Between June 10 and 13, the first Social Economy Mission of the SPACE-NEST project took place in Izola, bringing together participants from different EU countries. As part of the exchange, we explored good practices for revitalizing abandoned areas along the Slovenian coast. We visited InnoRenew CoE, Heka – Art & Science Lab, and observed examples of successful practices in the Municipality of Koper. Using the design thinking method, we co-created ideas for the revitalization of the former Argo factory site in Izola. The final day was dedicated to a strategic meeting of the project consortium, which includes six partners from Slovenia, Italy, and Spain.
The project SPACE-NEST: A Sustainable Path to Empower Communities – New European Bauhaus for Social Economy and Transformative Living aims to revitalize abandoned rural areas through social economy and sustainable practices. Together with the Municipality of Izola and the company Inovaktiv, we are contributing to this goal. The project is grounded in the values and principles of the New European Bauhaus, promoting solutions that connect local communities with a green and inclusive economy.
In addition to the Slovenian partners, the project also involves the Italian Province of Bergamo and the Lombardy Energy Cleantech Cluster, as well as the Spanish Province of Malaga and the NGO Action Against Hunger Spain.
The central event was a design thinking workshop held at the Manzioli Palace. A total of 36 participants from Slovenia, Italy, Spain, gathered to creatively develop concrete ideas for the revitalization of the former Argo factory area.
They also had the opportunity to learn about Izola’s rich fishing heritage through a guided tour of Izolana museum and the Argo factory area, prepared by the Izola Tourist Information Center. The interactive workshop, based on the design thinking method, encouraged participants to seek innovative solutions that highlighted the importance of intergenerational cooperation, multi-stakeholder engagement, and the creation of community-oriented spaces.
