29 Aug 2025

Over the course of the project, 28 Visionary Solutions (VSs) were implemented across seven pilot cities, ranging from nature-based interventions and digital innovations to socio-cultural initiatives. These were consolidated into 18 good practice examples, maximising their replication potential and making them adaptable to diverse urban contexts.

Developed by E2ARC and project coordinator Technical University of Crete, with the support of VARCITIES’ seven pilot cities and all the VARCITIES consortium, the Replication Tool is VARCITIES final output.

Find the Replication Tool here.

Key Features of the tool

• A Visionary Solutions Catalogue – containing implementation packages, sustainability plans, co-creation stories, lessons learned, and co-benefits.

• A Glossary of terms – for clarity and knowledge-sharing across stakeholders.

• Decision-support filters – allowing users to search by Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), expected benefits, type of solution, timescale, expertise required, or innovation potential.

• Templates and practical tools – such as risk management plans, work plans, KPI mapping templates, and workshop facilitation guides.

• A built-in feedback system – ensuring the tool evolves over time through continuous stakeholder input.

The tool was co-created through an extensive participatory process, ensuring it reflects real-world needs. Stakeholder input was collected via surveys, workshops, and events such as the NEB Festival, Mikser Festival, Helix Events, and ISOCARP Conference. In total, more than 50 European and international cities provided feedback on replication potential, desired functionalities, and usability.

The Visionary Solution Catalogue

The 28 Visionary Solutions developed by VARCITIES across the seven pilot cities were conceived as replicable interventions, ensuring that their benefits could extend well beyond the local contexts of their initial implementation. To further maximise replication potential and scalability, these solutions were consolidated into 18 Good Practices.

For each of them, we provide:

• A general description

• A timeline to reach full potential

• An assessment of the multiple benefits

• An interactive cocreation roadmap

• Expertise level required

• Sustainability plan

• Lessons learnt

The Glossary

Provides a clear, accessible reference for key concepts and guiding principles underpinning the Visionary Solutions development process and implementation strategies, ensuring consistent understanding across stakeholders. It bridges theory and practice by combining academic, standard-based, and practical insights for urban health and well-being.

The Decision-Support System

To enhance usability, filters have been integrated allowing users to easily navigate the Visionary Solutions Catalogue and identify the entries most relevant to their needs. These filters cover multiple dimensions, including links to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), expected benefits (e.g., ecological connectivity, health monitoring, empowerment, public space value, community trust), and the type of solution, such as nature-based, digital, or socio-cultural interventions. They also include practical aspects such as timescale for implementation, required level of expertise, and innovation potential, ensuring that users can tailor their search according to both contextual priorities and technical feasibility.

Source: https://varcities.eu/launch-of-varcities-replication-tool/