COMPLEX PARTICIPATORY RECONSTRUCTION OF URBAN STRUCTURES Manual for a holistic approach to reconstruction after natural/man-made disasters

This book addresses the holistic, interdisciplinary and participatory approach to reconstruction processes following natural or man-made disasters. It results from three years of research and collaborative activities (2022-2025) conducted within the COM.PA.RE. project, winner of the European Erasmus Plus Call 2021, KA2KA220-HED, focused on cooperation partnerships in higher education. The initiative involves eight European partners, including university departments and research centers: University for Continuing Education, Krems (Austria); Slovak University of Technology, Bratislava (Slovakia); University of Camerino, Camerino (Italy); University of Technology and Economics, Budapest (Hungary); Masaryk University, Brno (Czech Republic); University La Sapienza, Rome (Italy); Czech Technical University, Prague (Czech Republic); Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague (Czech Republic). History indicates that reconstruction is often a complex and laborious process with uncertain outcomes. In current discussions, management and safety aspects, particularly related to natural disasters, tend to dominate public debate and media representations. This focus can overshadow a broader perspective that emphasizes the environmental, social, and individual imbalances that such traumatic events inflict on affected communities. COM.PA.RE. aims to promote a design culture that prioritizes the restoration of values and communities before focusing on physical structures, such as homes. The book includes a variety of content, featuring narratives about reconstruction events from different geographical areas represented by project partners. It also shares experiences and experiments conducted within the project and highlights primarily digital operational tools. Overall, the volume serves as a resource on a holistic project culture centered on reconstruction and as a training manual for emerging designers.