In Bucharest’s District 2, where green spaces are few and far between, a new initiative is reimagining how cities can connect sustainability, community, and technology. Behind the Open Campus for Neighbourhood and Climate project are a team of researchers, students, and residents. Together, they are working towards a common goal: to transform a dense urban neighbourhood and motivate positive lifestyle and social changes by creating green spaces.
In busy cities, parks and open areas are not just about recreation: they foster social connections, support mental health, and promote an active lifestyle. The Tei neighbourhood in Bucharest is home to students, young families, elderly citizens, small business owners, and, more recently, also to Romani and Ukrainian refugees. In this case, the challenge is clear: to develop and transform green spaces so they bring people together, strengthen community ties, and support a healthier, more sustainable urban life.
The Technical University of Civil Engineering of Bucharest is facing this challenge head-on. Through co-design workshops that involve students and residents, the “WeGenerate” project is pioneering new concepts for urban parks, pathways, and shared areas. A big part of this approach involves nature-based solutions, such as green roofs, permeable surfaces, and native vegetation. These solutions are especially important for addressing climate change, as they cool the environment, absorb stormwater, and improve air quality.
Alongside this direction, “WeGenerate” is also leading other initiatives on and off campus. Those include retrofitting the university’s student canteen into an energy-smart building and opening a new Shared Energy Centre that will connect the student canteen, dormitory, and a nearby school to enable energy sharing within the local grid. The team is also developing a digital twin – a virtual model of the campus and surrounding neighbourhood. By using real-time data from sensors and 3D simulations, this digital twin will help analyse greenhouse gas emissions, test energy-saving scenarios, and visualise how design choices affect the local environment.
