Başakşehir Living Lab

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    UNALAB PROJECT SUMMARY

    UNALAB PROJECT SUMMARY

    UNALAB PROJECT SUMMARY  

    The project was implemented between 2017-2021.  The project focused on developing a long-term climate-resilient urban vision, engaging local stakeholders, learning from other cities, and preparing a roadmap for nature-based solutions (NBS).

    1. Main activities of Başakşehir Living Lab

    1. Developing Başakşehir's 2050 vision

    BLL worked with the municipality and local stakeholders on a long-term vision for a greener, more sustainable and climate-resilient Başakşehir. The vision addressed environmental improvement, technology, citizen well-being and urban sustainability.

    2. Organising stakeholder workshops

    BLL hosted workshops with municipal representatives, researchers, environmental experts and other stakeholders to discuss climate and environmental challenges, establish priorities and shape the city's future strategy. The first workshop was reported on 11 April 2018, followed by further vision-setting work.

    3. Contributing to the Urban Living Lab framework

    A workshop in Başakşehir in 2019 brought together representatives from UNaLab cities to validate and refine the Urban Living Lab framework, exchange experience and discuss how cities could establish and operate their own Living Labs.

    4. Identifying local environmental challenges and potential solutions

    The city assessment considered climate-related risks, water scarcity, heat stress, pollution and biodiversity loss. It also mapped relevant stakeholders and potential sites for nature-based solutions, supporting the development of the city's NBS roadmap.

    5. Supporting sustainability and environmental awareness

    Activities associated with the city's vision included household waste-awareness kits, educational materials, waste separation bins and park installations made from waste materials. The wider vision also included green spaces, water reuse and cleaner industrial areas. These are documented as city-level actions associated with the UNaLab vision, rather than activities attributable exclusively to BLL.

    2. Key outputs and documented results

    Output

    What was achieved

    Başakşehir 2050 Vision

    A long-term vision for a greener, more sustainable and climate-resilient city.

    Urban sustainability assessment

    Identification of local challenges, stakeholders and potential NBS implementation sites.

    NBS roadmap development

    A planning process to identify suitable nature-based solutions and support future implementation.

    Urban Living Lab framework

    Contributions to the exchange of knowledge and validation of a framework for operating Urban Living Labs.

    Environmental awareness actions

    Educational materials, waste separation and awareness initiatives linked to the city's sustainability vision.

     

     

     

    3. What was the specific contribution of Başakşehir Living Lab?

    The activities of Başakşehir Living Lab can be listed as following.

    • Directly documented for Living Lab: hosting project meetings and workshops, contributing to vision development and facilitating knowledge exchange with international partners.
    • City-level outcomes: sustainability ambitions, green-space planning, water management, waste awareness and other environmental measures. These involved the municipality and local stakeholders, not necessarily BLL acting alone.
    • Important distinction: the principal physical NBS demonstration sites documented by UNaLab were in Eindhoven, Tampere and Genoa. Başakşehir's role was principally that of a follower city developing its own roadmap.

    For more information check https://unalab.eu/en/our-cities/city-basaksehir

    Urban Living Lab Framework & RoadMapping Toolkit

    The 2019 workshop held in Başakşehir and its contribution to the framework.

    https://unalab.eu/en/news/urban-living-lab-framework-roadmapping-toolkit

    Başakşehir 2050: Smart City of Happiness and Well-being

    Examples of environmental awareness, green spaces and industrial water-management initiatives.

    https://unalab.eu/en/blog/basaksehir-2050-smart-city-happiness-and-well-being

    UNaLab project deliverables and publications

    Technical reports, implementation guidance and project outputs. 5

    https://unalab.eu/en/publications

    5. In summary

    This project was implemented under four headings:

    1. Stakeholder engagement and co-creation
    2. Urban Living Lab methodology and international knowledge exchange
    3. Climate resilience and nature-based solutions roadmapping
    4. Environmental awareness and citizen participation