On 7 November 2025, Vidzeme Planning Region organised a regional stakeholder meeting in Gulbene within the Interreg Europe project PICOBELLO. The meeting focused on the role of cultural heritage and placemaking in applying the New European Bauhaus (NEB) principles – sustainability, aesthetics, and inclusion – at the local level and use of NEB compass.
Project expert Krišjānis Pundurs introduced the meeting, highlighting the importance of cultural heritage as a resource for sustainable development and encouraging participants to view preservation and renewal as interconnected processes. Inga Lapse from Gulbene Municipality presented local examples, including the reuse of historic buildings, participatory budgeting, and the revitalisation of public spaces.
In Gulbene, participants also explored Viestura Street – a historic railway workers’ neighbourhood dating back to the 1920s – as an example of how unique architectural character and community initiative can help preserve and revitalise local heritage.
The practical part of the meeting centred on the NEB Compass – a guiding framework for decision and project-makers wishing to apply the NEB principles and criteria to their activitie. Inspired by the project partners’ recent study visit to Greece, where the Compass was introduced and tested in practice, Vidzeme Planning Region applied this method to its own regional context.Participants analysed several Vidzeme municipal projects, discussing citizen participation, cross-sector collaboration, and planning quality. The exercise encouraged broader thinking about how development initiatives can create long-term value for communities.
The meeting gathered representatives from Gulbene, Alūksne, Smiltene, and Valka municipalities, as well as Vidzeme Planning Region specialists.
