The New European Bauhaus (NEB) initiative, launched by the European Commission in 2019, introduces three foundational pillars—beautiful, sustainable, and together—to guide the transformation of European spaces in response to pressing environmental challenges. The initiative seeks to support the transformative role of creative action for local sustainability by promoting a holistic vision that integrates spatial quality, inclusivity, and a (re-)connection with natural elements. This initiative gives centrality to a concept—that of “beauty”—which has often been regarded as too elusive in urban studies. The contribution intends to explore how the attempt to reconsider the concept of urban beauty has been received and interpreted by place-specific projects and actions. This paper offers a critical meta-analysis of how this notion is defined and framed in the NEB initiative by examining its conceptualization by European institutions and its practical translation on the ground. Drawing on a literature-informed analysis, the study traces the evolution of the urban beauty notion and defines the theoretical foundations of the “Aesthetics” pillar within EU policy discourse. Through the analysis of selected NEB initiatives, particularly the 20 NEB Prize 2024 winners, it then examines how this notion is understood and adopted in specific project contexts. The thematic textual analysis of the selected project proposals examines (i) what dimensions are prioritized; (ii) whether and how they enhance the theoretical understanding of the NEB’s aesthetic dimension; and (iii) how these initiatives address social and environmental sustainability. Based on the results, the authors present some reflections on the positioning of this conceptual pillar within urban and cultural actions toward sustainability. Reflecting on how the aesthetics dimension is tackled, the paper also identifies recurring perspectives and gaps, with specific attention to the risk of favoring superficial “beautification” efforts rather than more ethically grounded approaches to design and regeneration.
Creative Action for Urban Sustainability: Unpacking the “Aesthetics” Pillar of the New European Bauhaus
Tartari, Maria;Bianchi, Irene;
2026-01-01
Abstract
The New European Bauhaus (NEB) initiative, launched by the European Commission in 2019, introduces three foundational pillars—beautiful, sustainable, and together—to guide the transformation of European spaces in response to pressing environmental challenges. The initiative seeks to support the transformative role of creative action for local sustainability by promoting a holistic vision that integrates spatial quality, inclusivity, and a (re-)connection with natural elements. This initiative gives centrality to a concept—that of “beauty”—which has often been regarded as too elusive in urban studies. The contribution intends to explore how the attempt to reconsider the concept of urban beauty has been received and interpreted by place-specific projects and actions. This paper offers a critical meta-analysis of how this notion is defined and framed in the NEB initiative by examining its conceptualization by European institutions and its practical translation on the ground. Drawing on a literature-informed analysis, the study traces the evolution of the urban beauty notion and defines the theoretical foundations of the “Aesthetics” pillar within EU policy discourse. Through the analysis of selected NEB initiatives, particularly the 20 NEB Prize 2024 winners, it then examines how this notion is understood and adopted in specific project contexts. The thematic textual analysis of the selected project proposals examines (i) what dimensions are prioritized; (ii) whether and how they enhance the theoretical understanding of the NEB’s aesthetic dimension; and (iii) how these initiatives address social and environmental sustainability. Based on the results, the authors present some reflections on the positioning of this conceptual pillar within urban and cultural actions toward sustainability. Reflecting on how the aesthetics dimension is tackled, the paper also identifies recurring perspectives and gaps, with specific attention to the risk of favoring superficial “beautification” efforts rather than more ethically grounded approaches to design and regeneration.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
