ACT joins European BLUEPRINT project to pioneer digital and participatory urban renovationCo-designing climate-neutral neighbourhoods through digital innovation and community action.
BALLINA, IRELAND — ACT (Accelerating Change Together) has joined a major new European initiative, BLUEPRINT, to reshape how we approach urban regeneration through a blend of community-led design and digital innovation.
We believe that every community deserves the tools to lead its own green transition. For too long, urban renovation has been treated as a top-down technical challenge, often overlooking the local knowledge and social fabric of the people who live there. In response, we are working with 22 European partners to deliver a new framework for "impact architecture" that prioritises both climate resilience and social equity.
Bridging technology and community
The BLUEPRINT project (Building Living Urban Ecosystems through Participatory Renovation and Innovation Tools) integrates advanced tools like Digital Twins and AI with low-tech, inclusive co-design methods. This approach ensures that everyone—including elderly and marginalised residents—has a voice in shaping their future neighbourhoods.
ACT is proud to support the Irish pilot site in Balla, Co. Mayo. Working alongside Mayo County Council, we will test these digital tools in a real-world setting to revitalise public spaces and support energy-efficient housing.
‘This project demonstrates how architecture can engage critically with place, policy and people,’ says an ACT spokesperson. ‘It’s not just about what we build, but how and why we build it to support lasting, systemic change.’ Tom Lindsay, Director, ACT
Project overview
- Project Name: BLUEPRINT
- Type: Urban Design & Digital Innovation
- Irish Location: Balla, Co. Mayo
- Consortium: 23 partners led by University of Patras, Greece