The Ziepju 11 site in Riga, Latvia, is undergoing significant renovation as part of the Desire project, focusing on sustainable and inclusive urban development. Originally a Soviet-era dormitory, the building has been vacant since 2018. The Riga Energy Agency is spearheading the renovation, aiming to transform the site into social housing and community spaces, with a strong emphasis on circular economy principles. Key challenges include addressing the building’s poor energy efficiency, integrating the local community, and overcoming the post-Soviet mentality of passive citizenship. The experimentation tests innovative procurement formats and engages various stakeholders through workshops, focusing on creating a vibrant, inclusive community. These efforts also align with Riga’s broader sustainable energy and circular economy policies. The goal of the experiment is to develop scalable models for community engagement in public spaces and improve the city’s social housing system. Initial successes include engagement with social housing residents, children, and people with mental disabilities, offering insights into how physical and social spaces can be redesigned to promote sustainability, belonging, and active citizenship.