The Case of Belmonte Calabro and Its Role in Crossing Cultures: A Collaborative Approach to Sustainable Development

This paper reviews Crossing Cultures, a design by practice research project based in Belmonte Calabro, Italy. Consisting of ethnographic action-based research, it employs an inductive and deductive approach, which has developed a model for rural revitalisation through university engagement. Since 2016, the initiative has tackled Calabria’s socio-economic challenges by combining education, local involvement, and architectural practices. Students, residents, a not-for-profit organisation (NPO), and an architecture collective collaborate to address migration and depopulation through knowledge exchange and community resilience. The paper proposes a governance framework based on Communities of Practice (CoPs) to empower residents through peer learning and capacity-building. Drawing on nine years of work in Belmonte and other self-governing initiatives, the framework consists of four stages: "Rupture," "Activation of Place," "Negotiations and Communities," and "CoPs and the Government." These stages aim to foster local autonomy, accountability, and cultural integration. This paper outlines how Crossing Cultures has completed the first two stages and plans to engage public local bodies and other stakeholders to advance the final two stages. The focus is on community-led governance to achieve long-term sustainable development. This framework offers a path to enhance social sustainability, ensuring Belmonte’s resilience and vitality for future generations. By empowering communities and attracting a younger, diverse population, the initiative seeks to create a replicable model for rural regeneration.