HubCities: Infrastructure, Regional Identity and Adaptive Regionalism – Research Materials and Case Studies (Graz, Koper, Trieste)

This Zenodo record contains a comprehensive collection of research materials developed within the HubCities research framework, focusing on the role of transport and logistics infrastructure as a cultural, spatial, and identity-forming agent in contemporary European regions. The material explores how airport and seaport territories function as multiscalar hubs that connect local, regional, and transnational processes. Rather than treating infrastructure as a purely technical system, the HubCities approach conceptualises it as an active spatial structure capable of shaping regional identity, social practices, and long-term territorial resilience. The research is grounded in the theoretical perspective of Adaptive Regionalism, building on and extending critical regionalist thought by understanding place-specific characteristics as dynamic resources for transformation rather than static heritage. The dataset includes analytical texts, case-study documentation, cartographic and visual materials, and methodological outputs related to three European HubCities case studies: Graz (Austria) – airport surroundings as a driver of polycentric and adaptive urban development, Koper (Slovenia) – seaport infrastructure as a mediator between regional traditions and global logistics networks, Trieste (Italy) – the integrated system of port, airport, and railway infrastructure as a catalyst for urban and regional renewal. A key methodological component of the HubCities project is the integration of Citizen Science and participatory approaches, through which local knowledge, everyday mobility practices, and spatial perceptions are incorporated into spatial analysis and planning. The material documents how participatory data collection and qualitative insights complement cartographic and document-based analyses, contributing to socially grounded and spatially resilient development strategies. This collection supports the scholarly outputs of the HubCities project, including peer-reviewed articles and conference papers, and is intended to serve as a reusable resource for research, teaching, and further comparative studies in spatial planning, urban design, infrastructure studies, and regional development. The material may be particularly relevant for researchers and practitioners working on airport cities, port cities, metropolitan peripheries, and infrastructure-led transformation processes.