DANURB+ Section 3 Regional conference is devoted to present the findings of DANURB+ activities developed within Romania and Bulgaria Danubian cities, and to discover new local values of peripheral situations in our region, with a particular focus on shrinking condition, abandoned lands, and twin-cities transborder cooperation.

The conference is also sustained by Erasmus+ project: CREATIVE DANUBE: INNOVATIVE TEACHING FOR INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT IN SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED DANUBIAN CITIES, thus inviting teachers, students, PhD students in the field of urbanism, architecture and landscape planning to participate and share the latest teaching methods and projects on this topic.

Through this conference we want to debate one of the most important issue of peripheral areas: their cultural heritage, both the tangible and the intangible one, which often is ignored, misunderstood, invisible or put in danger. The main message of this conference is that the peripheral and shrinking condition is a challenge and an opportunity to live in a different way, closer to nature and to local values, open to multiculturalism and social diversity.

The contributions will show the different ways in which people can live and perform in declining or peripheral cities within the Danube region, as key resources for a local sustainable development. A large pallet of possibilities will be highlighted, starting from a new attitude oriented towards the enhancement of the local natural or anthropic values, by connecting them to the wide network of the Danube region.

The event offers the opportunity for local stakeholders, NGOs, members of the universities, local entrepreneurs, professionals and students interested in this topic to contribute to share the experiences, ideas and knowledge regarding development possibilities, good practices, education programs, research activities and planning projects and actions related to the valorization of Danube’s cultural heritage.

Invited participants from:

• DANURB+ team members from universities, research institutes and NGOs

• Local stakeholders from strategic associated cities (ASP) from Romania and Bulgaria

• Students and PhD candidates involved in research on this topic, both from UAUIM and NBU

• Other professionals presenting theoretical or practical approaches related to this topic

Contributions expected will investigate possible issues like:  case studies, examples of good practice, presentations of problematic situations in the Danube cities, projects that are being implemented or project proposals that help local communities to capitalize on heritage, action plans envisioned for different areas in ASP cities, methodology of mapping the shrinking aspects, the relationship between regional connectivity and smart development of shrinking cities, quantitative and qualitative methods of visualizing the peripheries, inner or outer periphery, patterns of growth and shrinkage, impact of shrinking on the urban environment, the resilience and recovering power of peripheral regions, cultural accessibility for local communities, actual tendencies in overpass shrinking, cross-border communication of Danubian cities etc.

Bucharest and Ruse will be the hosts of this event, drawing an axis of connection across Danube and border. 

The event will take place in a hybrid format, and the presentations are going to be recorded.

The main language of the presentations will be English, but presentations in Romanian or Bulgarian languages are totally  welcomed (translation on request).