The winter issue of the scientific edition of the journal Urbani izziv / Urban challenge has been published!

During the upcoming holiday season and cozy winter evenings, we invite you to read the new issue of Urbani izziv / Urban Challenge (Volume 36, No. 2), which features a great variety of pertinent research topics.

The articles address social sustainability in the North Kazakhstan Region, the suitable placement of bus station in the Turkish city of Uşak, the impact of the 2023 earthquake on open public spaces in the Turkish city of Malatya, and the role of modernist architecture in the development of Ljubljana and Sarajevo. The issue also examines the impact of the urban environment on the mental well-being of residents and highlights the importance of public health in urban planning.

You are invited to check the online version of the issue or order a physical copy using the order form.

 

Season’s greetings and best wishes for the New Year 2026!

Recommendations for climate-resilient settlement planning and the Be Ready Project

In November, the second part of expert workshops took place in the pilot municipalities of Logatec, Izola and Gornja Radgona as part of the project “Adapting settlements to climate change”, co-financed by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning. The recommendations are being prepared by the Urban Planning Institute of the Republic of Slovenia together with the Faculty of Architecture (University of Ljubljana), the Faculty of Civil and Geodetic Engineering (University of Ljubljana), and external experts, while the Association of Municipalities of Slovenia (SOS) is responsible for disseminating project activities and involving stakeholders in the process.

The project addresses increasingly frequent challenges of climate extremes – from floods, heatwaves and droughts to spatial pressures – and develops tools for thoughtful spatial management in a changing climate.

The expert team presented key recommendations for spatial planning on the strategic and implementation level, which participants evaluated through practical work and discussion, with particular emphasis on the inclusion of vulnerable population groups. The recommendations also featured examples of green, blue and white “acupuncture” solutions, as addressed by the international Be Ready project (INTERREG Danube Programme), as one of the approaches to climate-resilient spatial planning.

The recommendations were presented to the wider professional public and relevant ministries on 9 December 2025, and will be finalised in February 2026 for use by municipalities across Slovenia.

The experiences of the pilot settlements will be a valuable resource for a more resilient and sustainable development of Slovenian settlements.

Slovenia at a Crossroads in Transport System Planning

Thursday, 20 November 2025, from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM

Recording of the event, which was organized by the Transformative Transport Planning Research Group at the Urban Planning Institute of the Republic of Slovenia.

At a lecture on 20 November 2025 at the Academy of Music in Ljubljana, Susan Handy drew attention to many pitfalls in transport planning. A round table with Slovenian guests confirmed the diversity of views on transport and the necessity of discussion.

The internationally recognized American transport planning expert Prof. Dr. Susan Handy, in her lecture “Shifting Gears: Towards a More Equitable and Sustainable Transport System,” pointed out, among other things, the negative aspects of persisting with a transport system that focuses primarily on the car. She presented the phenomenon of induced traffic, which has been proven by numerous studies and which paradoxically leads to new congestion appearing within a few years after road expansions. In addition to stressing the importance of planning modern public transport, she emphasized the need to transform transport system planning so that it is based on accessibility to services and focuses on people rather than on cars.

At the round table “ Paradigm Shift in Transport Planning,” the guests Assoc. Prof. Dr. Robert Rijavec (Institute of Traffic and Transport Engineering, University of Ljubljana), Assoc. Prof. Dr. Marjan Lep (Faculty of Civil Engineering, Transportation Engineering and Architecture, University of Maribor), Dr. Aljaž Plevnik (Urban Planning Institute of the Republic of Slovenia), and Prof. Dr. Susan Handy (UC Davis, California) discussed both road congestion and the importance of ensuring accessibility through various modes of transport. Dr. Aljaž Plevnik said that the current expansion of the road system in Slovenia, which is taking place without broad social consensus, will, according to foreign experience, certainly bring even more congestion. It is therefore necessary to move toward planning a transport system that provides high-quality alternatives for reaching destinations. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Marjan Lep also warned about the phenomenon of so-called evaporated traffic, which has been measured in Maribor and which causes part of car traffic to disappear when road capacity is reduced (road closures or lane removals), because people change their mode of travel, timing, or the need to travel at all. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Peter Rijavec highlighted Slovenia’s heavy dependence on cars: data show that more than 1.5 million people in the country have a driving licence, while we lag behind in developing alternative transport solutions, including public transport.

The guests agreed that Slovenia could follow many good practices from European countries and provide public transport fit for the 21^st century, since one-sided investments in the road network have many negative effects and fail to include at least a quarter of the population. They emphasized cooperation among different disciplines and the exchange of diverse perspectives on the transport system as a key advantage in planning a high-quality transport system for the future.

The event was moderated by Nataša Briški.

Photo: Urban Cerjak

Peer Review Visit in Zenica: Greening for Climate Resilience

On September 29–30, 2025

On September 29–30, 2025, Zenica hosted a peer review visit under the Be Ready project, evaluating the completed pilot “Greening the Neighbourhood, Londža 2.” The visit brought together local and international stakeholders enabling the Urban planning institute of the Republic of Slovenia to assess the pilot’s impact.

The pilot project turned a heat-stressed urban spot into a green, welcoming space. While the long-term environmental benefits will become evident over time, the space is already being actively utilized by residents, with a notable emphasis on serving vulnerable groups.

Key points:

• Inclusive Design: Citizens, experts, and schoolchildren co-created the space.
• Low Maintenance: Managed by Alba d.o.o. without extra costs.
• Scalable Model: Suitable for other dense urban areas.
• Active Promotion: Shared via media and local events.

The peer review confirmed the pilot’s success and Zenica’s growing role in climate-resilient urban development.

Small town in focus: Multi-dimensional perspectives on today‘s challenges

This lecture series explores current research and practices relating to the development of small and medium-sized towns in selected European countries. It discusses ongoing spatial dynamics, ranging from small neighbourhoods and inner cities to regional and national perspectives. These dynamics are closely linked to political debates and planning strategies in the relevant countries, as well as to the wider European context.

Small towns are not only peripheral -both geographically and mentally- but also represent strategic stepping stones for large-scale spatial issues and future development challenges. This applies to the quality of services in regions undergoing demographic change and housing provision in both metropolitan areas and decentralised regions. Small and medium-sized towns are therefore confronted with questions of adaptability and renewal in existing settlement areas, as well as questions of innovation. We explore how current and future planning cultures can be inspired by small towns and what lessons can be learned from the experiences of various European towns. This lecture series brings together scholars and experts from a variety of disciplines across Europe. It addresses researchers, students and practitioners alike.

Call for Contribution: Special Issue of the Scientific Journal Urban Challenge

Walking with Hope: Public Spaces for Wellbeing

We invite academics, practitioners, artists and all other interested contributors to submit full-length papers for a Special Issue of the international scholarly journal Urbani izziv / Urban Challenge. This call builds on the event "Walking with Hope: Public Spaces for Wellbeing" of AESOP Thematic Group Public Spaces and Urban Cultures, which was co-organized by the Urban Planning Institute of the Republic of Slovenia (UIRS), Polygon – Center for Cultural Research and Project Development, and Center for urban transition, architecture and urbanism – DeltaLab at the University of Rijeka.

The Special Issue explores the vital relationship between the built environment, public spaces and human wellbeing through the interconnected lenses of walkability and the concept of hope.

Thematic focus

This special issue goes beyond the traditional understanding of walkability, examining it as a critical framework for assessing the accessibility, inclusivity and sustainability of our cities, settlements and other populated areas. We seek to encourage an interdisciplinary dialogue by bringing together two distinct epistemological perspectives – urban design/scholarly research and artistic expression/practice, both grounded in processes of exploration and reflection. We imagine new ways of reading space, tracing the shifting relations between bodies, movement within space, the economies of architecture that shape them, and the spaces they inhabit, while proposing models and practices that move fluidly between scientific inquiry and artistic creation. From here, we envision public spaces not only as sites of design but as more hopeful, human-centred environments of encounter and possibility.

We encourage contributions that address, but are not limited to, the following themes and questions:

•  Urban design perspectives:

• walkability as a catalyst for social, economic, and cultural vitality,
• ‘’broken world designs’’ (Rethinking Repair, Steven J. Jackson, 2014) as a starting point for the future public spaces for wellbeing,
• human-centered spatial planning and design strategies that prioritise pedestrian experience and wellbeing,
• empirical research on the psychological and social dimensions of spatial experience and its impact on mental health and community sense,
• the intersection of walkability with social equity, environmental justice and climate change adaptation;

• Artistic & cultural perspectives:

- artistic research-based methodologies that emphasise embodied spatial inquiry, including practices of peripatetic exploration, dérive and ambulatory methods, drawing on traditions such as situationist psychogeography, performative studies of space and contemporary artistic research frameworks, which position walking and wandering as critical tools for examining spatial, social, and political relations,

- the role of the pedestrian in public space, politics of space, urban innovation, art and social change as artistic resistance,

- contemporary art practices and interventions that illuminate or challenge trends in urban planning,

- how artistic approaches can transform the experience of movement and public space into a sense of identity, atmosphere and hope,

- investigations into historical urban pedagogies and their relevance for human-centred design today.

Submission types and audience

We strongly encourage submissions from a wide range of disciplines, including architecture, urban planning and design, cultural studies, social sciences, environmental studies, contemporary art, philosophy, policymaking etc.

This call is open to:

• original research articles, review articles, or methodology papers and
• contributions that critically engage with the theme through artistic practice, inquiry-based design, reflective essays, or theoretical explorations of the artistic process in urban transformation, e.g in the form of a visual essay.

Submission guidelines and publisher requirements

All submissions intended for the "Articles" section of Urbani izziv will undergo high-quality double-blind peer review.

• Submission language: Papers must be submitted in English
• Manuscript type: Full-length research, review or methodological articles, or high-quality artistic/practice-based papers or essays ADD WORD COUNT!
• Review process: Double-blind peer review for all contributions
• Publication fees: The journal is Open Access and charges no submission fee for authors and no publication fee

Key Dates

• Full paper submission: February 15, 2026
• Notification of review: March 2026
• Revised paper submission: May 2026
• Foreseen publication deadline: Summer 2026

Please consult the journal's official Instructions for Authors on the publisher's website for detailed formatting and referencing requirements before submission of academic papers that intend to be classified as a scientific contribution. The artistic/practice-oriented contributions can be structured more freely and according to the needs of the presented theme. However, if authors intend for their work to be listed within the scientific part, they must still ensure some attributes of scientific work.

Submission Email: matej.niksic@uirs.si and branka.cvjeticanin@polygon.hr

Guest Editors: Matej Nikšič, Urban Planning Institute of the Republic of Slovenia; Branka Cvjetičanin, Polygon; Tihomir Viderman, BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg

Preserving identity of place in imes of Climate Change

At the international conference “Regional Contextualisation in Architecture” (RCA) in Ljubljana, organised by the Faculty of Architecture, University of Ljubljana, from 17 to 20 September 2025, Barbara Mušič (Urban Planning Institute of the Republic of Slovenia) presented a paper on the impact of climate change on the identity of urban open spaces with the title »Balancing climate-responsive urban and architectural design with the identity of place«.

The research highlights the importance of public spaces as key elements of city identity and analyses the effect of climate-resilient interventions (green, blue, and white solutions) on quality of life and spatial identity. The findings are also based on experiences from the Be Ready project, which focuses on urban adaptation to climate change and strengthening city resilience. The study concludes that a holistic approach, which considers local characteristics and promotes social inclusion, is essential for successfully addressing climate challenges.

Part of the study tour was also dedicated to the pilot activity of the Be Ready project in the City of Kranj.

Foto: Nina Beganović and Matej Nikšič

Next Level Parking (NXTLVL Parking) brought two new bicycle shelters to Ljutomer

As part of the international project Next Level (NXTLVL) Parking, where the Urban Planning Institute is one of the partners in an international consortium, two bicycle shelters were installed near the high school and sport center in Ljutomer, Slovenia.

These shelters are a simple but effective way to make cycling safer and more convenient, encouraging everyday mobility habits to shift toward more sustainable choices. This initiative also connects with Ljutomer’s work on the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP), where the Transformative transport planning research group of the Urban Planning Institute was actively involved in the preparation process — ensuring that measures for active mobility are planned and implemented in the long run. 

The new video from the opening event:

More about the project Next Level Parking.

Be Ready Project at the International AESOP 2025 Conference in Istanbul

From 7 to 11 July 2025

From 7 to 11 July 2025, the international AESOP 2025 Congress took place in Istanbul, bringing together experts in spatial planning, urbanism, and sustainable development from across Europe and beyond. This year, the AESOP Congress hosted more than 1,000 participants and over 800 contributions, covering topics such as climate resilience, sustainable mobility, digital innovation, and inclusive public policies.

At the conference, Barbara Mušič from the Urban Planning Institute of the Republic of Slovenia successfully presented two independent contributions, both developed within the international Be Ready project, co-financed by the INTERREG Danube Programme.

Within the thematic section dedicated to climate change, the topic “Urban Heat Islands Assessment for Building City Resilience: A Novel Approach” was presented to the participants. The presentation highlighted an innovative methodology for assessing urban heat islands, enabling cities to prepare more effectively and increase their resilience to heatwaves. The second contribution, entitled “Enhancing Urban Resilience: The Role of Open Spaces in Mitigating Urban Heat Islands”, was presented in the section focused on public spaces. This contribution emphasised the importance of public and open spaces as a key factor in reducing the effects of urban heat islands and improving quality of life during the summer months.

More information about the Be Ready project and the AESOP 2025 conference is available on the official website.

Foto: Matej Nikšič