NEIGHBORHOODS FOR TRANSFORMATIVE ACTION

Organizers

Serap Kayasü, Middle East Technical University
Sıla Ceren Varış Husar, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava
Burcu Halide Çıngı Özüduru, Gazi University
Deniz Altay Kaya, Çankaya University

Contributors

Serap Kayasü, Middle East Technical University
Milan Husar, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava
Bilge Serin, Glasgow University
Mina Di Marino, Norwegian University of Life Sciences
Dea Buza, Agricultural University of Tirana

Neighborhoods are more than mere physical spaces; they are dynamic socio-spatial assemblages that reflect the interplay of identity, diversity, and community while serving as key loci where space and society become tangible. Often overlooked in urban planning, neighborhoods are increasingly recognized as critical platforms for addressing today’s multifaceted crises, such as climate change, social inequality and public health crises. Serving as the nexus between individual households and broader urban systems, neighborhoods hold unparalleled potential to shape the future of cities through local governance and social interaction with the advantages of proximity and interdependence. 

The diversity of European neighborhood experiences and how neighborhoods can foster resilience, encourage participation, and drive community transformation will be explored in this roundtable. By fostering cross-country dialogue within Europe and its wider region, urban planners and policymakers can utilize diverse approaches to address challenges and enhance neighborhood-driven transformation.

Transformative actions at the neighborhood level hinge on bridging grassroots initiatives with top-down policies. Collaborative governance models demonstrate the potential of integrating citizen-driven innovations. The roundtable will focus on three themes:

1. Participation: Neighborhoods provide accessible platforms for community engagement, enabling residents to co-create solutions and influence decision-making processes. The panel will explore strategies that empower marginalized groups, amplify local voices, and bridge the gap between top-down policies and grassroots initiatives.
2. Resilience: Neighborhoods are essential for fostering resilience in economic, social, environmental and governance crises. Panelists will present examples of adaptive strategies that promote social cohesion, mutual support, and long-term recovery.
3. Transformation: Beyond resilience, neighborhoods can act as laboratories for transformative change. Discussions as digital technologies, data-driven tools and urban labs will highlight how neighborhoods redefine urban living, foster innovation, and create inclusive, equitable futures.

Panelists will provide insights from Türkiye, Central and Eastern, Western, Northern and Southeastern Europe and the Balkans:

• Türkiye: Exploring the dimensions of community resilience, the ability of communities and neighborhoods in navigating multiple crises.
• Central and Eastern Europe: Highlighting neighborhood dynamics in post-socialist urban contexts shaped by unique historical and cultural factors.
• Western Europe: Showing innovative, community-driven, participatory approaches to sustainability and governance.
• Northern Europe: Resource sharing focusing on a reshareability index for sustainable planning and ‘reshared’ neighborhoods to apply circular principles.
• Southeastern Europe and the Balkans: Offering comparative insights to broaden understanding and applicability.

In the quest to transform the neighborhood from being a passive policy recipient to becoming an active change agent, panelists will provide economic, social, environmental and governance frameworks and case studies that will lead the redefinition of the neighborhood in spatial planning. 

The roundtable outcomes are envisioned to have significant implications for the 2025 Ankara Urbanism Biennial organized by İlhan Tekeli Urbanism Culture Trust, offering a comprehensive understanding of neighborhoods as critical sites for fostering inclusivity, resilience, and adaptability in urban environments. By synthesizing insights from diverse contexts, the roundtable will help identify key themes for the biennial, ranging from social equity and grassroots democracy to sustainability and urban innovation. Finally, an edited volume will consolidate theoretical and practical knowledge on neighborhoods as essential building blocks of urbanism.

Key words: Neighborhoods; Transformative Action; Sustainability; Resilience; Participation