Written by: Ephy Kouzi, FOCUS STC

ᴇNᴀBʟS Greek Living Lab Hosted a Participatory Workshop on Nature-Based Solutions in Urban Design

To celebrate World Environment Day, the Institute for Bio-Economy and Agri-Technology (iBO) of the Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH) is teamed up with the Technical Chamber of Greece – Department of Central Macedonia (TCG/SCM) to host a participatory workshop. Titled “Integrating Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) in Urban Design through ᴇNᴀBʟS–ACT“, the event took place on Thursday, June 5, 2025, at 18:00, at the TCG/SCM Amphitheatre (49, M. Alexandrou St., Thessaloniki).

Empowering Communities Through Nature-Based Solutions

This participatory workshop aimed to highlight the value of NBS and their crucial integration into modern urban environments. A core objective was to raise public awareness and actively engage citizens in shaping these solutions, encouraging the participation of all stakeholders in urban landscape design.

Through targeted presentations by distinguished speakers, featuring practical application examples and interactive activities, participants had the opportunity to:

• Understand the utility of NBS as a means to address pressing urban challenges such as overheating, floods, environmental degradation, and climate change;
• Explore examples of NBS applications in urban areas designed to enhance biodiversity and urban resilience;
• Promote awareness and education among the public, professionals, and relevant bodies regarding the implementation of NBS in urban settings;
• Learn about the utilisation of new technological tools that facilitate participatory design and the inclusion of diverse social groups.

Distinguished Speakers and Interactive Sessions

The workshop featured insightful presentations and interactive sessions from leading experts:

• Dr. Alexandros Stefanakis, Associate Professor at the Technical University of Crete, delivered a speech on examples of NBS applications.
• Ms. Smaro Katsangelou, PhD Candidate at Florida Atlantic University, co-created proposals with participants for integrating NBS into the urban landscape.
• The eNaBlS project and the Greek Living Lab (ᴇNᴀBʟS-ACT) were presented by CERTH/iBO Postdoctoral Researchers Dr. Apostolos Malamakis and Dr. Kyriaki Devlioti.
• IDEA Training, a Vocational Training Centre and ᴇNᴀBʟS partner, highlighted the significance of integrating NBS-related skills into vocational education and training.

This event marked a crucial step in fostering community engagement and driving the adoption of sustainable NBS in urban planning within Greece, as part of the broader ᴇNᴀBʟS project goals.