Minucciano Engages

As part of the activities planned within Bauhaus4Med, the Tuscany Region has selected the municipality of Minucciano (LU) as a pilot area to experiment with new approaches to local development in line with the principles of the New European Bauhaus.

The initiative involved the active participation of the Department of Architecture (DIDA) of the University of Florence, particularly the students of the course Design for Sustainability, who had the opportunity to explore the Garfagnana territory, engage with local administrators, and collaborate with the company Garfagnana Innovazione. This company specializes in stone processing and is involved in internationally significant projects such as the Digital Stone Project.

The first meeting between institutions and local stakeholders took place on July 25, 2024. Held at Garfagnana Innovazione (Gramolazzo - Minucciano), the event was attended by the Mayor of Minucciano, Nicola Poli, and the Director of Productive Activities of the Tuscany Region, Albino Caporale. The Bauhaus4Med project was presented, with a focus on urban regeneration and circular economy. Mayor Poli proposed involving local businesses, such as Kerakoll and Mi.Gra, in the project’s implementation. Professors Giuseppe De Luca and Giuseppe Lotti from DIDA suggested integrating a narrative chip to tell the story of waste materials, emphasizing the importance of citizen participation and crowdfunding. They also highlighted the opportunity for cultural exchange between European universities participating in Bauhaus4Med, allowing international students to stay in Minucciano to study the reuse of waste materials.

On November 19, 2024, a field visit took place in Gramolazzo, providing students with direct knowledge of local dynamics and sustainability challenges. Subsequently, on December 14, 2024, an important public participation event was held, organized using the international World Café method, engaging the local community in defining priorities for the future of the area.

This initiative, set to continue throughout 2025 and 2026, represents the only pilot action in Tuscany within the Bauhaus4Med project. It aims to establish a sustainable and inclusive development model, where beauty is not an end in itself but becomes a driver of transformation and social innovation.