What happens when three and a half years of co-creation, cultural innovation and climate resilience come together in one place? At the New European Bauhaus Festival 2026, PALIMPSEST had the opportunity to share exactly that.
From 9–13 June in Brussels, PALIMPSEST joined nine fellow New European Bauhaus projects at the NEBULE Cluster stand during the NEB Fair 2026, celebrating the collective impact of NEB-funded initiatives and engaging with visitors, policymakers, researchers and innovators from across Europe.
Representing the project were Grazia Concilio, PALIMPSEST Project Coordinator (POLIMI), Talita Medina, Project Manager (POLIMI), and Irini Krimpa, Day-to-Day Communication Manager (ICCS), who presented PALIMPSEST’s journey and outcomes while exchanging ideas with the wider New European Bauhaus community.
Throughout the five-day event, visitors explored the project’s key results from its three Landscape Pilots through a curated selection of publications and tangible outcomes, including the PALIMPSEST Handbook, the Łódź Toolkit, the SONE Catalogue, and one of the project’s most distinctive artefacts—the Ceramic Rainflower—demonstrating how culture, creativity and co-creation can become powerful drivers of climate adaptation and urban transformation.
The festival also provided an invaluable opportunity to reflect on the project’s achievements, discuss its legacy and strengthen connections for future collaboration.
Among the highlights of the week were:
- A visit by Ekaterina Zaharieva, European Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation, who met with PALIMPSEST Coordinator Grazia Concilio to discuss the project’s vision, methodology and key results.
- A visit from Enrico Giovannini, Economist and former Italian Minister of Labour and Social Policies, now scientific director of ASviS – Alleanza Italiana per lo Sviluppo Sostenibile.
- Discussions with the PALIMPSEST Project Officer, Laura Kasnauskaite and former PALIMPSEST Project Officer Melpomeni Vyzika on the project’s achievements and long-term impact.
- Meetings with members of the Research Executive Agency (REA) and Rossella Guzzo Foliaro, fostering dialogue on the future of research and innovation.
- An interactive NEBULE Cluster Workshop, where participating projects shared their visions, recent achievements, challenges and lessons learned.
- A presentation of the RURBANIVE project to NEBULE members, opening new conversations around shared goals and future synergies.
Beyond showcasing project outcomes, the event reaffirmed the strength of collaboration within the New European Bauhaus ecosystem. Across five inspiring days, the NEBULE Cluster became a vibrant space for exchanging ideas, building new partnerships and exploring how culture-centred innovation can contribute to more sustainable, beautiful and inclusive places.
Although PALIMPSEST officially concluded its activities in April 2026, its story does not end here. The knowledge generated, the methods developed and the communities engaged continue to serve as a living legacy—demonstrating that co-creation can shape meaningful responses to climate challenges while placing culture at the heart of urban transformation.
A heartfelt thank you goes to our Project Officer for her continuous guidance and support, as well as to all our fellow NEBULE Cluster projects—ALPHABETICA, PULSE-ART, Art of Darkness, CONVIVIUM, TOWCHED, HeritACT, make-a-thek, START-UP, and PACESETTERS—for an inspiring week of collaboration, dialogue and shared ambition.
The PALIMPSEST journey may have reached its final chapter, but its legacy continues to inspire new ways of imagining and creating the cities of tomorrow.
Published on: June 17, 2026
