Urban Diary of Viana STARTS. Chapter #1

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Progress

The construction project for Viana STARTS was approved in August 2024, along with the launch of the public tender to receive proposals from interested parties for carrying out the construction work. The construction project incorporates the principles set out in Viana STARTS initiative, focusing on circular economy, environmentally friendly materials, and integration with the building’s existing architectural solutions.

Challenges and solutions

• Challenge: Aligning the start of the architectural project with the timeline constraints of a European-funded initiative.
  • Solutions and actions taken:
    • Early engagement with stakeholders and public administration to align project milestones with funding requirements, from the inception of the initiative.
    • Close coordination between architectural team, municipal urban planning experts, and European funding schedules to minimize delays and arrive on time. More than 30 specific meetings held and 22 experts directly involved from the collection of contributions to the architectural project.
    • Streamlined approval processes in Viana Municipality to accelerate necessary authorizations.
    • Phased planning approach to initiate preparatory works while finalizing architectural details: building inspection, idea generation and co-creative sessions (Viana a Bordo, Word Café), public consultations (IPVC survey), etc.
• Challenge: Ensuring that the tendering process for construction attracted companies.
  • Solutions and actions taken:
    • Publicizing the project's sustainability and innovation objectives to attract companies.
    • Create the conditions for proposers to have relevant expertise and be committed to the circular economy principles defined in the project.
• Challenge: Ensuring strict adherence to the fundamental principles of the New European Bauhaus Framework while integrating innovative construction and sustainability solutions.
  • Solutions and actions taken:
    • Preserving architectural identity by maintaining the industrial character of the building while adapting the design to its existing spaces and structural configuration (aesthetics).
    • Maximizing material reuse to minimize waste, enhance built heritage, and align with circular economy principles (sustainability); e.g., proportion of reuse/recycling/recovery of construction waste: 90%.
    • Integrating renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydro power to improve energy efficiency and reduce the building’s carbon footprint (sustainability); e.g., proportion of energy mix coming from renewable sources: 50%.
    • Implementing water-saving solutions to promote resource efficiency and sustainability (sustainability).
    • Supporting designers in identifying and incorporating sustainable materials and construction techniques (inclusion & sustainability); e.g., proportion of recycled or incorporate recycled materials: 20%.
    • Ensuring accessibility and inclusivity by designing spaces that accommodate diverse users and needs (inclusion).

Recommendations for practitioners

Having these insights in relation with the construction project, the main recommendations for urban practitioners are as follows:

1. Align project milestones with funding requirements and schedules by engaging stakeholders, public administrations and regulatory bodies early in the process.
2. Promote co-creation and clarification sessions with stakeholders and potential bidders to integrate diverse insights and perspectives into project planning while reinforcing objectives and expectations.
3. Devote special effort to activity planning, anticipating and running tasks in parallel whenever possible, e.g., on-site inspection, preliminary permitting, setting technical specifications, etc., especially for critical activities—those that must be completed before the next task can begin.

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Progress

The signing of the construction project handover document took place on February 11, 2025, marking the start of the building’s redevelopment. The planned execution period is 420 days, meaning completion is expected by April 2026, covering Year 2 of implementation and part of Year 3.

Challenges and solutions

• Challenge: Tight execution timeline with no margin for delays, requiring strict planning and efficient project management.
  • Solutions and actions taken:
    • Clear contractual frameworks with well-defined deadlines and responsibilities to ensure compliance;
    • Penalty clauses to discourage delays and reinforce commitment to the agreed timeline; e.g., clear target deadline established: 15/04/2026
    • Public dissemination of project milestones to enhance transparency and accountability, fostering commitment from all involved parties.
    • Strong leadership from MUA to facilitate collaboration across different departments and organizations, ensuring smooth coordination and decision-making.
    • Regular progress monitoring with structured reporting mechanisms to detect and resolve issues proactively.
    • Agile problem-solving approaches to swiftly address unforeseen challenges without compromising project deadlines.
• Challenge: Ensuring third-party suppliers align with project goals while fostering local benefits such as social inclusion, employment, and environmental responsibility.
  • Solutions and actions taken:
    • Prioritizing locally sourced materials to support the regional economy and reduce environmental impact.
    • Defining materials and services to be provided with clear sustainability requirements; e.g., windows must have 75‑100% recycled aluminum profiles and low-carbon glass.
    • Engaging suppliers early in the process to align expectations and ensure a shared commitment to project values.
• Challenge: Embedding technology demonstration in the project, not only to serve the building’s functionality but also to act as a replicable model for future projects.
  • Solutions and actions taken:
    • Implementing demonstrative technologies to maximize synergies and impact; e.g., hydrogen-based storage, wind mini generator and Casas Em Movimento to be part of the project.
    • Planning for interactive and educational elements within the construction phase to showcase innovative materials and systems as they are implemented.
    • Ensuring adaptability in design so that demonstrated solutions can be scaled or adjusted for different urban contexts.
    • Boosting partnerships with research institutions and policymakers early on to align the project's demonstration goals with broader industry and policy trends; e.g., demonstrate a greater reduction in energy demand in buildings compared to net-zero emission buildings requirements.

Recommendations for practitioners

Building on these insights, the key recommendations for urban practitioners regarding the start of construction works are outlined below:

1. Establish clear governance and accountability mechanisms to track deadlines and responsibilities.
2. Strengthen leadership and coordination across departments and experts involved to ensure smooth decision-making and commitment to project timelines.
3. Prioritize sustainable and locally solutions for materials and services, engaging suppliers early to align expectations and reinforce commitment to sustainable goals.
4. Promote innovation and scalable demonstration models, collaborating with research institutions and policymakers to ensure project outcomes reflects industry trends and policy advancements.

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Progress

The project is been driven by a clear ambition to go beyond the renovation of a single building. Its goal is not only to transform this space but also to inspire and drive change throughout the entire city: it aims to become a reference point for an urban innovation ecosystem. To achieve this, efforts have focused on establishing connections between key stakeholders and physical spaces across the city, as well as fostering collaboration among policymakers, artists, scientists, and entrepreneurs. These actions will set the foundations for a dynamic, multi-hub innovation network that extends beyond Viana STARTS physical boundaries.

Challenges and solutions

• Challenge: Ensuring that the building's design promotes integration into the urban environment and connects with diverse population groups, fostering accessibility, local identity, and a sense of belonging.
  • Solutions and actions taken:
    • Establishing links between the building and other key locations in Viana do Castelo to reinforce its role within a city-wide innovation ecosystem.
    • Planning multifunctional spaces that cater to diverse users, from children and students to entrepreneurs and policymakers, fostering cross-sector engagement.
• Challenge: Designing a functional and adaptable building that meets the current and future needs, ensuring sustainable use and preventing underutilization after construction.
  • Solutions and actions taken:
    • Designing the building as an open and adaptable space that seamlessly integrates with the surrounding urban fabric, encouraging interaction between different population groups; e.g., community-driven mural paint project where residents of all ages collaborated ahead of the building restoration.
    • Working on a governance and management model that actively involves local stakeholders, ensuring the building remains relevant and well-utilized over time.

Recommendations for practitioners

Drawing from these insights on the orientation towards an urban innovation ecosystem, the key recommendations for urban practitioners are:

1. Move beyond a single-building perspective by creating strong connections not just between renovated spaces but across multiple key locations in the city. This extends beyond a polynucleated network, fostering a true urban innovation ecosystem that strengthens synergies and maximizes impact. Instead of just creating new spaces, it is very important to enhance what already exists, creating a network that allows its use to be leveraged.
2. Develop the building as an interactive and flexible environment that blends seamlessly with its surroundings, encouraging participation from different community groups.
3. Design spaces that serve diverse users, from children and students to entrepreneurs and policymakers, promoting cross-sector collaboration and engagement.
4. Implement a participatory governance and management model, actively involving local stakeholders in decision-making processes to ensure the building remains relevant and well-utilized over time, reinforcing its role within the broader city ecosystem.

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Progress

In Year 1, a first draft of the Viana STARTS Action Plan was developed. This plan has been shaped by an in-depth assessment of current and emerging trends in blue economy, as well as an analysis of existing skills, infrastructure and stakeholder networks in Viana do Castelo. It is also the result of co-creation processes with the community, incorporating local, national, and international perspectives.

Challenges and solutions

• Challenge: Strengthening international positioning and connectivity of Viana STARTS.
  • Solutions and actions taken:
    • Development of a strategic communication plan to structure and coordinate specific actions for the project promotion, awareness raising and other related actions such as workshops, capacity-building initiatives, co‑creation sessions, and key milestones to be communicated effectively.
    • Map international entities, clusters and networks of potential interest for Viana STARTS; e.g., Ars Electronica, fabfoundation, or European Creative Hubs Network.
    • Boosting international connections by observing other cities to gain valuable insights and learn from their experiences, also leading further connections with transfer cities; e.g., study visit to Barcelona to deep-dive on Hac Te Hub and Science, Technology & the ARTS STARTS initiative of the European Commission, October 2024.
• Challenge: Promoting collaborative initiatives to attract artists, scientists, and entrepreneurs, ensuring the space serves as a catalyst for interdisciplinary innovation.
  • Solutions and actions taken:
    • Drafting the Action Plan, co-created through strong community engagement, to define the long-term use of the building and ensure the quality of its activities, the effective use of physical spaces, and the seamless integration of Viana STARTS within the urban innovation ecosystem.
    • Definition of concise, realizable and measurable components for the action plan to be carried out: three strategic axes (Innovation and experimentation; Capacity building and knowledge for innovation; Dissemination and internationalization of blue innovation), structured each on a pair of strategic objectives (e.g., foster creation and experimentation through innovation laboratories), and composed by programs (e.g., labs, residences, hackathons).

Recommendations for practitioners

Building on these insights, the key recommendations for urban practitioners regarding the design of an action plan are outlined below:

1. Adopt a networked approach to innovation by actively engaging with international clusters, hubs, and networks. beyond leveraging local capacities, consider how to contribute to and benefit from broader ecosystems, fostering synergies that enhance knowledge exchange and collaborative opportunities.
2. Establish a structured and strategic action plan that integrates clear, measurable objectives. this should include well-defined thematic axes, strategic goals, and concrete programs, ensuring long-term sustainability and meaningful impact within the urban innovation ecosystem.
3. Prioritize international benchmarking and cross-city collaboration by observing best practices in leading innovation hubs, carrying out study visits, knowledge-sharing initiatives, and proposing partnerships with experienced stakeholders to refine strategies and strengthen local capacity.

Year 1 of the Viana STARTS project has laid the groundwork for an ambitious transformation that goes beyond the renovation of a single building, aiming to establish a dynamic urban innovation ecosystem. The project continues to demonstrate the importance of aligning local strategies with international benchmarks while integrating sustainability, circular economy principles, and community-driven co-creation. The challenges encountered have been addressed through strategic planning, strong stakeholder engagement, and a commitment to bold, innovative solutions.

The implementation of Viana STARTS has successfully completed its first year with satisfactory results and no significant deviations, pivoting around four key factors: the construction project, which has been successfully completed; the start of construction works, officially initiated with the construction project handover document signature; the evolution of the Viana STARTS concept, which has progressed over this year, not only extending beyond the building itself or its integration into a polynucleated citywide network but positioning itself as a key element in an urban innovation ecosystem capable of transforming Viana do Castelo; and finally, the design of the Action Plan, whose draft has already been completed, serving as a roadmap that structures a high-quality, dynamic, and participatory content proposal for Viana STARTS.

A key takeaway from this phase has been the necessity of balancing long-term vision with immediate action. To do so, the project team has successfully advanced construction while simultaneously shaping the initiative’s governance, content programming, and international positioning. Establishing connections with leading European hubs and networks may reinforce Viana do Castelo’s role within broader knowledge and innovation ecosystems. Furthermore, by integrating sustainability measures at both material and operational levels, the project serves as a replicable model for urban regeneration initiatives, following the New European Bauhaus principles.

Year 2 will present further challenges, particularly regarding the materialization of the construction, the consolidation of the urban ecosystem in which Viana STARTS must be integrated, and the materialization of the Action Plan. Moreover, strengthening international connectivity and knowledge exchange will be crucial for Viana STARTS to become a benchmark for sustainable, creative urban transformation, demonstrating how cultural heritage, innovation, and community engagement can drive meaningful change in our cities.