URBANEX

Urbanex is an independent think tank, research, and consultancy organization dedicated to sustainable urban development and spatial policy. Established in the 1990s, we have evolved from a physical planning practice into a strategic planning organization addressing the complex challenges of territorial development, with particular attention to the spatial structures and processes that shape urban areas. Our work is grounded in research and experimentation, exploring how different forms of urbanisation impact sustainability across environmental, economic, and social dimensions.

We specialise in designing, developing, and implementing urban development projects—many co-financed by EU and international programmes—and offer strategic consulting for national and international clients in both the public and private sectors. With a multidisciplinary team of urban planners, economists, engineers, landscape architects, geographers, legal experts, and housing and heritage professionals, we provide integrated solutions for more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable urban futures. Urbanex actively collaborates with a wide network of stakeholders, from EU level organizations, IFIs, ministries and local and regional authorities to universities, civil society, and citizens.

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Our topics

Urbanex’s core think tank activities focus on scientific research of key topics related to sustainable spatial and societal development, aiming to inform and shape public policy through strategic planning documents. Key themes include compact urbanization, housing affordability, mobility poverty, sustainable urban development, sustainable finance and many more. Our team has participated in several scientific research projects addressing these issues. Beyond policy document development, Urbanex emphasizes the publication of research findings in respected scientific journals focused on spatial development. These activities support evidence-based policymaking and contribute to international academic and professional discourse.
As our approach is rooted in applied research and systems thinking, using digital tools and data to ensure our work is both relevant and impactful, we collaborate with various partners engaged in research, development, and innovation (RDI) activities, such as universities, businesses and public organisations. By translating research insights into practical strategies and policy recommendations, we aim to contribute to more balanced, resilient, and sustainable urban development.

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OUR TOPICS

Strategic planning and development

Strategic planning is at the heart of Urbanex’s work, forming the foundation for integrated projects at local, regional, and EU levels. Based on the transdisciplinary approach we work on the strategies grounded in spatial and data analysis, scenario modelling, and participatory processes, with a strong focus on implementation, monitoring, and adaptability. Urbanex has led and facilitated the co-creation process of national, regional, and local documents and processes, including contributions to the National Recovery and Resilience Plan and support for EU-funded urban initiatives such as functional urban area strategies funded through the Integrated Territorial Investment Mechanism. Our approach to strategic planning is action-oriented, resilient, and aligned with circular economy principles to drive long-term, meaningful change.

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OUR TOPICS

Sustainable mobility / Green ports

Urbanex works on different project linking sustainable urban development and mobility. The specific scientific focus is on the nexus between urban forms, housing and mobility poverty. We develop integrated strategies and promote active, multimodal, and inclusive mobility to improve accessibility and resilience. Our portfolio includes Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans and Transport Masterplans created with Ramboll and other partners. In line with our focus on maritime spatial planning we have contributed to maritime planning analysis in the projects such as the SUPREME project in the Eastern Mediterranean. The latest range of projects was focused on topic of the Green Ports looking at the different aspect such as NBS and energy transition.

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OUR TOPICS

Urban security and integrated heritage management

Urbanex addresses security through various lenses, including risk management, cultural heritage protection, and climate resilience, with a focus on self-sufficiency and circular economy. The team has contributed to several Urban Agenda for the EU partnerships, including Security of Public Spaces, and is well-versed in international frameworks such as the UN’s Strategy for Disaster Reduction. We are working in the field of preparedness and risk management for the UNESCO World Heritage, identifying key risks to its cultural values. Urbanex has created UNESCO World Heritage Management Plans for Dubrovnik, Split, and Zadar, aligning heritage preservation with sustainable development. Additionally, we’ve secured EU funding for cultural heritage and developed strategies that respond to active threats and processes such as turistification, demographic decline and climate change.

OUR TOPICS

Urban regeneration and sustainable green urbanisation

Urbanex develops integrated urban regeneration projects, national, regional and local level policy documents and strategies, as well as research that promote sustainable urbanisation, circular management of land and buildings, and development of green and blue infrastructure and nature-based solutions. Our work focuses on resilience planning, inclusive redevelopment, and the reuse of underutilised spaces to improve long-term community well-being. We advised national ministry on green urban renewal practices, led urban regeneration projects with national and international partners supported by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and contributed to ESPON SUPER project; a flagship European research initiative focused on sustainable urbanization and land-use practices across EU member states. Urbanex also participates in projects funded through EU’s key funding programme for research and innovation – HORIZON Europe, focusing on resilience and innovation measures, working closely with local stakeholders and international expert teams.

OUR TOPICS

Sustainable financing and green transition

Urbanex develops projects aligned with the EU Green Deal and DNSH principles, supporting the green transition through energy efficiency, renewable energy, and smart digital solutions. Urbanex increasingly incorporates principles of sustainable finance into its work, supporting investment strategies that align with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria to accelerate the green transition. We have contributed to key strategic documents such as the National action plan for skills development in the context of green jobs related to energy and post-earthquake reconstruction and several Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plans (SECAP). Commissioned by the World Bank, Urbanex co-authored two major studies on smart and sustainable development of Croatian cities and islands, offering policy recommendations for different time horizons.

URBANEX ATELIER MILANO

MUSEOGRAPHY AND DESIGN

Urbanex is actively engaged in museography and design, focusing on new museology, and contemporary museological concepts. Our projects have scientific recognition for the strong links of sustainable urban development and museology, always going beyond enclosed museum space toward the regeneration potentials for the communities. The approaches developed in these projects inform the strategy design in others fields of expertise, the in depth research of local knowledge and strong co-creation processes with the focus on urban anthropology, biology, eco-design and recognition of cultural urban landscapes. They have been invited to the most prominent conferences such as Sao Paolo Conference and St Andrews Conference. For the Croatian Coral Centre Zlarin, we created a full museological, museographic, and architectural concept. Additional projects include multimedia installations for the Visitor Centre in Nin and the integrated interpretation system of Salona.

ABOUT

Urbanex is an independent think-tank, consulting and research organisation in the field of sustainable urban development and spatial policies. Urbanex works on a wide range of territorial development issues with a specific focus on sustainable urban development and territorial cohesion.

Urbanex’s list of references includes a great number of strategic and spatial documents related to sustainable urban development that includes all segments of sustainable development – social, economic and environmental, with a constant focus on gaining urban development equilibrium. Urban development and planning are key branches of organisation’s transdisciplinary orientation, including all aspects of spatial management: integrated territorial development (ITI mechanisms), integrated management of cultural heritage, specific traffic planning in dense urban areas, tourism development in urban areas, nature-based solutions, brownfield regeneration in urban areas, as well as addressing land-use issues in coastal areas. Wide, transdisciplinary research scope spans from EU-level territorial policies and research to local level spatial and strategic development documents and projects. Organisation is specialised in providing services of preparation, development and implementation of urban development and planning projects co-financed by the European Union and various funding programmers, as well as providing technical support for the government and public bodies in the Republic of Croatia in field of strategic and spatial planning.

PARTNERS & CONTRACTORS IVANA KATURIĆ, CEO Contact us

IVANA KATURIĆ, CEO

Mrs. Ivana Katurić, PhD – earned doctoral degree at the University of Milan – Bicocca’s Department of Sociology and Social Research on the thesis addressing the land-use issues generated from social aspects of urban housing. Mrs. Katurić is director of the Urbanex Ltd. and coordinator of development of numerous studies in the field of integrated territorial and urban development, strategic, spatial and other planning documents, consulting in the field of EU funds and the programming period 2007-2013 and 2014-2020, revitalisation of cultural heritage, preparation and implementation of projects co-financed by the EU, and many others.