Reinventing Cities competitions offer a unique opportunity to transform and unlock underutilised sites located in strategic areas of the cities into high-quality urban projects that deliver environmental performance, social value and demonstrate economic viability. Prioritising the reuse of existing urban land is key to limiting urban sprawl and reducing the environmental impact of new development.

“With over 30 cities, 5,000 businesses mobilized, and 40 projects underway, the Reinventing Cities competitions are driving global momentum for low-carbon, people-centred urban regeneration. By launching these new sites in Bologna, Portugalete (Metropolitan Bilbao), and Belo Horizonte, we are inviting the private sector to transform underused areas into resilient, sustainable landmarks that model the future of cities and showcase how the public and private sectors can collaborate to deliver a better urban environment for the people and the planet” says Hélène Chartier, the Director of Urban Planning and Design at C40 Cities.

The new sites just released include diverse assets and opportunities ranging from a former market in Bilbao, abandoned military barrack and industrial sites and a former landfill: 

• In Portugalete (Metropolitan Bilbao), a former municipal food market, located in the city centre, presents a strong opportunity to transform the site through a project that supports local economic development while preserving and enhancing its cultural and heritage value. The site is publicly owned, and the city will co-invest in the renovation alongside the winning team.
• In Belo Horizonte, a former landfill located in a densely populated area with limited access to public space is envisioned to become a new urban park, with teams invited to propose innovative and inclusive solutions to transform it into a vibrant, accessible and climate-resilient public space.
• Bologna proposes two sites in the competition : an ex-military barracks and a former industrial printing site to be reimagined into innovative and sustainable developments aligned with the city’s climate objectives. The sites are presented in collaboration with the Agenzia del Demanio and Editoriale Immobiliare as owners of the sites.
  
  

The City of Bologna continues its collaboration with C40 on the Reinventing Cities competitions. Following the Ravone Prati railway yard, the former Aiuto Materno building, and the former Perotti Barracks—competitions that were all successfully completed—these two new proposals aim to trigger the regeneration of two strategic areas: the former Stamoto Barracks, on which we have been working together with the State Property Agency for the past two years to finally bring a solution to a site that has been abandoned for too long; and the Via Mattei 106 site, which in recent years has hosted Il Resto del Carlino and its printing complex, located in the Roveri district, an area of the city currently undergoing significant transformation. These two projects are intended to help increase the supply of social housing (ERS) in the city and to support urban greening through substantial soil de-sealing interventions and high environmental performance standards.
– Raffaele Laudani, Deputy Mayor for Urban Planning Bologna

Architects, planners, engineers, developers, investors, and community organisations are encouraged to form multidisciplinary teams and participate in the competition as stated by Laura Viscovich, Executive Director, Holcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction.

Our cities already hold much of what we need to build a better future in the form of existing buildings, materials, land, and infrastructure that too often go underutilised. The Reinventing Cities competition embodies exactly the reuse and renewal mindset we believe must become the norm: treating vacant and overlooked urban spaces not as problems, but as opportunities for circular, low-carbon, and resilient development. The Holcim Foundation is proud to support this initiative and the architects, planners and developers who are turning that potential into reality. 
– Laura Viscovich, Executive Director, Holcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction.

The competitions encourage proposals that demonstrate a high level of environmental ambition, innovation and feasibility, while delivering tangible benefits for local communities.

Visit the dedicated competition pages  to learn more about the specifics of each city and apply.