Earlier this month, the first meeting of the ERRIN New European Bauhaus (NEB) Task Force was held to kick off the NEB community. The meeting aimed to build upon the previous NEB mapping carried out this year by ERRIN and to foster an exchange of ideas on how we can leverage the opportunities presented by the NEB initiative. 

After an analysis of the outcomes derived from the internal mapping exercise, participants engaged in an interactive discussion, focusing on the Task Force's priorities and goals, identifying relevant stakeholders for collaboration, and delving into key topics associated with the NEB initiative. Drawing from local initiatives and expectations for the future, members were evaluating the strengths and room for improvement within the NEB initiative for regional and local stakeholders, taking into consideration the continuation of the NEB initiative.  

Following the interactive discussion, two members pitched their NEB local best practices. Juana Mari Delgado-Saborit from Castellon presented the Eco4Better project, a research endeavor targeting indoor air quality and urban health. Ignasi Salvadó-Estivill from 4 Universities Alliance introduced Advancing GReenCare in Europe, an integrated multi-scalar approach aimed at expanding nature-based therapies to enhance mental health equity. This spurred a discussion on opportunities for projects initiated locally and the criteria to become ‘NEB projects’ as such. 

This process builds upon previous ERRIN activities carried out since the co-design phase of NEB in 2021 (read more here). As a NEB partner, we have carried out various dialogues with the Bauhaus Secretariat and organised events to showcase local examples. Earlier this year, we established a NEB Task Force which advocates for local approaches in the NEB initiative. The next NEB Task Force meeting is scheduled for October, with a specific focus on underlining the importance of local approaches to NEB. The event will serve to gather input from members, ultimately leading to the formulation of an ERRIN position on the future of NEB.