Human Cities / Smoties. Creative works with small and remote places

A scientific study co-funded by Creative Europe and coordinated by the Polimi DESIS Lab which involved European universities and research centres in ten rural areas in order to rejuvenate public spaces and strengthen social cohesion through participatory design. The research combined historical, ethnographic and design analyses, developing a field-tested methodology published openly as a Toolbox. The project activated local networks, created site-specific works, collected fifty best practices, and presented the stories of the communities involved. It is a replicable model for rethinking the future of remote territories, driven by cultre, creativity, and collaboration.