The PlaceCRAFT project was launched with a three-day conference in Budapest from 28–30 May 2025, co-organised by the Danube Ruralscapes project. Both projects are funded by the Interreg Danube Region Programme, primarily focusing on priority areas 3.3 and 4.2. On the first day, 28 May, the Department of Urban Planning at Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME) and the Contemporary Architecture Centre hosted an international conference titled “Challenges in the Rural Areas of the Danube Region”.

The event, held in the ceremonial hall of the main building of BME, gathered experts from Central and Southeast Europe to present 26 research projects and community initiatives across four thematic sessions.

The first session, titled “Regional Planning for Rural Identity and Development”, revisited the legacy of the DANUrB project and discussed new methodologies, such as the spatial planning of the Negotin wine region. Key topics included the spatial resilience of the Banat region and the urbanisation pressures experienced around Lake Balaton.

The second session, titled “Sustainability Goals in Rural Environments”, addressed the cultural significance of architecture, the challenges of adapting heritage to modern needs, and revitalisation efforts in Veliko Tarnovo, offering new ideas and inspiration for PlaceCRAFT's future residency programme.

In the third session, titled “Preserving Rural Heritage and Urban Landscape”, presenters showcased models for assessing rural heritage in Baranya and workshops led by Osijek students, emphasising multidisciplinary, problem-solving learning approaches.

The final session, titled “Community Engagement for Sustainable Rural Development”, highlighted strategies to reverse demographic decline, focusing on fostering youth entrepreneurship, digital integration, and eco-tourism. Innovations like the Smart Landscape Management Toolkit and the Tájtéka project in the Balaton Uplands demonstrated how community programmes, public services, and cultural activities can strengthen rural vitality.

The conference successfully established a platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration between experts, practitioners, and local communities. It showcased how integrating regional identity, sustainability, and community engagement can offer effective pathways for regenerating the rural areas of the Danube region.