Representatives of InnoRenew CoE, UP IAM, UP FHŠ and ZVKDS met with property owners in the old town of Koper to discuss the challenges of sustainable construction and living, as well as the protection of immovable cultural heritage. The workshop took place on 16 September 2026 at the Rectorate of the University of Primorska, in the Armeria building in Koper, as part of the citizen science project Engaging Citizens in Building a Digital Twin for the Immovable Cultural Heritage in the Old Town of Koper.

At the beginning of the workshop, participants were presented with the findings of two group interviews and a survey conducted as part of the project, focusing on the challenges of sustainable construction and living in the old town of Koper.

The workshop continued with discussions in three groups using the World Café format. During each round, the groups discussed different topics and gradually built on the findings and proposals developed by the previous groups.

The discussions focused on four areas related to the protection of immovable cultural heritage and sustainable development:

• Quality of life, moderated by Črtomir Tavzes from ZVKDS and InnoRenew CoE, UP IAM;
• Understanding the requirements of cultural heritage protection, moderated by Irena Potočnik from ZVKDS;
• Improving access to co-financing instruments, moderated by Boris Deanovič from ZVKDS;
• Engaging the local community, moderated by Neža Čebron Lipovec from UP FHŠ.

The workshop provided an opportunity for property owners and other participants to exchange experiences, views and proposals. Through collaborative work, participants co-created valuable knowledge about how residents of the old town of Koper understand the importance of immovable cultural heritage, quality of life and sustainability. Particular attention was also given to identifying possibilities and ways to improve the situation in all three areas and to finding ways to better reconcile these three areas in the future.

The findings and proposals developed during the workshop will contribute to further work within the project and to the development of recommendations for sustainable renovation and more effective management of cultural heritage in Koper.