Contemporary cities face challenges such as climate change, ecological emergencies, public health crises and the pursuit of spatial justice. Certain overlooked urban spaces, often dismissed as negative or devoid of value, hold potential and opportunities for innovative urban solutions. Known as Vacant Land, Terrain Vague, Urban Voids, or Brownfields, these neglected urban spaces are frequently underutilized, lacking specific functions, but where spontaneous nature thrives providing ad-hoc ecosystem services, and which are appropriated by diverse communities for informal uses. While theoretical literature addresses their potential, the connection between theory and practical application is limited, with a lack of organized frameworks to analyse associated strategies and policies. Such a framework could be instrumental in analysing the benefits, strategies, and policies associated with these spaces. Although usually perceived as mere assets for economic gain, often sold, built and developed just for profit, over the past two decades, innovative projects have emerged that challenge this profit-driven view, underscoring a shift toward a socio-ecological approach. This approach values the spontaneous qualities and informal uses of terrain vague spaces, integrating formal projects while preserving their unique characteristics, promoting and considering both environmental sustainability and public health. This paper proposes a socio-ecological framework through a comparative analysis of selected case studies. It begins with an introduction and definition of a socio-ecological approach derived from theory, followed by three case studies exemplifying this approach: Cody Dock (London), Regador (Lisbon), Krater (Ljubljana). Each case is analysed based on criteria such as scale, socioecological goals, community participation, and management models. The findings examine the interaction between theoretical principles and real-world practices, exploring these practices potential. By systematically organizing these emerging practices and drawing from diverse case studies, this paper seeks to offer actionable insights that can inform both policy and practice in reimagining the potential of terrain vague spaces.

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vacant land,terrain vague,urban ecology,community participation,urban regeneration