U!REKA Lab: Urban Commons
The U!REKA Lab: Urban Commons is a joint project of the U!REKA partner universities in Amsterdam, Ghent, Frankfurt, Helsinki and Lisbon. This international and interdisciplinary blended learning and research project deals with urban commons and focuses on different co-creation initiatives in these cities.

During the different phases of the U!REKA Lab: Urban Commons, students and staff work on common research questions and meet online and during summer schools, as well as in conferences organised by the U!REKA network in order to facilitate an ongoing knowledge exchange. The U!REKA Lab: Urban Commons is financed by the DAAD national co-funding programme and the U!REKA network partner institutions. A few examples of U!REKA Urban Commons projects are included below. Visit the project website for the latest information.
Blended Intensive Programme
A week of interdisciplinary and international commoning took place from 3-7 May 2022 at Metropolia, Helsinki. Here 40 students, 8 lecturers and 12 stakeholders of the prepared design challenges gathered for the first Erasmus Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) of our U!REKA Lab: Urban Commons.
Urban Commons School
In October 2021 the Urban Commons Working Group hosted a 'summer school' in Frankfurt. The Urban Commons School: Commoning the Post-Covid City was a hybrid event, open to all students, staff and partners at U!REKA institutions.
Students and lecturers from all over Europe came together for the ‘U!RBAN Commons School: Commoning the Post-Covid City’ in Frankfurt from 6-9 October 2021, to exchange perspectives on life in our future cities.
Lecture series
U!REKA brought together urban commons experts from higher education institutions across Europe to share their expertise during thematic online lectures. Each session approached the topic from a different perspective, discipline or organisation. Click on the image below to watch recordings of the lectures.
Launch of virtual exhibition
The U!REKA Lab: Urban Commons Virtual Exhibition officially opened during the U!REKA Conference 2020. This virtual exhibition was produced at four participating partners and focuses on the Urban Commons' educational framework and work created by students. It consists of videos, photos, and written and spoken texts, presenting insights into urban commons initiatives and projects in the participating cities of Amsterdam, Ghent, Frankfurt and Helsinki.
Participating U!REKA partners and colleagues
Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences AUAS: Sandra Bos, Thijs Haverkamp
Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences (FUAS): Raul Gschrey, Angelika Plümmer
Hogeschool Gent (HoGent): Greet De Brauwere, An Lescrauwaet; Tine Vanthuyne
Metropolia University of Applied Sciences Helsinki: Kaisa Kanerva
Politécnico de Lisboa (IPL): Diego Bent
VSB - Technical University of Ostrava : Barbara Vojvodikova