With the background of the political developments in Slovakia and with the European Capital of Culture Trencin 2026 ahead, this project presents an urgently needed space for value-based democratic European dialogue. It does so by reflecting on the lost urban utopias based on two cases in the region of Trenčín: Nová Dubnica & Trencianske Teplice. Since 1989 the cities have found themselves in a position of eternal post-industrial liminality: not centres of production anymore but not achieving any new identity either. The region is stuck in a post-phase, with the prospect of future disappearing from its horizons. ECoC 2026 can open new perspectives of regional development.

What role can these two cities play in redesigning urban futures? How can we validate the modernist urbanism and architecture of care, yet without falling into nostalgic narration and by taking a critical approach towards current societal developments? What role can they play in revitalising utopian thinking nowadays? The project brings together local actors, citizens, activists, international experts in architecture and urbanism, artists & artivism to reflect on the revitalisation of utopias – a highly relevant topic, both locally and on European level. It tries to ground the various artistic and expert reflections in two particular localities, valorising the expertise of the local inhabitants as equally important. The project will unfold through residencies in each of the cities, through workshops & a conference.

Stay tuned - more information coming soon!