From urban commons to collaborative ecosystems: the OBRAS project in Bologna and Bogotá | Dai beni comuni urbani agli ecosistemi collaborativi: il progetto OBRAS a Bologna e Bogotá

OBRAS (Opportunities for Boosting urban capabilities: the Role of temporary Architectures and in-between Spaces for cities in transition) is a research-action project focused on the reactivation of dismissed railroad areas in two urban contexts: Ravone in Bologna and Estación de la Sabana in Bogotá. Funded by the MIUR – Dipartimenti Eccellenti programme, the project uses co-design processes involving public institutions, cultural actors, universities, and students to reimagine these areas through temporary uses, low-impact technologies, and new cultural productions. The main goal is to transform these dismissed spaces into urban commons, seen not as mere goods, but as governance structures that foster collaborative ecosystems. The project explores how collaborative governance can shift urban assets from being passive spaces to active, community-driven resources. The research operates on three levels: Theoretical: It redefines urban commons beyond ownership, focusing on their governance and relational aspects; Project-level: It proposes the OBRAS model as a template for creating collaborative ecosystems. Meta-project level: The solutions are scalable and replicable, with the potential to be applied to other urban contexts; By testing the OBRAS model in Bologna and Bogotá, the project demonstrates its adaptability and potential to regenerate social spaces and foster community resilience in a post-pandemic world.