SpongePlaces is a research-driven design and consultancy platform accelerating the
transition toward resilient, circular, and regenerative built environments. Rooted in
the Sponge City concept, it bridges Nature-based Solutions (NbS), Urban
Living Labs (ULLs), and Circular Urban Economies (CUEs) through applied research, spatial design,
and governance innovation.
Working across architecture, engineering, and policy, SpongePlaces integrates planning
frameworks and participatory co-design processes to transform neighbourhoods into adaptive
ecosystems — where water, materials, and energy cycles are locally retained, and
communities actively shape sustainable futures.
Manuel Higgs Morgado, Sustainable Design Engineer and Architect, specialises in NbS, CUEs,
and Sponge City strategies. His work connects urban design, environmental engineering,
and governance innovation, focusing on integrating ecosystem services and life-cycle assessment
into spatial and policy frameworks.
He has led interdisciplinary collaborations combining design research and sustainability
science, including the Spongetown Christiania project, which positions Christiania as an
Urban Living Lab for regenerative and circular transitions. As initiator of the BioMat
Copenhagen SpongePlaces Consortium for the 2025 DUT call, Manuel works with Prof. Dr. Arch.
Eng. Hanaa Dahy to advance the next generation of regenerative urban environments in
Europe and beyond.