Natural Happiness - Living in playground
2nd Edition
The project based BIP Natural Happiness - Living in playground explores physical and social environments in multidisciplinary approach in order to improve public spaces and promote natural happiness (rather than artificial happiness).
The project based BIP Natural Happiness - Living in playground explores physical and social environments in multidisciplinary approach in order to improve understanding of the health and well-being of ecosystems and humans and setting up proposals for intervention in the public space that promote natural happiness (rather than artificial happiness), individual and collective well-being, creating dynamics on living spaces that involve the community, encouraging their direct participation in its preservation and development.
How? By creating poetic and sensory narratives, always in harmony with the surrounding urban landscape, integrating the designed solutions with existing infrastructure, such as pedestrian paths. By incorporating nature and features that engage the senses and invite interaction, lending character to a space, encourage community engagement, and create a sense of place and a sense of belonging.
24th of August 2026 to 25th of September 2026
English
To be defined by each home higher education institutions.
All RUN-EU degree students, primarily students in design, landscape and built environment.
Please contact your Home International Relations Office (IRO).
Programme at a glance
Häme University of Applied Sciences
Lecture 30m + 2h
Socio-ecological systems + exercise
Lecture 30m + 2h
Creative Thinking + exercise
Colour Atmospheres + exercise
7 Sep - 11 Sep 2026 :
Häme University of Applied Sciences, Lepaa
MONDAY September 7
11:00 Lunch
12:00 - Welcome session 1h 30m - “find your way at HAMK, Lepaa” + program goal
12:30 | Lecture 30m - SES - systems
After outlining the principles of SES we focus on the project area.
13:00 | Lecture 30m | Relevance of qualifying public spaces for citizens' well-being.
14:00 | Lecture 1h
Lepaa - Site presentation
15:00 | Site visit + visit to Hämeenlinna 3h
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 8
9:00 | Team definition + Workshop and supervising teamwork 1h 30m
Landscape analysis (all together)
Collective brainstorm (by collaborative teamwork)
Create your Concept (ideation, narrative / story telling – Text / mood board / sketchbook)
10:30 | Q&A + discussion 45m
11:15 | Field trip 2h
13h15 Lunch
14:30 | Lecture 30m - Surprise guest
15:00 | Site visit or research or workshop / teamwork 2h30m
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 9
9:00 | Workshop and supervising teamwork 2h30m Create solutions and rapid prototyping (by sketching, digital or model-building). Validate or refresh your solutions (collaborative teamwork)
11:30 | Lecture 30m - Surprise guest
12:00 | Briefings (Q&A, daily reflections) 1h
13:00 Lunch
14:00 | Site visit or research or teamwork 3h30m
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 10
9:00 | Site visit or research or teamwork. 2h
11:00 | Workshop and supervising teamwork 2h
Create solutions and rapid prototyping (by sketching, digital or model-building). Validate or refresh your solutions (collaborative teamwork).
13:00 Lunch
14:00 | Workshop / team work 4h
Create solutions and rapid prototyping (by sketching, digital or model-building). Validate or refresh your solutions (collaborative teamwork). Presentation development
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 11
9:00 | Workshop / teamwork 4h. Presentation development
13:00 Lunch
14:00 | Supervising teamwork 3h
Presentation and discussion
WEDNESDAY 23 to FRIDAY 25 The days after Autonomous Group work; Project delivery 15h
Validate or refresh (part 2) - Re-analysis and reformulation of the proposal. Preparation of the final project presentation document.
Learning outcomes
By the end of this Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme, learners will be able to:
Understand the relevance of knowledge and enhancement of the territory and local cultural identities in the community well-being and happiness Create proposals for intervention in the public space that contribute to their environmental and cultural qualification, and to the promotion ofi ndividual and collective well-being. Apply critical thinking to provide practical solutions to problem-basedscenarios encountered in the field. Collaborate with others to achieve common goals.
Selection criteria
Students will be selected based on the fulfilment of requirements. Selection will always be based on submitted applications concerning motivation. The selection team will also take steps toward ensuring diversity and representativity.
Involved organisations and persons
Howest University of Applied Sciences
Partner Organisation- Els Denaeghel (Instructor)
Häme University of Applied Sciences
Lead Organisation- Sanni Virjula (Instructor)
- Sari Suomalainen (Lead Instructor)
Polytechnic University of Leiria
Partner Organisation- Carla Lobo (Instructor)
- Fernando Carradas (Instructor)
Other persons involved
- Sanna Korte (Regional Stakeholder)
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them. Grant Agreement Number: 101124674
