The Region of Central Macedonia (RCM) and the Business and Cultural Development Centre (KEPA) held the 5th Local Stakeholders Group (LSG) Meeting of the PICOBELLO – PIloting COllaborative ways to BEtter Living Locally project on 23 September 2026, at the Hellenic Design Centre in Thessaloniki, under the theme “Recognising New European Bauhaus Values in Local Initiatives in Thessaloniki.”
The meeting continued the dialogue and collaboration developed within the project among local stakeholders involved in the design and implementation of sustainable urban initiatives.
During the meeting, participants had the opportunity to share updates on recent local initiatives and developments related to the New European Bauhaus (NEB), as well as to explore good practices and approaches presented during the latest PICOBELLO transnational meeting in Nantes, France.
At the heart of the LSG meeting was the interactive workshop “From NEB Values to Practice.” Using a real-life example of a public space regeneration project, participants explored how the three core NEB values – Beautiful, Sustainable, Together – along with its working principles, can be translated into concrete questions and criteria for assessing local initiatives.
The discussion also highlighted a range of challenges and opportunities for Thessaloniki, including more and better-quality public and green spaces, the creative reuse of existing or inactive spaces, strengthening neighbourhood identity and the distinctive character of each place, as well as creating stronger links between design, creativity and the everyday experience of the city.
Particular emphasis was placed on the involvement of citizens and local stakeholders from the early stages of designing an intervention. Their active participation can help ensure that the solutions developed respond more effectively to the actual needs of the people who use and experience these spaces in their everyday lives.
Through the exchange of experiences and European examples, another key principle of PICOBELLO emerged: good practices are not ready-made solutions to be simply replicated. Instead, they can serve as a starting point for new ideas and approaches adapted to the specific characteristics and needs of Thessaloniki.
The group work resulted in a first set of assessment questions and parameters, laying the foundations for the development of a common framework of indicators to assess the extent to which New European Bauhaus values and working principles are integrated into local initiatives.
This process represents another step towards strengthening participatory design, co-creation and collaboration among local stakeholders, with the aim of contributing to a city, Thessaloniki, that is more sustainable, inclusive and responsive to the needs of its people.
