We envision a world where energy is a communal resource.

Serving as a catalyst for individuals to positively transform their communities.

We embrace Positive Energy Districts (PEDs) as engines for transforming energy production, distribution, and consumption, offering potential improvements to neighborhoods and progress in decarbonization. Effective changes require technical, economic, social and spatial knowledge as well as input from the energy system stakeholders. We advocate for the co-creation process, considering it a distinctive opportunity to extract and integrate the best elements from every project stage.

Our commitment lies in bringing together diverse perspectives, therefore turning the complexity of PEDs into our greatest strength and source of innovative solutions. The PED4ALL project will develop inclusive strategies through a collaborative approach for public, private, and third sector organizations, engaging with the general public in Belgium, Italy and Turkey.

At PED4ALL, our mission is simple.

We want to start a conversation and set out pathways to create energy projects that everyone can benefit from, right in the heart of our cities’ neighbourhoods. The goal is not to define a singular, universal approach to PEDs. We want to work on paradigmatic cases (in Brussels, Rome and Istanbul) where crucial socio-spatial and governance challenges can be addressed. These can serve as hands-on models for a just, inclusive and balanced urban transition in Europe.

The best part? We’re not doing it alone. We’re working with people from all walks of life, from different fields and backgrounds. PED4ALL will take advantage of PEDs as bounded, multi-actor, real-world interventions and provide co-created ways to bring together formal and informal expertise as well as theoretical and practical insights. It will develop inclusive strategies through a collaborative approach for public, private, and third sector organisations, engaging with the general public in Belgium, Italy and Turkey.

Our methodology extends beyond a mere step-by-step guide – it embodies a philosophy.

Embark on a three-year journey with us! We will engage an action-oriented network of PED and neighborhood stakeholders in Belgium, Italy, and Turkey. Together, we will apply a shared co-productive methodology to define a set of energy, policy and regulatory, governance and social, spatial, and design strategies for urban transition and innovation, to test and replicate them.

The consortium will engage in a series of online and in-person activities to co-produce a range of practical tools to build a community of practice, and position Europe as a global role model for urban energy transformations. Join us in shaping urban transition and innovation as we test and replicate these strategies.

Introduction to the case studies

Introduction to Ostiense, Italy

Introduction to Ostiense, Italy

Ostiense is the historic “energy neighbourhood” of Rome, characterized by many energy infrastructures today as part of an urban heritage. Among...

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Partner overview

Vrije Universiteit Brussel

Belgium

The university’s Cosmopolis Centre for Urban Research transforms knowledge into local action. 

The Brussels Centre for Urban Studies at VUB supports over 20 research groups. The research group Cosmopolis engages policymakers, governments, and citizen networks to translate knowledge into action. 

Cultureghem

Belgium

Cultureghem reclaims public spaces with mutual aid and inclusiveness supporting a more human cityof Brussels. 
 
Cultureghem provides a welcoming public space that encouragesmutual aid and creativity for a sustainable urban future. It serves as a laboratory to equip, inspire, and co-create with Brussels residents. 

Confluences ASBL

Belgium

Confluences ASBL develops and implements different forms of co-creative processes. 

Confluences drives co-creative processes, fostering innovative citizen involvement and multi-stakeholder collaboration. They guide projects and project participants to situate themselves in a broader, systemic approach towards urban resilience. 

DUSS BV

Belgium

DUSS strives for a sustainable society by transforming the way we conceive and build our neighbourhoods. 

DUSS strives for a sustainable society, reshaping neighborhood development. They offer guidance in strategy, master planning, sustainable development, execution, and certification, emphasizing creativity, innovation, and inspired action in urban projects. 

 

Roma TRE

Italy

The Department of Architecture follows educational and research activities recognizable in the three pillars of architectural design, urban design, and restoration design by a humanistic and technical-scientific perspective. The Department of Law is characterized by the internationalization and interdisciplinarity of legal studies focusing in the fields of Law, Legal Services Science, Legal Science in Banking and Finance, and innovative strands such as Law and New Technologies and Law & Social Change. 

Istanbul Technical University

Turkey

The ITU Energy Institute engages in cutting-edge research, provides high-quality education, and offers valuable guidance on energy-related matters through insightful analyses.  

Energy Institute’s graduate-level teaching and research programs are applied and interdisciplinary, encompassing students, faculty, staff, and off-campus individuals from the fields of Science, Engineering, and Architecture. 

Municipality of Kartal

Turkey

Istanbul’s vibrant district of 500,000 residents seamlessly blends modernity, history, and dynamic urban development initiatives. 

Kartal, one of the largest districts of the Anatolian side of İstanbul, is rapidly progressing to become the most important central business area and culture and art center of İstanbul. 

İGDAŞ

Turkey

The company delivers safe, sustainable natural gas services, innovatively adding value to the environment and people. 

Initially established to save Istanbul from polluted air, today İGDAŞ meets Istanbul’s fuel needs with natural gas, the economical and environmentally friendly energy source. 

Arup

Turkey

Our mission is to make the built environment safer, more inclusive, more resilient and more sustainable for the communities.

Arup is an independent firm of multidisciplinary designers, engineers, architects, planners, and technical specialists working across every aspect of the built and natural environment and many economic sectors and industries. Arup is committed to socially responsible and sustainable development. 

Meet the ped4all team

Fabio Vanin

Brussels 

Role within the project: Project coordinator

Organisation: VUB

Dieter Bruggeman

Brussels

Role within the project: Research collaborator

Organisation: VUB

Laura Shllaku

Brussels 

Role within the project: Research collaborator

Organisation: VUB

Shary Heuninckx

Brussels

Role within project:
Research collaborator

Organisation: VUB

Tessa Boeykens

Brussels 

Role within the project: Research collaborator

Organisation: Confluences

Jo Huygh

Brussels

Role within the project: Director

Organisation: DUSS

Anne Watthee

Brussels 

Role within the project: Research collaborator

Organisation: Cultureghem

Victoria De Brabandere

Brussels 

Role within the project: Coordination field work & technical support

Organisation: Cultureghem

William Febiri

Brussels 

Role within the project:
Field worker 

Organisation: Confluences

Marco Ranzato 

Rome

Role within the project: Coordinator

Organisation: ROT

Fabrizio D’Angelo

Rome

Role within the project: Research collaborator

Organisation: ROT

Paolo Civiero

Rome

Role within the project:
Associated researcher 

Organisation: ROT

Stefano Converso

Rome

Role within the project: Associated researcher 

Organisation: ROT

Maria Alessandra Sandulli

Rome

Role within the project:
Full professor

Organisation: ROT

Fernando Christian Iaione

Rome

Role within the project: External consultant

Organisation: LUISS

Hatice Sözer

Istanbul

Role within the project:
Coordinator

Organisation: ITU

Gülnihal Altin Öztürk

Istanbul

Role within the project:
Director

Organisation: KAM

Burak Korkmaz

Istanbul

Role within the project:
Researche collaborator

Organisation: KAM

Yavuz Okumuş

Istanbul

Role within the project:
Research collaborator

Organisation: KAM

Bilge Yanilmaz

Istanbul

Role within the project:
Research collaborator

Organisation: KAM

Engin Inan

Istanbul

Role within the project:
Research collaborator

Organisation: KAM

Esin Temelli

Istanbul

Role within the project:
Director

Organisation: ARUP

Tuğçe Gürleyen

Istanbul

Role within the project:
Researcher

Organisation: ARUP

Ömer Faruk Güner

Istanbul

Role within the project:
Director

Organisation: İGDAŞ

Sonay Davutoğlu

Istanbul

Role within the project:
Research collaborator

Organisation: İGDAŞ

Hüseyin Biyikçi

Istanbul

Role within the project:
External consultant

Organisation: İGDAŞ

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