The Agency for Spatial and Urban Planning of the Republic of Serbia, as a strategic partner of the Faculty of Architecture, University of Belgrade, took part in the kick-off conference of the project Danube Ruralscapes – a Network of Professional Support for Self Organized Village Clusters Achieving Sustainable Heritage Based Ruralscapes, which was held from 28 to 30 May 2025 in Budapest.

Approved under the Second Call for Proposals of the European Territorial Cooperation Programme INTERREG Danube Region, the project is implemented by 15 partners and 18 associated strategic partners from six countries, with the Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME) as the lead partner.

The project is to last 30 months, and its main goal is to provide an expert approach to sustainable architecture, urban planning and heritage conservation in selected rural areas (microregions) with potential for heritage-based, landscape-integrated and climate-responsive construction.

The Agency will support the Faculty of Architecture in implementing the following project tasks: 1) development of a toolkit for heritage management, sustainable architecture, public spaces and rural landscapes; 2) holding workshops for the development of local guidelines on resources and management structures; and 3) capacity building of local governments and stakeholders for the management of local architectural and intangible heritage, including the development of guidelines related to architecture and identity.