Wise Town Labs · Projects

Wise Town
Labs

Wise Town Labs are place-based research and action platforms where the Wise Town Framework is tested through research, education, civic dialogue, urban prototypes, architectural experimentation, and territorial partnerships.

They are not franchises or branches of a central institution. Each Lab is rooted in its own place and developed through collaboration between academic institutions, territorial actors, and the Wise Town Network.

Republic of Korea
Wise Town Lab Republic of Korea

Wise Town Lab — Republic of Korea

A foundational Asian node exploring Wise Town strategies for Korean cities through architecture, urban design, spatial research, civic prototypes, and Wise Town-related digital systems.

The Lab addresses shrinking cities, urban vacancy, industrial transition, coastal resilience, adaptive reuse, public space, new forms of presence beyond permanent population, and the development of digital tools for Wise Town research, mapping, learning, evaluation, and network operation.

Korea Lab 2
Korea Lab 3
Italy · Cilento
Wise Town Lab Cilento

Wise Town Lab — Cilento / Marina di Ascea

A Mediterranean territorial Lab rooted in the cultural, ecological, and civic landscape of ancient Elea-Velia and the Cilento region.

Cilento 1
Cilento 2
Cilento 3
Founding Labs
01

The first Wise Town Labs are the foundational nodes of the Network.

Thematic Lab

Wise Town Index Thematic Lab

A methodological Lab dedicated to the development of the Wise Town Index, territorial evaluation, learning indicators, and future certification frameworks.

Emerging International Labs
02

New Wise Town Labs are currently being discussed with academic and territorial partners in different international contexts.

These emerging Labs will follow the Wise Town Lab Accreditation Protocol and will be publicly announced once their institutional structure and territorial partnerships are confirmed.

China · In Preparation

Wise Town Lab — Lanzhou, China

In preparation with academic and territorial partners.

Vietnam · In Preparation

Wise Town Lab — Nha Trang, Vietnam

In preparation with academic and territorial partners.

How Labs Are Formed

Every accredited Wise Town Lab is based on three anchors.

01
Academic Anchor — research and scientific direction
02
Territorial Anchor — civic and public connection to place
03
Network Anchor — recognition, shared methodology, and integration into the Wise Town Network