The European project 'U-CARE' aims to redefine Urban Health through innovative urban planning and research.

[Florence, Italy], [04/11/25] – The U-CARE project (funded by the European Union under the Erasmus+ initiative) addresses urgent environmental and climate challenges facing contemporary cities. Coordinated by Technische Universität Berlin and supported by five European academic and research institutions (Building Health Lab - Germany, Chalmers University of Technology - Sweden, University of Cyprus - Cyprus, University of Florence - Italy, RESET Ltd - Cyprus), U-CARE will develop innovative participatory design tools and methodologies to enhance urban health in neighborhoods and districts across diverse climatic conditions.

The Urban Health Gap

Urban health is recognized as a crucial factor for sustainable city development, particularly in light of the global climate crisis. However, research and design guidelines in this field remain fragmented, causing significant delays in implementing appropriate innovative technological solutions. According to the European Commission's Science and Knowledge Service, this gap represents a major obstacle to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) outlined in the UN 2030 Agenda.

Rethinking Urban Health Through a Holistic Approach

The research project aims to apply and test the original UrbanCare methodology (developed by Building Health Lab) as part of its innovative approach. The international working group's activities will be structured as follows:

1. Urban health research to assess critical issues in selected case study neighborhoods
2. Environmental analysis of urban districts to study their evolutionary dynamics and resilience, with particular focus on factors negatively impacting human health
3. Decision-making workshops engaging citizens, policymakers, and construction professionals in urban regeneration processes, emphasizing social transformation dynamics

Additionally, U-CARE will develop university training modules with consortium partners to advance knowledge in urban health design, addressing challenges related to green transition and climate change mitigation.

Key Project Activities

The project will implement these training and dissemination activities across four European cities (Gothenburg, Berlin, Florence, and Nicosia):
● Establish Urban Health Indicators to monitor and improve environmental quality and citizen health
● Conduct qualitative/quantitative baseline analyses to collect data on key urban health challenges in different European climatic contexts
● Organize Decision-Making Workshops to share research findings, identify specific challenges, establish transformation goals, and develop co-design solutions
● Create a user-friendly U-Care platform to disseminate research and promote training on spatial equity, outdoor comfort, soil permeability, and biodiversity preservation

Target Stakeholders

U-CARE will engage multiple stakeholder groups:
● Students/Researchers: Targeted training on urban health and climate change
● Professionals/Policymakers: Decision-making workshops on urban regeneration challenges
● Citizens (particularly vulnerable groups): Participatory design strategies to reduce urban inequalities
● Industry Associations/Construction Firms: Development of low-impact technological solutions

For more information:Website
: https://www.u-care.unifi.it/
Social Media: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn
Contacts:
[Prof. Rosa Romano - DIdA UNIFI (Scientific Coordinator)]
[Arch. Antonia Sore - DIdA UNIFI (Technical Manager)]

Project conducted in collaboration with the Municipality of Florence.