Dear oPEN Lab Community,
We hope the summer months brought you a measure of rest and joy, and that you’re ready for the slow shift into autumn’s colours—bright one day, rain-soaked the next.
The oPEN Lab project has had a productive stretch, and as the seasons turn, we aim to keep up the pace. The momentum is there, and the work, as always, is waiting.
In Genk (BE), renovation efforts are moving forward. It hasn’t been without its difficulties—few things ever are. The social housing organisation had one guiding priority: residents should be able to live in their homes while we reshape them into Positive Energy Buildings. But the reality of that decision has been heavier than expected. Privacy, noise, dust, safety, and other concerns—what looks manageable on paper becomes more complicated when you’re living through it. Despite that, some residents in New Texas are already settling into their transformed homes. For others, the wait will go on a little longer. We expect to wrap up all dwellings by the end of this year, with the neighbourhood infrastructure scheduled for completion by 2026.
This process has been full of challenges, but it has taught us something important: consistent, honest communication with residents is not just useful—it’s essential. If we’re not talking, we’re losing.
This lesson was echoed during a European cluster meeting on Positive Energy Neighbourhoods, which brought together 16 projects. The hardest part of the urban energy transition, it seems, isn’t the technology on its own. It’s the people. How do we make them care about Positive Energy Neighbourhoods and the innovations they bring along? What’s the personal payoff? And more practically, how can we help them navigate the financial hurdles? Social engagement often moves slower than technological progress, with expectations and needs shaped by culture and social circumstances. But one thing is clear: if this transition isn’t a benefit for everyone, it won’t work at all.
At oPEN Lab, we don’t have all the answers yet. Maybe we never will, but we’re not standing still. We’re pushing forward in three cities, each with its own unique set of challenges. In Tartu (EE), residents are hesitant about renovation. In Genk (BE), they’re living through it, being confronted with daily inconveniences. In Pamplona (ES), the timing of large urban development is proving hard to align with neighbourhood developments. It’s a complex, frail process, but we are working step by step—through co-creation, trial, and iteration—to unravel these issues.
By the time this project wraps up, we will have more than just lessons learnt. We will have solutions.
Warm greetings from the oPEN Lab coordination team,
Maarten, Katarina, Paulina, Marianna, and Alexander
