The European BIRTUOSS project, which has spent the last three years working on the development and expansion of the Opengela model of urban regeneration in the Basque Country, has come to an end with the publication of its final report.
The document sets out the main progress made during the project, the lessons learnt throughout its implementation and a series of recommendations aimed at consolidating and further expanding the model of community outreach offices as a tool to drive the rehabilitation and regeneration of neighbourhoods.
What began with two pilot schemes in Otxarkoaga (Bilbao) and Txonta (Eibar), as part of the European HIROSS4all project, has evolved into a network of 25 neighbourhood offices across 28 neighbourhoods, reinforcing Opengela’s role as a support hub for communities and families throughout the regeneration processes.
Throughout the BIRTUOSS project, the 14 project partners, with the support of the European Commission’s LIFE programme, have worked on transferring and consolidating the model, addressing technical, social, financial and administrative aspects linked to urban regeneration.
The final report also analyses the results achieved and sets out recommendations for further progress in establishing this type of office, both in the Basque Country and in other regions of Spain and Europe. Among its conclusions, it highlights the importance of having local structures capable of offering comprehensive support to the public and of coordinating the various stakeholders involved in urban regeneration processes.
With the publication of this report, BIRTUOSS brings a three-year phase of work to a close, leaving behind a consolidated model and a body of lessons learnt and proposals to continue moving towards urban regeneration that is more accessible, coordinated and people-centred.
