Draw the Coast. Action for the Mass Design of the Future of the Coastal Road

Numerous European and some domestic examples show that involving the public in the planning of public spaces from the development and planning stages is extremely beneficial and a good long-term investment. It enhances solution quality, changes public perception of the solutions, and positively affects trust in local administrations (Ostanel, 2017; Micelli et al., 2024; Tanrıkul et al., 2023). For this, in Izola (SLO), a partnership made of a local NGO, two Ministries, and a Municipality decided to promote community-based public space planning under the financial aegis of a EU fund. In the area of the former coastal road, this partnership gathered various organizations, institutions, and other interested parties in order to enhance an alternative way to use the coastal area.
On a 2.24 km long roll of paper spread across this area, citizens drew, wrote, or otherwise designed the future of the coastal road. All drawings and writings were documented, the event was recorded, and a short introductory video was prepared. After the event, we collected the outputs and conveyed the people’s wishes, suggestions, and visions to the coastal municipalities.
This action was deliberately executed as part of the Mediterranean Coast and Macro-regional Strategies Week 2018, which for years has successfully bridged strategic planning at the European Commission level with on-the-ground happenings. This week, where experts, practitioners, and stakeholders at the governmental and local levels meet and discuss the significance of the sea and the coastal region, its natural resources and economic potentials, the risks it faces – both natural and human-induced – and strengthen awareness of the sea and coast’s importance for quality living, takes community planning experiences to the highest decision-making level.
Through active participation, the event aimed to encourage local stakeholders and the public to collaborate in organizing public spaces, raise awareness of co-decision opportunities, gather proposals for spatial organization, and promote active citizenship.