On April 4, 2025, a group of stakeholders and interested parties gathered at the Department of Architecture’s Society and Urban Form (SURF) Research Lab for the U-CARE Workshop, a participatory workshop designed to explore how specific spatial and environmental indicators can support the assessment, design and planning of urban interventions for healthier urban environments.
The mission of the U-CARE project (Urban CARE to address the impacts of climate change on urban ecosystems and health in different European climate zones) is to integrate urban health research, neighbourhood diagnostics and participatory decision-making into higher education, preparing the next generation of urban planners and public health professionals to address the impacts of climate change on the health of urban areas.
The workshop provided an important platform for knowledge exchange, bringing together local stakeholders, researchers and community members to jointly identify urban health challenges, assess factors such as accessibility, stormwater management, urban heat and biodiversity, and develop action plans that promote sustainability, resilience and inclusion. The study area was the Makarios Hospital in Strovolos.
The event included:
- An introductory presentation by Chrystala Kayafa Nikolaidou, Coordinator of the Cyprus Healthy Cities Network under the World Health Organization (WHO), highlighting the critical role of public health in urban development.
- Presentation of the UrbanCare methodology by Alvaro Valeria Soza of the Building Health Lab in Berlin, highlighting how spatial and environmental indicators can guide healthier and more sustainable urban interventions.
- Presentation of the U-Care project and decision-making workshops by Dr. Ilaria Geddes and Marina Pasia, researchers at the Society and Urban Form Research Lab.
- Structured participatory workshop facilitated by Marina Pasia where participants applied the UrbanCare methodology to assess urban challenges and develop sustainable interventions for the area of the Makarios Hospital in Strovolos.
- Presentation and discussion of the results of the workshop, and the proposals developed by the participants and next steps to integrate the findings into the next U-CARE activities.
The participants, divided into three groups, looked at different routes to explore how urban health indicators affect vulnerable groups in the city. Using the UrbanCare platform and quantitative data from the U-CARE survey, they assessed the urban environment through an interactive online tool, identifying important urban challenges. They then developed strategies aimed at improving health, sustainability and economic resilience. The teams developed management and resource allocation plans in the areas of policy, technical competence and financial investment. Finally, through a design process, participants proposed integrated pedestrian-focused solutions to improve public health, promote green infrastructure and long-term city sustainability.
The event included participation from health scientists, academics, architects, urban planners, and institutional representatives from:
Cyprus Healthy Cities Network
Nicosia Intercommunal Development Projects Company (DAEL)
Organisation for Positive Urbanism (OPU)
Strovolos Municipality
Department of Architecture, Frederick University
Department of Architecture, University of Nicosia
Department of Nursing, Cyprus University of Technology
Professional Architects, Landscape Architects and Urban Designers
The event highlighted the importance of engaging diverse stakeholders in creating healthier and more resilient cities – evidence-based, community-driven and aligned with long-term urban health goals.
For more information about the U-CARE project, visit our website, https://ucareproject.eu/. For more information about the SURF workshop, visit https://www.surf.com.cy/.
For contact: Ilaria Geddes, Researcher, ilaria.geddes@gmail.com