Caleche’s Post

🏛️ From tradition to tomorrow: le Locle & la Chaux-de-Fonds 🌟 Nestled in the heart of the Swiss Jura Mountains, le Locle and la Chaux-de-Fonds stand as enduring symbols of innovation and precision. Recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, these neighbouring towns tell a story of how ingenuity can shape communities. 📍 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴: Dating back to the 17th century, Le Locle and La Chaux-de-Fonds developed a unique urban layout tailored to watchmaking. This blend of functionality and artistry reflects a time when craftsmanship was the lifeblood of these towns. 🏭 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆: Today, these towns remain vibrant centers of watchmaking excellence. As part of the CALECHE Project, they serve as living labs to explore sustainable development. The focus? Enhance energy efficiency while preserving their rich architectural and cultural heritage. Balancing the future with the past requires creative solutions. By intertwining tradition with sustainability, le Locle and la Chaux-de-Fonds are leading the way in crafting a resilient, forward-looking legacy. 💡 How can we draw from history to design innovative, sustainable communities? Stay tuned as we dive deeper into the intersection of heritage and progress!

An Afternoon Break in #Ioannina: A Living Example of Sustainable Mobility in Action 🇬🇷 While exploring the charming city of Ioannina, we experienced firsthand how pedestrian-friendly spaces and thoughtful urban design can transform daily life. Strolling through cobblestone streets, pedestrianised zones, and picturesque pathways surrounding historic landmarks reminded us of the vital role sustainable mobility plays—not only in reducing emissions 🌍 but in enriching the human experience. Between workshops on our project pilots and stakeholder engagement to drive climate-neutral European cities through innovative smart mobility solutions, we explored Ioannina’s rich heritage. Highlights included the Citadel, Greece’s oldest castle, the Byzantine Museum, and the Silversmithing Museum, all set against the serene backdrop of Lake Pamvotis and the Pindus Mountains ⛰️. Ioannina beautifully demonstrates that sustainability and cultural heritage can go hand in hand—offering a glimpse of what’s possible when cities prioritise people, history, and the planet. #SustainableMobility #SmartCities #ClimateNeutralEurope #UrbanInnovation

Happy Friday all, and greetings from Venice! This is a poignant moment as I sit comfortably overlooking a stretch of the grand canal and ponder, as I approach my half century with nervous trepidation, what the next 50 years will offer. I have worked tirelessly to think beyond social, economic and environmental parameters to also consider space, culture and technology as equally important considerations that can shape better outcomes in our built environment. And all of this comes sharply into focus when I think about what is happening tomorrow, on the 20th July. The Redentore festival began as a feast – held on the day of the Feast of the Most Holy Redeemer – to give thanks for the end of the terrible plague of 1576, which killed approximately 50,000 people. The Doge Alvise I Mocenigo promised to build a magnificent church if the plague ended. Andrea Palladio was eventually commissioned to build it on the Island of Giudecca; and the church, known as Il Redentore, was consecrated in 1592. After the foundation stone was laid, a small wooden church was temporarily built, along with temporary bridge of barges from the Zattere, so that the Doge Sebastiano Venier could walk in procession as far as the tabernacle. Afterwards, the Doge made a pilgrimage to the Church of Redentore every year and, to this day, floating sections that represent the barges lashed together to connect Giudecca to Zattare are populated by those wishing to trace such steps. Why does this make me think of the next 50 years and reshaping sustainability? Well, two thirds of the surface area of the Earth is water: some of which ( particularly those under-utilised docks and ports fronting onto our seas) are prime places for regeneration. There is an opportunity to embrace what is often perceived as a climate change-related cataclysm ( I.e the rising sea level) to create flood resilient, dynamic, floating structures on water as an alternative form of urbanism where one can live, work and play. The thought of utilising disused docks and ports’ water as a spatially and technologically sustainable means of urban regeneration excites me, as well as the cultural prospect of the water being a ‘platform’ to reflect the culture of a place. Just as Palladio’s waterfront church was a celebration of the end of the great plague of Venice in the 16th century, perhaps the culture that is played out in our waterways 50 years from now will mark an era of overcoming the pandemic, or our continued quest to quash our climate-change related urban challenges. And here I see a remarkable floating structure, springing up in front of my eyes, in readiness for tomorrow’s festival. A festival that is a mark of resilience and overcoming adversity; a celebration of life on the water. And also a lesson in balancing space, culture and technology. Have a good weekend all. #Venice #ReshapingSustainability #WaterfrontRevival #FloatingStructures #CultureOnTheWater #JasonPomeroy #PomeroyStudio #PomeroyAcademy

Happy Friday all, and greetings from Venice! This is a poignant moment as I sit comfortably overlooking a stretch of the grand canal and ponder, as I approach my half century with nervous trepidation, what the next 50 years will offer. I have worked tirelessly to think beyond social, economic and environmental parameters to also consider space, culture and technology as equally important considerations that can shape better outcomes in our built environment. And all of this comes sharply into focus when I think about what is happening tomorrow, on the 20th July. The Redentore festival began as a feast – held on the day of the Feast of the Most Holy Redeemer – to give thanks for the end of the terrible plague of 1576, which killed approximately 50,000 people. The Doge Alvise I Mocenigo promised to build a magnificent church if the plague ended. Andrea Palladio was eventually commissioned to build it on the Island of Giudecca; and the church, known as Il Redentore, was consecrated in 1592. After the foundation stone was laid, a small wooden church was temporarily built, along with temporary bridge of barges from the Zattere, so that the Doge Sebastiano Venier could walk in procession as far as the tabernacle. Afterwards, the Doge made a pilgrimage to the Church of Redentore every year and, to this day, floating sections that represent the barges lashed together to connect Giudecca to Zattare are populated by those wishing to trace such steps. Why does this make me think of the next 50 years and reshaping sustainability? Well, two thirds of the surface area of the Earth is water: some of which ( particularly those under-utilised docks and ports fronting onto our seas) are prime places for regeneration. There is an opportunity to embrace what is often perceived as a climate change-related cataclysm ( I.e the rising sea level) to create flood resilient, dynamic, floating structures on water as an alternative form of urbanism where one can live, work and play. The thought of utilising disused docks and ports’ water as a spatially and technologically sustainable means of urban regeneration excites me, as well as the cultural prospect of the water being a ‘platform’ to reflect the culture of a place. Just as Palladio’s waterfront church was a celebration of the end of the great plague of Venice in the 16th century, perhaps the culture that is played out in our waterways 50 years from now will mark an era of overcoming the pandemic, or our continued quest to quash our climate-change related urban challenges. And here I see a remarkable floating structure, springing up in front of my eyes, in readiness for tomorrow’s festival. A festival that is a mark of resilience and overcoming adversity; a celebration of life on the water. And also a lesson in balancing space, culture and technology. Have a good weekend all. #Venice #ReshapingSustainability #WaterfrontRevival #FloatingStructures #CultureOnTheWater #JasonPomeroy #PomeroyStudio #PomeroyAcademy

1️⃣ Day 1 of the Urban Future. #Rotterdam conference: a great Placemaking Western Balkans Municipality of Celje / Mestna Občina Celje session, and wonderful speakers Monika Tominšek Małgorzata Ćwikła, PhD ICLEI Europe and Alexandru Stan @IN2 🔥 The discussion between the speakers and the audience was built around several “burning questions” bringing new insights to the surface:  ❓ What does it mean to be urban planner working for municipality on the heritage renewal projects and is it attractive for young architecture and design professionals to work for the city rather than working in a private practice on heritage-inspired projects ?  ❓ Why is it still difficult to motivate bottom up heritage projects and what makes those cities who got it right successful?  ❓ Can citizens determine what is heritage from their point of view and make city officials listen to them, or is definition of heritage exclusive right of cultural institutions only?  ❓ Are digital tools making heritage closer to everyone, what is their role in sustainable, regenerative tourism as opposite to “extractive” tourism? ➡ Full overview of the "Cool Answers to Burning Questions on Redoing Heritage" will be available at our Placemaking Western Balkans BLOG dedicated to the Redoing Heritage interactive session, starting from 10th of June. Stay tuned, mark the day for a good read! #placemaking #publicspace #built #nontangible #heritage #regeneration #digitaltools

1️⃣ Day 1 of the Urban Future. #Rotterdam conference: a great Placemaking Western Balkans Municipality of Celje / Mestna Občina Celje session, and wonderful speakers Monika Tominšek Małgorzata Ćwikła, PhD ICLEI Europe and Alexandru Stan @IN2 🔥 The discussion between the speakers and the audience was built around several “burning questions” bringing new insights to the surface:  ❓ What does it mean to be urban planner working for municipality on the heritage renewal projects and is it attractive for young architecture and design professionals to work for the city rather than working in a private practice on heritage-inspired projects ?  ❓ Why is it still difficult to motivate bottom up heritage projects and what makes those cities who got it right successful?  ❓ Can citizens determine what is heritage from their point of view and make city officials listen to them, or is definition of heritage exclusive right of cultural institutions only?  ❓ Are digital tools making heritage closer to everyone, what is their role in sustainable, regenerative tourism as opposite to “extractive” tourism? ➡ Full overview of the "Cool Answers to Burning Questions on Redoing Heritage" will be available at our Placemaking Western Balkans BLOG dedicated to the Redoing Heritage interactive session, starting from 10th of June. Stay tuned, mark the day for a good read! #placemaking #publicspace #built #nontangible #heritage #regeneration #digitaltools

Regenerating our museums and preserving historical buildings or landmarks is more than just preserving the past; it’s about breathing new life into these spaces, integrating them more fully into modern society and enhancing their role in protecting our environment. Whether it’s transforming abandoned industrial sites into vibrant community gardens and green spaces, improving the biodiversity within our parks or creating wildlife habitats in small pockets of green spaces - if done successfully these projects can protect the historical significance of these sites while enhancing biodiversity and providing much-needed green space for city dwellers. Incorporating green roofs, living walls, nature trails, wildlife habitats and community gardens allows museums and historical buildings to retain their historical legacy while improving biodiversity and by working together the heritage sector can create green corridors throughout our towns and cities. The multitude of benefits also includes reducing urban temperatures, improving public health and offering communities a place to connect with nature. Balancing the preservation of historical buildings with modern sustainability practices can pose several challenges. It requires innovative planning and design, navigating regulatory landscapes, securing funding, and engaging local communities in the process. Yet, the far-reaching benefits outweigh the challenges. At Focus Consultants, our project management and sustainability teams are on hand to guide clients through these challenges from business planning and feasibility studies through to project delivery. Our work with the Horniman Museum and Gardens, for example, seeks to create biodiverse environments that engage and educate the community, restoration work planned for Brighton & Hove Museums and The Chamberlain Highbury Trust aims to balance historical preservation with sustainability and our work on the development phase of Fairlop Country Park sought to balance biodiversity with leisure and sport offerings that generate income. Visit our website to find out more: https://lnkd.in/edsXcxMF #UrbanNature #UrbanSpaces #Biodiversity #MuseumWeek #UrbanNatureMW

𝐓𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐔𝐫𝐛𝐚𝐧 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐨 The approval process for the Urban Green Plan of #Trento has officially begun. This strategic document explores our dynamic vision for urban green spaces, rethinking city aesthetics through ecosystem services to enhance people’s well-being. We have been #collaborating with Comune di Trento, the local community and stakeholders with a co-creation approach, viewing nature as an opportunity for urban #regeneration and a catalyst for #sustainable development. Through four macro #landscape areas and eight objectives, we aim to cultivate climate #resilience and accessibility in urban spaces while ensuring the conservation and improvement of local ecosystems. Stay tuned as we continue our commitment to a cooler, more inclusive, resilient, and greener Trento! Giovanna Ulrici Francesca Alba Andreas Kipar Jens Hoffmann Nikolas Neubert Luisa Bellini Ilaria Congia Andrea Balestrini Chiara Linda Maria Galimberti Claudia Timarchi Ramírez Giulia Castellazzi Davide Pallotta #LAND #LANDItalia #ReconnectingPeopleWithNature #LANDscape #LeadingWithLandscape #LANDscapeIsLife #UrbanLandscape 

🏙️🌳 As cities strive for sustainability, #NatureBasedSolutions are proving essential - and our Partner PARIS NATURE - Ville de Paris - Espaces verts et environnement is a perfect example! With recent green space expansions, Paris is improving #urbanlife and #biodiversity. 1️⃣ The Solange-Fadé garden in the 12th arrondissement has been expanded by 2,500 m², creating a tranquil space with chess tables and historic sculptures. 2️⃣ A new 3.5 hectare park near the Porte de Vincennes along the Petite Ceinture railway brings nature back to the city with over 2,000 new plants. These projects are a great reminder of how NbS can shape cities that are not only green, but also resilient to #climatechallenges. 🎥 Watch the video to see how Paris is transforming its urban spaces: https://ow.ly/5rkZ50UeEE1! #UrbanNaturePlans #GreenSpaces #ParisNature #EnvironmentalAwareness

Watch: Origins of Modern Urban Transformation, with Urbidermis Born out of the landmark urban transformation surrounding Barcelona’s ’92 Olympic Games, Urbidermis & Belloch Forestal reflects a unique understanding of what it means to revolutionize a city. This origin has informed a unique view of urban elements as the fabric of the city, a lens through which we can better understand the living, breathing and evolving nature of the urban environments we share. Understand this powerful origin story and more as we share “The Living City”, a series of short films documenting the Urbidermis ethos and how it’s transforming urbanism as we know it. Learn more about Urbidermis: https://bit.ly/4aI8nbO