How could water reshape the way we gather, cool down, and co-create a city?

The project explored how UPEL can take shape in the dynamic, evolving context of Bolzano. Beginning with an in-depth investigation of neglected yet socially active urban spaces in Bolzano, the team engaged with local actors and existing initiatives such as A Place to B(Z). Building on this foundation, the project shifts focus from designing a fixed location to developing flexible, participatory formats that can move across the city, and UPEL evolves into a platform for learning, exchange, and experimentation.

The outcome is Plan B—an adaptable, community-driven approach that activates public spaces, especially around urban cooling and blue infrastructures, inviting citizens to collectively reimagine and reshape their environment.

Plan B is brought to life through a set of mobile, modular artefacts designed to inform, inspire, and invite participation. The installation unfolds in three parts: Context, Inspiration, and Experiment. Introductory visuals and a custom-made map reveal Bolzano’s hidden network of blue infrastructures, offering a new lens on the city. A speculative short film then reimagines these water spaces as accessible, shared resources, sparking curiosity and dialogue.

At its core, Plan B is participatory. Through an open and inclusive collage postcard activity, citizens are invited to express ideas, experiences, and visions for public space in their own way. Together, these elements create a flexible platform for learning, exchange, and collective imagination—transforming research into a shared, evolving urban conversation.

Through a series of real-world testings, Plan B evolved as a responsive, learning-by-doing process. Each intervention—ranging from structured events to spontaneous street engagements—revealed how people interact with public space under different conditions. Early tests confirmed the strength of creative tools like collage and mapping, while later street-based actions showed the importance of simplicity, timing, and direct conversation.

Most importantly, the project began to capture authentic voices from Bolzano’s residents. Participants shared lived experiences of rising urban heat, unequal access to cooling, and a strong desire to reconnect with water as a public resource. Across formats, a clear message emerged: citizens are ready to imagine change, but need platforms to act. Plan B positions itself as that bridge—turning individual insights into collective dialogue and future possibilities.

We believe Plan B shifts the design’s role—from delivering solutions to creating conditions for engagement. By moving beyond formal events into everyday public spaces, the project enabled more authentic interactions with residents. These exchanges confirmed that urban heat and access to water are real, shared concerns. Looking ahead, UPEL's focus is on deepening participation, reaching broader audiences, and translating citizens’ voices into meaningful dialogue with local institutions.