Climate changes, sixths mass extinction, use of naturalenvironment and extreme landscape transformation have beenbringing question of long, sustainable future. Broadly accepted‘growth paradigm’ has been reaching ecological limits on theplanetary level (Steffen et al., 2015). On the local level Szczecincity, with its rural region, localized in West Pomerania Voivodeship(Poland), has been already facing the ecological challenges.More than that, through ‘growth paradigm’ also the internalpermineralization and social exclusion. Broadly accepted strategy,based on neoliberal model of economy, focusing on developingregion on its economical level, what has no direct translation intoquality of living of its citizens. Dependence, lack of resilience andso called developing ‘undevelopment’ (Sowa, 2011) addressingneed of search for strategies ‘beyond growth’ (Ciesiółka, Motek,Kołsut, Stryjakiewicz, & Kudłak, 2017). Focusing on landscapeadaptation and strengthening the regional community, thebioregionalism as a framework, has been opening alternativevision for spatial planning, as field responsible for developmentconcepts. Following project, has been focusing on the explorationof the bioregional approach and its possibilities as the spatialplanning framework. Using the ‘research by design’ methodology,the spatial strategy for Szczecin functional area give a possibilityto answer cross-scale problematic (Carr, 2004): ecological (climateadaptation with biodiversity lost) and social (low social capital,exclusion and lack of social services).

The Metropolitan Region of Amsterdam (AMA) has proposed a transition from its current linear economic model to a circular one (Sustainable Amsterdam, 2015). However, the proposed strategy is based mainly on the participation of actors from the world of business and industry, relegating social actors to a peripheral level of its implementation. Additionally, the region is experiencing an important process of floating population in which we can identify different groups: students, expats, tourists and commuters. This process is influencing trends of gentrification, ethnic segregation, and suburbanization and is expected going to increase in the future. The project that we propose seeks to connect communities and material chains from an integrated approach, social and economical. The project is based on the incorporation of the students through the region as a pioneer group for sustainable, economic and social development. Students represent a social capital that is necessary for the development of the region. However, at the same time they are a group that currently is experiencing vulnerability and lack of integration. In this way, through a multi-scale study and an urban acupuncture strategy, the location of this group is projected into strategic areas in order to encourage social sustainability and inclusive economic development.