or mono-functional urban spaces (e.g. parking areas, motorized traffic-dominated streets, vacant buildings, industrial estates) be transformed through real-world pilots into multifunctional, high-density spaces that support sustainable mobility, local production, social services, local energy sharing and community life?
• Which cross-sector collaboration models (e.g. between municipalities, housing providers, energy actors, mobility providers, SMEs, business sector and civil society) enable adaptive reuse projects to move from concept to implementation and long-term operation?
• Which participatory methods can be used to enable community involvement and local ownership, but also guarantee high sustainability ambitions? How can (small) businesses, local initiatives and associations/NGOsbe integrated and actively engaged in local developments and solutions, together with public entities, real estate developers and larger enterprises?
• Which policy, planning, and governance approaches, including incentives, regulatory tools, and community engagement mechanisms, most effectively enable implementation of inclusive and socially responsive adaptive reuse projects that enhance individual and systemic resilience?
• How can proposed interventions address underlying structures, including governance arrangements, investment logics, regulatory frameworks, behaviours, and cultural norms.
• How can adaptive reuse overcome regulatory and financial barriers, as well as obstacles related to fragmented ownership, and what innovative governance, financing, or procurement models can enable replication and scaling?
• How can adaptive reuse projects integrate high-quality design, aesthetics, and cultural heritage – in line with the principles of the New European Bauhaus – ensuring that interventions are not only sustainable and functional but also beautiful, inclusive, and reflective of local identity and sense of place?
• How can adaptive reuse interventions deliver measurable impacts in terms of emissions reduction, energy performance, resource efficiency, accessibility, social inclusion, and resilience, and how can these impacts be monitored to support uptake?

Specific 15mC aspects

• How can mobility infrastructure and public spaces be made future-proof and resilient – capable of absorbing external shocks, remaining flexible under changing conditions and enabling rapid recovery from disruptions? How can changes to existing mobility infrastructure be implemented while maximising material reuse, responding to shifting mobility needs and demographic changes, avoiding overreliance on a single dominant transport mode?
• How can integrated planning instruments that coordinate construction and maintenance of streets and squares across municipal departments and stakeholders best contribute to resilience, effective adaptation and efficient resource use? Which tools, conditions and processes are required to make integrated planning the standard practice in urban development?
• What is needed and how can experimental and temporary mobility arrangements (e.g. during construction phases) be applied across contexts to test iterative interventions, diversify monofunctional traffic spaces and enable new uses?
• How can adaptive reuse of outdoor infrastructure (e.g. vacant lots, parking garages, rooftop spaces, and semi-public areas) be promoted and effectively supported to create healthy, green and socially inclusive spaces? 

Specific CUE aspects

• How can adaptive reuse reduce environmental impacts and support circular urban economies by extending the lifecycle of buildings, minimising demolition waste, and prioritising the reuse of existing resources?
• How can adaptive reuse balance cultural heritage preservation with contemporary urban needs, enabling cities to maintain architectural identity while accommodating new functions and uses?
• How can the transformation of underutilised buildings and sites through adaptive reuse address pressing social and spatial needs, such as affordable housing, cultural infrastructure, and accessible green public spaces?

Specific PED aspects

• How can adaptive reuse projects embed Positive Energy District principles, such as energy efficiency, local renewable energy production, energy flexibility, shared energy systems, or energy communities, within existing urban fabrics and mixed-use neighbourhoods?
• How can mixed-use functions combining industrial, commercial, and community functions be promoted, and how can synergies between these different uses be best used in terms of energy production, sharing and flexibility (e.g., coordinated use of waste heat)?
• How can brownfield areas/former industrial areas be transformed into multi-functional, local/regional energy hubs with a potentially positive energy balance? How can they be integrated into the overall energy system?

Rather than focusing on isolated technical solutions, projects are expected to address this topic in a systemic way. Project outputs should be both impact- and process-oriented, ensuring they are as concrete and user-centered as possible, and are expected to:

• Demonstrate real-world pilot projects showcasing adaptive reuse of existing urban structures and spaces, integrating solutions for energy, mobility, circularity, and spatial transformation.
• Show how proposed interventions address underlying systemic conditions, including governance arrangements, investment logics, regulatory frameworks, behaviours, and cultural norms.
• Deliver validated implementation models for adaptive reuse that combine spatial redesign, energy system integration, circular resource strategies, and cross-sectoral governance arrangements.
• Provide evidence-based insights on the performance, costs, benefits, and trade-offs of adaptive reuse interventions, supporting informed decision-making and de-risking future investments.
• Develop replicable frameworks and toolkits enabling cities and urban stakeholders to plan, finance, and implement adaptive reuse projects at neighborhood or district scale.
• Generate policy and regulatory recommendations informed by pilots and experiments, addressing barriers related to planning, energy regulation, mobility, ownership structures, and procurement.
• Establish participatory approaches and frameworks that enable meaningful community involvement and local ownership, while ensuring significant impact across energy, mobility, space use, and circular resource flows. 

Outline strategies for uptake, replication, and scaling, demonstrating how adaptive reuse can be mainstreamed across diverse urban contexts and contribute to long-term urban transition.