As part of the 27th Conference of SIU 2026, MAINCODE presents a contribution titled “Prefiguring Change: Climate Shelters Between Collective Imaginaries and Adaptation Practices”. The contribution explores the role of urban climate shelters as public infrastructures that support climate adaptation through NbS, co-design processes, and principles of climate and social justice. Building on the experience of the DUT MAINCODE project, the contribution examines the potential of climate shelters in schoolyards to foster collective imaginaries, promote transformative adaptation practices, and support the transition towards more resilient, inclusive, and climate-responsive cities.