Station for Transformation - modelling a train station as a replicable hub for public-civic engagement to tackle climate change and biodiversity challenges

The Alpine town of Rovereto and its surrounding commuter zone face the challenge of rapidly adapting to the effects of climate change and mitigating the resulting loss of biodiversity, which is closely linked to the local territorial cultural heritage. To address this challenge, Rovereto is transforming the empty main building of its train station, and the land around it, into a public-civic hub for joint actions linked to climate change, biodiversity loss and heritage regeneration. The centrality of the train station, already a key mobility hub for over 135 000 inhabitants, makes it an ideal public space for the co-creation of a territorial ‘think and action’ tank.

For the first time, a railway station is being transformed from a transportation hub into a multiplier and catalyst to support the local community in facing contemporary challenges. In this way, the station's historical importance for local development and identity is regenerated by turning it into a cross-border cohesion hub.

To activate the local station's potential, Rovereto is piloting a new hub, including: a Biodiversity Kiosk; a Climate and Biodiversity Co-creation space; a Climate Canteen; a Climate and Biodiversity Community Space; and an outreach device ‘S4T on Wheels’. 

These spaces will serve as interactive venues for training, co-design, co-production and knowledge transfer. They will support promising public, civic and economic initiatives linked to climate change and biodiversity.

This model can also be replicated in other communities.