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GP1 SolarHaus (Freiburg) – Germany
This SolarHaus is a flagship example of how architecture can harmonize ecological responsibility with social value. Conceived as a public community center, it is built to passive house standards and demonstrates the potential of net-zero energy design. The building harnesses solar energy through photovoltaic and thermal systems, collects and reuses rainwater, and incorporates locally sourced timber in its construction.
GP2 The Community Resource Center (CERC) – Romania
The Community Resource Center (CERC) in Boldești-Scăeni, Romania, is the country’s first public building constructed from straw bales and a pioneering model of sustainable, community-centered architecture. Developed through a partnership between OMV Petrom, Habitat for Humanity Romania, local authorities, and civil society organizations, the center serves as an educational, social, and vocational hub for disadvantaged groups – especially the local Roma population.
GP3 Pavlos Melas Metropolitan Park (Thessaloniki) – Greece
The former military camp of Pavlos Melas in Thessaloniki, Greece, abandoned completely in 2005, is in the process of being transformed into a 33-hectare metropolitan park through collaborative efforts between different governmental organizations. This urban regeneration project aims to convert a deteriorating urban gap into a multifunctional green space that will integrate cultural facilities, including a new municipal hall, museums, and commercial spaces, while prioritizing ecological restoration and community wellbeing.
GP4 Holzmarkt 25 – Sustainable Urban Village (Berlin) – Germany
Holzmarkt 25 is a cooperative urban village integrating modular timber housing, co-working, and cultural spaces, all developed sustainably by the community.
GP5 Nova Iskra (Belgrad) – Serbia
Nova Iskra is the first creative hub in the Balkans, founded on December 6, 2012, in Belgrade, Serbia. The organization was established with a mission to design spaces and experiences that connect creative industries, technology, and people, enabling individuals, organizations, and businesses to work, learn, innovate, and create together.
GP0 The Zollverein Coal Mine Complex – Germany
The Zollverein Coal Mine in Essen, Germany, a UNESCO World Heritage site, has been transformed into a vibrant cultural and creative hub. The adaptive reuse of industrial architecture promotes cultural heritage preservation while integrating modern functions like museums, art spaces, and educational centers.
Reference Guide Part 1 – Introduction
Environmental and social challenges, from climate change to economic inequalities, demand innovative solutions at the community level. The BeCom project responds to these needs by equipping stakeholders with knowledge, tools, and strategies to create resilient, inclusive, and thriving communities. Grounded in the principles of the New European Bauhaus (NEB) and the following Quintuple Helix Model (QHM) in implementation through education, digital innovation, and stakeholder engagement, the project envisions transforming communities into hubs of sustainable development.
Reference Guide Part 2 – Roadmap
This document is a Section 2 of the BeCom Reference Guide, and it presents the Roadmap – a practical, structured pathway for fostering knowledge creation and sustainable transformation within communities. Building on the foundations established in the guide’s opening section, this part operationalizes the BeCom project’s vision by translating its core principles into actionable steps across real-world pilots.
Reference Guide Part 3 – Knowledge Creation
The Zollverein Coal Mine in Essen, Germany, a UNESCO World Heritage site, has been transformed into a vibrant cultural and creative hub. The adaptive reuse of industrial architecture promotes cultural heritage preservation while integrating modern functions like museums, art spaces, and educational centers.
Reference Guide Part 4 – Practical Toolkit for Adaptive Reuse
This Toolkit for Adaptive Reuse is designed to help urban planners, architects, environmentalists, and local authorities implement sustainable adaptive reuse projects, using the lessons learned from the Zollverein Coal Mine Complex as a model. The toolkit outlines principles, methodologies, and best practices that can be customized to suit different geographical, cultural, and economic contexts.