Activation Event in Penacova
Date: 24-26 July 2025
Location: Casa das Artes Penacova
The UTOPIZE project brought together 45 residents, partners and local stakeholders for a three-day Activation Event dedicated to reimagining the future of Penacova’s public spaces. Held from 24 to 26 July 2025 at Casa das Artes, the gathering marked an important moment for the community — a space where lived experience, collective intelligence and local aspirations could be transformed into actionable insights.
Throughout the workshops, the spirit of UTOPIZE was clear: everyone has a voice, and every voice matters. As one participant shared, “The expectation that comes with the involvement with this project, UTOPIZE, is to be able to have a voice… not just my own, but that of others, and from diverse and broad perspectives.”
The program combined collaborative activities — from stakeholder mapping and persona creation to sensory walks and thematic discussions — all designed to surface knowledge that only the community can provide. Participants explored what makes Penacova unique, what challenges they face in daily life, and what opportunities could transform public spaces into places of connection, well-being, and belonging.
Many valued the opportunity to speak, listen, and imagine together. As another participant expressed, “I obviously praise the fact that we can have a voice and be given this moment, this opportunity.”
This sense of shared purpose aligns with the core vision of UTOPIZE: co-creating spaces that emerge from people’s real needs, real emotions, and real experiences.
The discussions also highlighted the obstacles that can limit civic participation. Residents mentioned a lack of time, fear of judgment, and uncertainty about how to influence decisions. Institutions recognized constraints linked to resources and administrative procedures.
Yet, despite these challenges, participants expressed strong commitment and trust in the process. One attendee described the energy of the event:
“It is an active process which is in motion… not something imposed on us, but something that we ourselves are talking about, moving about, and taking action on.”
This momentum reinforced a shared belief: lasting transformation happens when community members and institutions move forward together.
The sensory walks — through Casa António José de Almeida, Parque Verde, and Casa das Artes — offered an opportunity to observe Penacova not just through analysis but through emotion.
- Casa António José de Almeida was described as peaceful, full of history and potential — a “rough diamond” ready to be reactivated.
- Parque Verde was celebrated for its natural beauty and riverside atmosphere, while participants identified key improvements to accessibility, shading, and entrance design.
- Casa das Artes, the event venue, was recognized as a cultural anchor that could once again become a vibrant meeting point for the community.
These insights will shape future design propositions, ensuring that solutions remain grounded in local experience.
Across all sessions, one feeling stood out: optimism. Participants recognized that the ideas collected during the event will guide concrete next steps in the project. As one resident expressed, “I was wonderstruck by what I heard… there are many proposals from all participants, and these proposals will add value to make our Penacova more attractive, and, let’s say, more moving.”
The Activation Event demonstrated that Penacova is ready to imagine, create, and activate change collectively. The voices gathered over the three days will now feed directly into the next phases of UTOPIZE — informing design explorations, pilot interventions, and long-term visions for the municipality’s public spaces.
Through proximity, participation, and co-creation, Penacova is shaping a more inclusive, meaningful, and people-centered future — one voice at a time.
