Young Smart Cities Learning Situation on:
BUILDINGS – Bringing Old Buildings Back to Life
KNOWLEDGE PILLS relevant to this SMART theme are:
Driving Question
How can we turn unused historic buildings into assets for a young, smart city community?
Learning Situation
Many cities face the dual challenge of meeting a growing demand for buildings due to urbanisation, while also reducing CO₂ emissions. Revitalisation and reuse of existing structures can be essential for preserving heritage, cutting emissions, limiting waste, and supporting a sustainable future.
To address this growing challenge, the local cultural heritage and urban regeneration office has launched a public call for innovative ideas to transform unused historic buildings into meaningful and sustainable community assets. The aim is to protect the building’s cultural and architectural heritage while upgrading it into a functional, energy-efficient space that contributes to both environmental goals and the needs and well-being of residents.
Task
Design an evidence-based proposal in response to your local heritage authority’s call for ideas to revitalise an unused historic building in your city. Working in groups, choose one specific building and develop a clear, research-informed concept for how it could be transformed into a restored, functional, and community-oriented space that respects its cultural value while supporting environmental sustainability. Your proposal should show that your ideas are feasible, sustainable, and beneficial for both the environment and the wider community.
Make sure you follow an enquiry-based approach so your proposal is grounded in solid, evidence-based reasoning. You will move through these stages:
Explore → Research → Analyse → Ideate → Present → Reflect