The Urban Nurseries
What is an Urban Fabric Initiative?
Urban Fabric Initiatives are collaborative public space design projects inspired by participatory, tactical or transitional urban planning practices.
They bring together local governments, citizens, contracting authorities and urban professionals to develop public spaces on a neighborhood scale. Supported by the Agence Française de Développement, they work on various types of spaces, including sports, mobility, transport and leisure infrastructure, green spaces and public areas.
By placing citizens at the heart of the approach, Urban Fabric Initiatives aim to promote an inclusive approach to urban design, and to respond as effectively as possible to the needs of local residents.
Learn more
Urban Fabric Initiatives are collaborative public space design projects inspired by participatory, tactical or transitional urban planning practices.
They bring together local governments, citizens, contracting authorities and urban professionals to develop public spaces on a neighborhood scale. Supported by the Agence Française de Développement, they work on various types of spaces, including sports, mobility, transport and leisure infrastructure, green spaces and public areas.
By placing citizens at the heart of the approach, Urban Fabric Initiatives aim to promote an inclusive approach to urban design, and to respond as effectively as possible to the needs of local residents.
A collaborative approach
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Diagnosis
Participatory socio-economic diagnosis of possible areas of intervention; identification of needs expressed by residents.
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Co-design
Co-design of facilities and sites; workshops, activities and events, or call for initiatives from residents, users, civil society organizations or local businesses.
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Co-construction
Work carried out in close collaboration with local craftspeople; construction works carried out with a “learn-by-doing” approach for capacity reinforcement; promoting the use of local materials and know-how.
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Collaborative management
Support for the management of spaces by stakeholders to ensure the sustainability of facilities and equipment.
For an inclusive urban fabric
The work of Urban Fabric Initiatives is guided by four key principles:
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An experimental approach
Encourage experimentation and the exploration of new ideas.
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Promoting new practices
Encourage alternative, sustainable and inclusive ways of (re)creating the city.
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Citizen participation
Actively involve residents throughout the project.
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Link to an urban project
Quickly improve residents' quality of life by compensating for delays in the implementation of large-scale projects, or by testi
The work of Urban Fabric Initiatives is guided by four key principles:
An experimental approach
Encourage experimentation and the exploration of new ideas.
Promoting new practices
Encourage alternative, sustainable and inclusive ways of (re)creating the city.
Citizen participation
Actively involve residents throughout the project.
Link to an urban project
Quickly improve residents' quality of life by compensating for delays in the implementation of large-scale projects, or by testi
The Urban Fabric Initiatives Network
The Urban Fabric Initiatives together form an international community of practitioners, which is facilitated by the Urban Fabric Initiatives Network. This network encourages and facilitates the sharing of experience, knowledge, skills and tools to enrich the professional practices of each member and help identify models that can be replicated in new territories.
Funded by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) until 2026, the Urban Fabric Initiatives Network is run by a consortium of three organizations: GRET, UrbaMonde and Cabanon Vertical.
Contact us
The Urban Fabric Initiatives together form an international community of practitioners, which is facilitated by the Urban Fabric Initiatives Network. This network encourages and facilitates the sharing of experience, knowledge, skills and tools to enrich the professional practices of each member and help identify models that can be replicated in new territories.
Funded by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) until 2026, the Urban Fabric Initiatives Network is run by a consortium of three organizations: GRET, UrbaMonde and Cabanon Vertical.