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Varberg Explores Ideas for Inclusive Placemaking

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By Project PROXIMITIES
A photo collage of a PROXIMITIES project meeting in Varberg, Sweden. Participants sit around a table with laptops, fruit baskets, and EU flags. Cinnamon buns are served. The Interreg Europe and PROXIMITIES logos appear at the bottom.

On April 3rd, the Municipality of Varberg held a series of productive meetings—both internally and with local stakeholders—to reflect on lessons learned from recent study visits as part of the PROXIMITIES project. The sessions served as a platform to explore how culture, citizen dialogue, and placemaking can play a transformative role in shaping more sustainable and inclusive communities.

The discussions centred around key insights from the interregional study visit to Manresa, Spain, along with digital exchanges highlighting innovative approaches from partners in Ireland and Latvia.

Drawing Inspiration from Manresa, Spain

Manresa's collaborative efforts with cultural institutions, businesses, and academia were highlighted as strong examples of place-based development. The Anònima Factory project, where industrial heritage has been repurposed into vibrant public space, and the Fabrica Nova initiative, which aims to bring together culture and education through municipal-university cooperation, offered tangible inspiration for the future development of Varberg’s Renen area.

Participants also took note of Manresa’s focus on civic engagement through strong local identity, the creation of green spaces via public dialogue, and the Conciliabús initiative—a child-friendly school commute system that fosters gender equality by easing logistical burdens on families.

Lessons from Ireland: Smart Housing and Sustainable Urban Living

Varberg stakeholders were also introduced to a series of practices from Ireland that demonstrate how planning strategies can align with community wellbeing and sustainability:

  • 10 Minute Towns: A mobility-focused strategy enabling residents to access key services like education, healthcare, and shops within a short walk or cycle.

  • Ballincollig Urban Development: A case study in active citizenship through the Tidy Towns initiative, blending local responsibility with sustainability.

  • Arus Mhuire Housing: An innovative downsizing scheme where seniors can move to age-appropriate housing while freeing up homes for families.

  • Castletroy Urban Greenway: A project co-designed with the community to create natural play and recreation areas using local materials.

Latvian Approaches to Citizen Dialogue and Urban Activation

From Latvia, stakeholders learned about policy frameworks and grassroots approaches to urban regeneration and participatory planning:

  • Riga’s Regional Development Plans support balanced urban and rural vitality.

  • The Kengarags Plan emphasized citizen dialogue in shaping neighbourhood development.

  • Vidzeme Market showcased how temporary events can activate underused spaces ahead of permanent investment—mirroring Varberg’s work around the construction of the Varberg Tunnel.

  • Participatory Budgeting in Latvia, which is mandated by law, allows citizens to vote on projects—a practice echoed locally through Varberg’s own village grants and rural checks.

Strengthening Varberg’s Local Development through European Exchange

These shared European experiences underline a common theme: sustainable place-making succeeds when grounded in local identity, inclusive governance, and active collaboration with citizens. The Municipality of Varberg plans to integrate many of these insights into its continued efforts to create vibrant, equitable, and connected peri-urban communities.

As part of the PROXIMITIES project, Varberg’s work reflects a broader commitment across Europe to reimagine how places can evolve to meet the needs of all residents—today and into the future.