European Urban Renaissance

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The European Urban Renaissance is an architectural movement that aims to redesign European cities using traditional street layouts, public spaces, and classic building styles. It runs alongside the American New Urbanism. The first dedicated exhibition opened in March 1996 at the Bologna Triennale II, opened by the Prince of Wales. Curated by Gabriele Tagliaventi, it showcased more than 150 projects from 24 countries and produced a typology-based catalogue. The show featured the Rue de Laeken mixed-use block (1989–1995) as a major example of urban Renaissance.

Since 1996 the movement has spread across Europe, with notable projects such as Poundbury in England; the new Medina of Hammamet; Potsdam Kirchsteigfeld in Germany; Bairro Alto in Lisbon; Borgo Città Nuova in Alessandria; Val d'Europe near Paris; Pitious village on Spetses; Richmond Riverside in London; and Sankt Eriksgaten in Stockholm. Today many interventions are underway, including the Quartier am Tacheles in Berlin-Mitte (2000–2007) master-planned by Duany & Plater-Zyberk; the reconstruction of Palermo’s historic centre (1996–2007); the Beguinage in Valenciennes (2002–2007); the new urban centre of Plessis-Robinson in France (1992–2007); and the Via della Pietra neighbourhood in Bologna (2002–2007).