Naples: The widening of Via Santa Caterina da Siena has been inaugurated: a participatory urban regeneration project.

Naples is celebrating a new example of participatory urban regeneration. On Thursday, December 11th, the redevelopment of the open space at Via Santa Caterina da Siena 15 in Chiaia was inaugurated, a project that transformed a common space into a true laboratory of active citizenship. "The project's value lies primarily in its being a grassroots project, with the hope that it will strengthen in all residents a sense of belonging and responsibility for their own spaces, as well as the importance of caring for them," explains Grazia Torre, president of Napolicreativa, the association behind the initiative.

The project is the result of a tactical urbanism workshop involving students, professionals, associations, and citizens. Giovanna Mazzone, President of Municipality 1, emphasizes that "all citizens are invited to participate, because this space is not only returned to the community, but represents the tangible result of a shared process that enhances active collaboration across the region."

The project included the creation of new street furniture made from logs recovered from the Astroni Reserve and crafted by Evergreen Officina Botanica, while street artist Mauro Nohs designed a map that serves as unconventional signage, improving the use of the space. Support came from the Campania Region's Call for Architecture Quality, the Order of Architects of Naples and its Province, and the CNR ITC.

"Regeneration isn't just physical transformation: it's community building," says Lorenzo Capobianco, president of the Order of Architects. "Even a small open space can become a hub for active citizenship and shared care. Supporting initiatives like this means investing in a more informed city, where design becomes a tool for participation and collective responsibility."

The workshop involved 25 graduates from the schools of Architecture and Design, led by a Scientific Committee composed of architects, artists, and representatives of the Municipality, confirming the network built over the years between local institutions and associations.