The underlying concept of this issue is regeneration, even though this does not appear explicitly in the title of each article. When the focus is on new growth, regeneration takes precedence over urban creation and expansion. When urban planners opt for new developments, they increasingly appear to fill urban gaps or empty spaces surrounded by infrastructure barriers, such as roads or railways. Two new approaches are gaining ground for these barriers: either they are converted into urban thoroughfares, or they are buried underground to create platforms that provide continuity. In any case, the urban fabric is being completed in a process that can be understood as regeneration on a city-wide scale.

Furthermore, the following must be emphasised: no projects are now carried out without citizen participation playing a central role. In some cases, innovative approaches that go beyond mere surveys or information sessions are being implemented. Workshops that often extend beyond the scope of the project to promote urban education are emerging. These enable citizens to engage with a greater understanding of the challenges faced by their city, its outskirts, and the surrounding rural areas. In some cases, walking tours or exploratory routes are introduced as an innovation, in line with Debord’s approach. These tours raise awareness of situations and values that one is not conscious of in everyday life.

Two further issues are increasingly shaping planning and development projects. The first is the need for land to be permeable, for drainage systems to be improved and for land to be returned to its natural state. This issue is linked to a firm commitment to improving mobility by limiting car use and gradually replacing it with more sustainable modes of transport, such as cycling. Efforts are also being made to eliminate car use entirely by creating pedestrian-only zones of various sizes. In these zones, accessibility must be prioritised without neglecting safety and health, while ensuring emergency and environmental services can operate effectively. This can be achieved without compromising the facilitation of economic activity by designing spaces and routes for goods delivery. Having highlighted these aspects, which appear at various scales in this issue, it is worth noting the capacity for innovation and design demonstrated by the different projects despite them facing common problems.

The uniqueness of this issue lies in the clear distinction of the Porto do Son beachfront improvement project (A Coruña). This project tackles the resolution of a recurring problem, not only on the Spanish coast but also in many locations where promenades were originally proposed along the coastline. These legacy projects often prioritised recreational use over the intrinsic value of the natural environment and its dynamics—issues which are now being brought to light by the force of climate change. The proposed solution is fully replicable in the common sequence of urban frontage (in this case, a park), the barrier created by tarmac paths and walls, and the beach. Recently, this spatial relationship has been disrupted by sand encroaching onto roads and parks. The solution involves establishing a transitional dune system between the beach and the existing park, while maintaining accessibility and connectivity with the city via transverse wooden walkways.

Another distinct project is the Comprehensive Plan for the Baixa district of Tarragona. This planning initiative is based on a thorough diagnostic process and a comprehensive action strategy. The diagnosis is structured around six key areas: urban planning, public space, transport, retail, culture, and community engagement. The latter is achieved through an online survey and exploratory walks, which are designed to foster a shared experience. Building on this, four strategic objectives have been set: 'Living in the neighbourhood' (housing and heritage); 'Coexisting in the neighbourhood' (facilities and amenities); 'Enjoying the neighbourhood' (public space and heritage enhancement); and finally, 'Revitalising the neighbourhood' (economic revitalisation). The set of proposals is organised into 11 lines of action and 25 specific actions, for which summary sheets are provided, along with their alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In terms of large-scale interventions, we have an area in Capelle, the Netherlands, centred around a shopping centre. This involves interventions in the metro and car park systems. The project aims to create a network of green spaces based on Kevin Lynch’s concept of the 'legible city'. Green infrastructure and climate adaptation are thus integrated with public spaces designed to improve urban navigation and local identity, creating focal points for everyday life.

Moving on to topics more closely related to urban design, we come to the article 'Regenerating a Vision of Landscape'. The project stems from the history of mining activity and the subsequent disaster caused by a dam breach. It also considers the community’s disconnection from natural cycles. The article's main focus is the significant theoretical reflection on territorial intervention and the destruction of the original landscape, proposing regenerative intervention through design as an intellectual concept brought into practice. This intervention is carried out in four areas: the central area, the football pitch, the symbolic area, and the park area. These areas are interconnected through various pilot projects; the article focuses on the public swimming pools and the central park. The community market and the culture and crafts centre in the latter stand out as a means of recovering collective memory through traditional practices, which are understood as anonymous, collective and permanent activities. The work is carried out from two complementary dimensions: an ecological dimension focused on restoring water cycles and a social dimension aimed at fostering community ownership and autonomy.

The ‘Regeneration of Urban Spaces in the Historic Centre of Olvera (Cádiz)’ project was conceived as a unique intervention in accordance with the 2016 Andalusian Public Space Regeneration Programme due to the site's status as a place of cultural interest. Olvera's town centre is densely built and located on a hill, making it difficult to access. The project focuses on the La Villa neighbourhood, located at the foot of the Nasrid castle, and aims to enhance the landscape quality of the urban sequence comprising the Church and Town Hall squares. It aims to connect these two locations, improve mobility and spatial quality, and intervene in four areas related to mobility, liveability, urban metabolism, increased biodiversity, and an improved urban landscape. Ultimately, the goal is to enhance the visual appreciation of the surrounding area, achieving a unified and inclusive perception of the area's character.

This issue showcases two square renovations, each on a different scale and in a different part of the world, with their own distinct objectives. The appeal of urban design lies in its ability to address layout and identity issues, regardless of scale. The smaller of the two projects is Plaça de Riells, which is defined by its well and the reddish earth of the site. The space is arranged with maximum simplicity, employing a 30 x 5 x 5 compositional module for all designed elements.

The 'Regeneration of the Andean City' project, which was implemented in the revitalisation of Bucaramanga's Centenario Park, is more complex. Conceived as a unifying element for the historic centre, the project is based on the idea of valuing public space as social, environmental and cultural infrastructure. It begins with a historical introduction, which is necessary in order to understand the initiative and its potential for replication in other medium-sized Latin American cities. The author proposes an educational and practical framework that sets out the steps required for new generations to drive rigorous and respectful landscape transformations. The aim is to promote collective well-being based on principles of spatial equity, urban quality, and spatial justice.

Finally, we have an intervention in a run-down urban area, namely a block in the historic centre of Toledo. Led by the City Consortium and backed by the New European Bauhaus, the project aims to make beautiful, sustainable architecture accessible to citizens. The project is based on the principle of integrating historic and contemporary architecture respectfully, which is sometimes difficult to achieve due to reluctance within the administration or among citizens. El Corral de Don Diego is a 'Comprehensive Regeneration Area'. It combines the regeneration of public spaces and housing to encourage population growth and promote local commerce, incorporating the Salón Rico, a BIC, into the scheme. The project emphasises the use of timber.

As a conclusion, the field of urban design is becoming increasingly vibrant, and we must recognise its contribution to improving the urban landscape, and consequently quality of life and well-being.