About the Network

The Resilience Network is being developed as part of a two-year research project (2015-2017), hosted by the University of Sheffield, School of Architecture and led by Dr Corelia Baibarac and Prof Doina Petrescu. The research project investigates possibilities for creating local and European-wide networks of resilience through a hybrid, digital-physical platform. 

The platform will combine digital tools, physical spaces and mobile prototypes with the aim of enabling the emergence and expansion of collective local resilience practices in urban neighbourhoods. Such practices address local conditions and needs; are focused on strengthening the social fabric through active citizenship; and promote an improved use of common resources  (e.g., public space, vacant land, underused buildings, road and public transport networks or the internet) through sharing and re-use.

The platform will be developed in collaboration with local partners who are interested in actively improving their cities and neighbourhoods, and aims to enhance their current or planned activities. Partners may include architecture and design practices, maker-spaces, civic organisations, local councils, NGOs, community groups and local residents.

The platform will explore possibilities for balancing local and context-relevant resilience actions, led by local actors, with a Europe-wide strategy and vision for resilient urban futures. This strategy and vision will be a collaborative endeavour, bringing together the practical know-how and experience of the local actors with academic knowledge.

As source of inspiration, the project will use the R-Urban model of strengthening the urban commons and generating civic-ecological initiatives, such as urban agriculture and recycling (http://r-urban.net/en/; http://r-urban-wick.net/).

The project is funded by a Marie Skłodowska-Curie research grant (Individual Fellowship), part of Horizon 2020 – the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation.

* Note: The platform is work-in-progress. During the project we will be experimenting with different digital tools for mapping, sharing and visualizing information, and for facilitating fruitful communication between the participants. The tools prototyped during these experiments will be brought together into a unique open-source platform, free to be appropriated, remixed or reused by anyone who shares our resilience goals.