EUROPAN 15 PRODUCTIVE CITIES 2

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In recent decades, comprehensive urban renewal has taken place throughout Europe. Even though the mixed city was sought as a development goal, living has become the predominant program in most urban development areas, complemented by office space and public facilities, culture, shops and restaurants. The dictum of an authentic, lively and urban district has beenshaped by the residentially-friendly mix of a "café latte urbanity". One important aspect was systematically excluded: the productive economy. 

With the motto "The Productive City", EUROPAN15 is placingspecial emphasis on the integration of manufacturing work into urban development. The emergence of this program is accompanied by changing production conditions, new demands on work-life, changing demandson everyday life and innovative solutions able to meet ambitious sustainability criteria (eg reduction of mobility). Newly mixed neighbourhoods and compact, innovative, diverse commercial areas with sustainable energy supply, good infrastructural supply and hybrid usage concepts open up new perspectives on the city with short distances. They enable a variety of lifestyles and promote different cultures and uses.

The boundaries between business, living and trade are becoming increasingly blurred. In addition to the social need to reconcile living and working, awareness is rising of the importance of conserving resources and strengthening local material. Value-added cycles help to bring places of production back into the city, ifthey do not affect the quality of life.

An ecological, productive transformation focuses on synergies. Taking synergies seriously between ecosystems, people, and the built environment requiresnew, collaborative approaches. Architects and planners, together with the decision makers, must take full responsibilityfor the urban environment entrusted to them.