How do you turn public space into a place people truly connect with?
How do you make environments that invite people in and inspire them to stay, care, and grow? In this energizing one-day masterclass with ABCD pioneer Cormac Russell and third place expert Aat Vos, you’ll learn how to strengthen communities with a bottom-up approach and thoughtful design. It will be a dynamic, hands-on training full of insights, examples, and tools you can start using right away. Whether you’re (re)imagining a library, a neighborhood, a park, a school, or a cultural center – this masterclass will give you the clarity and confidence to take the next step.
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN
You’ll discover how to activate public spaces by connecting people and place with purpose and intention. You’ll learn what human-centered design really means and how to put it into practice, explore best practices for community animation, and understand how to create a sense of ownership. We’ll exchange experiences on common obstacles – and how to overcome them.
This includes:
- Designing spaces that invite people to come, stay, and grow
- Applying practical community-building strategies to real-world challenges
- Moving from insight to action using our experience-based toolkits
- Collaborating across disciplines and breaking through silo thinking
MEET YOUR HOSTS
Cormac Russell (Ireland)
Cormac is a social explorer, best-selling author, and international speaker. As the founding director of Nurture Development, he’s worked in 35+ countries to help communities, governments, and NGOs build stronger, citizen-led movements using ABCD (Asset-Based Community Development).
Aat Vos (Netherlands)
Aat is an architect, author, and international voice in third place design – public places that feel like a home away from home. As founder of includi, a consultancy and design agency based in Groningen, he’s helped libraries, cities, and cultural venues across Europe create inspiring, human-centered environments.
Amy Goedhart (Netherlands)
Amy is an urban anthropologist with a big interest in public spaces and their social potential. As a researcher at includi, she explores ways to reactivate public space and build connections across differences. Her work bridges research and practice, combining insights from academia, design, and participatory processes to co-create inclusive third places.
EVENT DETAILS
Date: September 16, 2025
Time: 09:00 – 17:00
Location: Utrecht, The Netherlands (venue details to follow)
Language: English
Early Bird: €299 ex VAT until August 31
Standard Rate: €349 ex VAT starting September 1
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The training was very insightful. It helped me to get a better understanding in the ABCD method as a basis for building communities and libraries alike. Highly recommended
With the creative guidance they provide, any community can design, create and stage their own third places for all.
I loved learning how to recognize and grow the power of community, as well as discovering the importance of creating a vibrant place where the community can meet. You will definitely leave feeling inspired!
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