Urbanistica Podcast - Cities for People
A podcast about how we plan and design cities for people. Host Mustafa Sherif, an urbanist and placemaker based in Sweden, interviews architects, urban planners, and designers about their projects, processes, and passions. The show is produced in collaboration with AFRY's Urban Planning and Design section in Stockholm.
Avsnitt
614. Welcome to Smart City Expo World Congress 3 – 5 NOV 2026 | BARCELONA
Want to attend the Smart City Expo in Barcelona on November 3–5, 2026? 🌍Urbanistica Podcast listeners get an exclusive discount! 🎟️Interested? Email me at info@mustafasherif.com for more details.Read more:https://www.smartcityexpo.com/In this episode: Ugo Valenti, Managing Director of Smart City Expo World Congress, joins Mustafa Sherif on Urbanistica Podcast to explore the future of smart cities,
613. AR ليث إنعيم | الجيل الجديد من معماريي العراق
كيف يمكن لشاب ما زال يدرس العمارة أن يبدأ بصناعة مساحة لنفسه ولجيل كامل من الشباب؟في هذه الحلقة نستضيف ليث إنعيم للحديث عن جيل جديد من الشباب المعماري في العراق؛ جيل لا ينتظر التخرج أو المسمى الوظيفي حتى يبدأ بالمشاركة وصناعة التأثير.ننطلق من بغداد وعلاقته بالمدينة والعمارة، ونتحدث عن التعليم المعماري وواقع الشباب في العراق، ثم ننتقل إلى تجربته من التطوع والمبادرات إلى بناء الفرق والقيادة وتحمل ال
612. What Makes a Neighborhood Successful? New Acres, London - Denz Ibrahim
Denz Ibrahim, Head of Futuring & Placemaking at L&G, London. Through New Acres in Wandsworth, London, we explore how placemaking can move beyond traditional real estate models and “cookie-cutter” development. Denz shares how New Acres combines homes, independent businesses, coworking, wellness, makers, public spaces and community activities to create a distinctive neighborhood with a stron
611. Welcome to Open House Architecture festival in Stockholm 2026
(Mustafa Sherif: Hello, listeners! I’m testing an AI-generated trailer for my full episode about the festival.)A conversation about Open House Stockholm, an architecture festival that opens the doors to around 100 buildings and places across Greater Stockholm.We explore this year’s theme, “Our Shared City – Architecture Where Life Happens,” and why everyday architecture matters. Read more here:htt
610. SWE Välkomna till Open House Arkitektur festival i Stockholm 2-4 oktober 2026 - Joanna Messmer
Ett samtal om Open House Stockholm och arkitekturfestivalen som öppnar dörrarna till stadens byggnader och platser.Vi pratar om årets tema ”Vår gemensamma stad: arkitektur där livet händer”, varför vardagens arkitektur förtjänar mer uppmärksamhet och varför människors delaktighet är viktig när vi formar våra städer. Vad är egentligen bra arkitektur – och vem är den till för?Festivalprogram finns a
609.SWE Samverkan som affärsmodell - Katrin Behdjou Arshi
Katrin Behdjou Arshi, chef inom stadsutveckling, gästar Urbanistica Podcast för ett samtal om stadsutveckling, samverkan och hur offentliga och privata aktörer tillsammans kan utveckla våra städer.Vi pratar om samverkan som affärsmodell, Collaborative Citymaking och hur fastighetsägare, kommun, näringsliv och civilsamhälle kan hitta gemensamma mål trots olika intressen. Katrin delar också erfarenh
608. Soft city & Think Softer - David Sim
David Sim, author of Soft City and founder of Think Softer, joins Mustafa Sherif for a conversation about how we can create cities that make everyday life better.David reflects on the ideas behind Soft City, happiness and quality of life, living with the weather, climate responsive design, AI, and why we should think smaller, lower, slower and simpler when shaping our cities.We also explore the im
607. Unknown Ground OYSTER26 seminars - Håkan Johnsson and Rosa Danenberg
Urbanistica Podcast is collaborating with OYSTER26, the international landscape architecture seminar taking place at Filmhuset in Stockholm on 25 September 2026.In this introduction episode, Håkan Johnsson, Landscape Architect LAR/MSA at Topia Landskapsarkitekter AB, and Rosa Danenberg, PhD, Urban Planner at SLU, introduce OYSTER26 and this year’s theme, “Unknown Ground”. We talk about the ideas b
606. Cities for cats - Julie Choi YongsanCats
Mustafa Sherif meets Julie Choi, founder of YongsanCats, who rescues street cats in Seoul.Julie shares how redevelopment and demolition affect animals already living in our cities, and how YongsanCats works to rescue, rehabilitate, foster, and rehome cats displaced by urban transformation.We talk about the relationship between people, animals, and place, the often invisible networks of everyday ca
605. SWE AI är inte bara en knapp du trycker på - Joakim Grönlund
I detta avsnitt av Urbanistica Podcast möter Mustafa Sherif Joakim Grönlund, Senior Visualization & AI Methodologist på Sweco, för ett samtal om hur generativ AI förändrar arkitekturvisualisering och design.Med 26 års erfarenhet av arkitekturvisualisering delar Joakim med sig av sin resa från traditionella visualiseringsmetoder till dagens snabbt växande värld av generativ AI. Vi pratar om nya
604. The Museum of Organisational Culture - Jenny Theolin
Jenny Theolin, (Entrepreneur, Learning Leader, Experience Designer, Facilitator, Curator, and Author) joins us to explore one of the most original ideas in the world of organisational culture: a museum.Jenny is the founder of the Museum of Organisational Culture (MoOC), the world's first museum dedicated to the artefacts, rituals, and inherited ways of working that shape how organisations func
603. AR. Architecture students from Iraq to the US - Midad & Sanna Al khafaji
نستضيف سنا ومداد الخفاجي، طالبتين عراقيتين من بغداد تدرسان العمارة خارج العراق، في حديث صريح ومفتوح عن تجربتهما الأكاديمية والشخصية.نتعرّف على بداياتهما في العراق، ولماذا اختارتا دراسة العمارة، وكيف كانت لحظة اتخاذ قرار السفر والدراسة في الخارج بكل ما رافقها من مشاعر ومخاوف. نمرّ معاً بتفاصيل رحلة التقديم إلى الجامعات، والإجراءات القانونية، وتدبير السكن، وصولاً إلى أول أيامهما الجامعية وكيف تأقلمت
602. SWE Staden, minnen och arkivets berättelser - Hampus Busk
Hampus Busk, Arkivarie & Arkivpedagog, Stockholms stadsarkivVad berättar en stad om sig själv och vem får bestämma vad som bevaras? I det här avsnittet träffar vi Hampus Busk, arkivarie och arkivpedagog på Stockholms stadsarkiv, som har ägnat sin karriär åt att förstå staden genom dess dokument, platser och minnen.Vi pratar om vad en arkivarie egentligen gör, varför vissa platser överlever gen
601. Social hållbarhet i praktiken - Viktoria Walldin
Viktoria Walldin, specialist inom social hållbarhet, White Arkitekter, Stockholm.Vi utforskar vad det egentligen innebär att bygga samhällen som fungerar för alla , och varför de sociala frågorna så ofta tappas bort på vägen från strategi till färdig plats.Viktoria delar med sig av konkreta erfarenheter från sina uppdrag, reflekterar kring miljonprogramsområdenas utmaningar och styrkor, och berätt
600. SWE Lumi – världens högst certifierade kontorshus - Jonas Wahlström
Jonas Wahlström, projektchef på Vasakronan, gästar och berättar om Lumi – ett av Sveriges mest ambitiösa återbruksprojekt och ett kontorshus i världsklass i centrala Uppsala.Siffror om Lumi:LEED Platina-certifiering, 99 poäng (högst poäng i Europa bland projekt och högst poäng i världen för kontorshus).Halverat klimatavtryck jämfört med nybyggnation: 170 kg CO₂e/m² BTA, att jämföra med 300–400 kg
599. SWE Arkitektur som berättelse med arkitekturhistorikern Martin Rörby
Martin Rörby är arkitekturhistoriker, författare och en tydlig röst i samtalet om stadens utveckling. För honom har staden många ansikten och består av lager av historia, människor och funktioner som tillsammans skapar en komplex helhet. Samspelet mellan gammalt och nytt fungerar bäst när vi förstår platsens kvaliteter och låter det nya bidra med något eget. Bevarande handlar inte om att frysa tid
598.SWE Att leda arkitektur i förändring - Christina Kazeem
Christina Kazeem, vd på LINK Arkitektur, delar sina perspektiv på arkitektbranschens största utmaningar och möjligheter.Vi pratar om de tre viktigaste frågor LINK ser i branschen just nu – från prispress och låga timarvoden till arkitektens förändrade roll och behovet av ny kompetens. Hur påverkar prisdumpning kvalitet, ansvar och långsiktighet? Kommer vi tillbaka till mer rimliga arvoden, eller ä
597. The Art and Science of Community Building - Engin Ayaz and Tala Al Ansari
Tala Al Ansari, Executive Advisor at ATÖLYE, and Engin Ayaz, Co-founder and CEO of ATÖLYE, explore how community-driven design is shaping the future of cities, organizations, and innovation.We dive into ATÖLYE’s journey from a small creative hub in Istanbul to a global multidisciplinary consultancy working across Europe and the Middle East. At the core of their work is a powerful idea: building st
596. Women After Dark book by Nourhan Bassam
Nourhan Bassam, (The Feminist Urbanist, CEO of The Gendered City, Asst. Professor of Feminist Urbanism) Author of the new book Women After Dark, reflects on how cities continue to exclude women and marginalised groups after sunset.Grounded in personal experience, feminist research, and a multi-year project with the FemDes Network, the discussion explores how the night intensifies inequalities rela
595. بين هندسة العمارة وريادة الأعمال: رحلة حسين آل طعمه
تتناول الحلقة تجربة حسين علي آل طعمه، طالب الهندسة المعمارية في الجامعة التكنولوجية في بغداد، الذي اختار أن يخوض طريقًا مختلفًا يجمع بين الدراسة وريادة الأعمال.من محاولات ومبادرات ثقافية ومجتمعية في سن مبكر، إلى العمل مع أكثر من 10 شركات والمساهمة في أكثر من 70 مشروعًا ضمن مجالات مختلفة، وصولًا إلى تأسيس شركة روّاد التمكين عام 2025 والعمل على مشاريع مثل غروسكو وتزكارو.لكن هذه الحلقة ليست فقط عن ال
594. Leveraging places - Chuck Wolfe
Audio note: The sound quality may not be the best, as AI-based noise reduction was used during a digital recording.Chuck Wolfe, author of three books on urbanism and place, lawyer, urbanist, and photographer, speaks about his journey from land use law into writing, observing, and shaping cities. He explores the meaning of “leveraging place” and how it differs from placemaking and place branding, w
593. Vems kultur får ta plats i staden? Sanda Tcacencu
Sanda Tcacencu, projektledare på Boo Folkets Hus, om platsutveckling, kultur och trygghet i våra städer.Vi pratar om kulturhusens roll som mer än bara byggnader – som demokratiska mötesplatser där gemenskap, identitet och delaktighet formas. Vems kultur får ta plats? Hur integreras kultur i platsutveckling och aktivering på riktigt?Sanda delar konkreta exempel från sitt arbete och reflekterar krin
592. Shrinking Cities - Anna Belinskaia
Urban Planner, Designer and Creative Strategist Anna Belinskaia discusses her master’s thesis Planning in Times of Less: Reimagining Shrinking Cities through the Case of Överkalix (KTH, 2025). The conversation explores how planning can respond to demographic decline and what it means to move beyond growth as the default goal.Anna shares her research questions, methodology, and why Överkalix became
591. SWE Allt ska ju äga rum, om staden och arkitektens roll - Christer Larsson
Christer Larsson, arkitekt SAR/MSA, tidigare stadsbyggnadsdirektör och adjungerad professor i arkitektur, samt grundare av AKTIEBOLAGETHELASTADEN, i ett samtal om arkitektur som samhällskraft. Vi diskuterar varför den byggda miljön – värd tusentals miljarder – sällan behandlas som en central samhällsfråga, och varför fokus behöver flyttas från nyproduktion till att ta bättre hand om det vi redan h
590. Decolonising Urban Planning & Feminist Refusal - Safa Charafi
Safa Charafi, Founder and CEO of Urban Inclusion, challenges Eurocentric and colonial approaches to urban planning, arguing for cities shaped by local knowledge, lived experience, and fairer power structures. The conversation explores how dominant Western models have erased indigenous practices — and why true decolonisation remains limited under extractive economic systems.A central theme is femin
589. Redefining Smart Cities with Mayor Maimunah Sharif
Audio note: Recorded in a busy event hall. Some background noise remains, despite AI-based noise reduction.Maimunah Mohd Sharif, Mayor of Kuala Lumpur and former Executive Director of UN-Habitat, shares her perspective on what it really means to build a smart city today.The conversation explores Kuala Lumpur’s smart city vision, key initiatives shaping the city, and the main challenges ahead. It a
588.SWE Vad är arkitektens värde idag? - Haval Murad
Haval Murad är arkitekt och VD för Detail Group. Samtalet rör sig mellan arkitektbranschens stora frågor och det personliga ledarskapet bakom ett växande kontor. Utgångspunkten är Detail Groups framgång i SISAB:s ramavtal, där företaget tog full poäng, ett resultat som väcker frågor om kvalitet, strategi och långsiktighet i en tid av hård konkurrens och pressade arvoden.Vi pratar om låga timpriser
587. What kind of year was 2025? with Sophie, an AI guest
Together with Sophie, an AI guest, we talk about the year’s biggest topics and trends, from AI and digital tools to climate resilience, placemaking, community voices, and the future of the profession. We also discuss what cities should stop doing, which skills planners need going forward, and what lessons we should carry into 2026.___Keep Up the Good Work. Keep Loving Cities ❤️️__All opinions expr
586.SWE Från skiss till verklighet: om trygghet, plats och framtidens landskap - Elli Standström
Hur kan man egentligen gestalta trygghet i våra städer – och vad innebär det i praktiken för en landskapsarkitekt? I det här avsnittet möter vi Elli Standström, landskapsarkitekt på AFRY, som delar med sig av sina tankar om att skapa platser som känns säkra, öppna och välkomnande – även när kraven krockar mellan buller, insyn och tillgänglighet.Vi pratar om hur barns perspektiv kan påverka utformn
585.SWE Samordning och platsaktivering i Järva, Nobel Week Lights - Maya Abdulla
Maya Abdulla, Samordnare, platsaktivering inom området för Strategi och Samordning, enheten trygghet och beredskap, Stockholms stad.In collaboration with Nobel Week Lights.Read more https://www.nobelprizemuseum.se/en/nobel-week-lights/___Keep Up the Good Work. Keep Loving Cities ❤️️__All opinions expressed in each episode are personal to the guest and do not represent the Host of Urbanistica P
584. Why Architects Keep Failing at Designing Skateparks - Skateparknation Axel Lindquist
Skate Nation is a Swedish initiative that helps integrate newly arrived youth through skateboarding. By offering free boards, coaching, and a welcoming community, they turn skating into a universal language, breaking barriers of background and language.In our talk, we explored how urban designers can create inclusive skateparks that invite everyone to participate and feel safe.We also discussed Sk
583. Streetlamp Grove Tensta Nobel Week Lights- Alexander Wolfe
Wolfe Design Studio is led by architect and artist Alexander Wolfe. His work blends art, architecture, and design through collaboration with a network of creators, builders, and technicians.Like Rabindranath Tagore’s poetry, the artwork explores themes of memory and harmony. Discarded streetlamps from the Transport Department are transformed by the artist Wolfe Design Studio into a glowing respons
582.SWE Moments of Peace Nobel Week Lights - Johan Stohne
JOHAN STOHNE är kompositör, ljuddesigner och musiker baserad i Stockholm.Moments of Peace är en ljus- och ljudinstallation bestående av tio upplysta bänkar placerade på Nobelprismuseets innergård. Besökare kan slå sig ner på bänkarna för att lyssna på utdrag ur tal av mottagare av Nobels fredspris. Talen ackompanjeras av nykomponerad musik. Talen som har valts ut av konstnären Johan Stohne kommer
581.AR رحلة المهندسة العراقية عذاري في مشاريع البنى التحتية
في هذه الحلقة نتحدث مع المهندسة العراقية عذاري في ستوكهولم عن رحلتها في عالم مشاريع البنى التحتية ومدّ خطوط الكهرباء في السويد. تشرح لنا كيف تُخطط وتُنفذ مشاريع الطاقة، من رسم الخرائط إلى الحفر ومدّ الكابلات تحت الأرض.نتناول أيضًا الجانب الشخصي من مسيرتها، وتجربتها كامرأة في مجال الهندسة، وكيف تحافظ على توازنها بين الحياة والعمل، ونصائحها للمهندسين الشباب.
580. SWE Astrofield Nobel Week Lights 2025
Astrofield är en interaktiv ljusinstallation som tar med besökaren ut i ett solsystem skapat av barns fantasi. Barnens egna planeter snurrar runt en lysande stjärna som förvandlar Sergels torg till ett fönster mot rymden.Genom att röra sig och utforska blir besökaren en del av upplevelsen, och hjälper till att sprida liv i universum. Det handlar om nyfikenhet, gemenskap och kraften i barns kreativ
579. How Can International Collaboration Shape Cities - Emma Shepherdson
Why does international collaboration matter in urban and community development? Isn’t local knowledge enough?In this episode, Emma Shepherdson — social sustainability specialist, Chair of Arkitekter utan gränser, part of ShiftSweden, and process leader at White Arkitekter — shares how cross-border learning builds trust, strengthens democracy, and sparks innovation in city-making.Emma takes us behi
578. Nobel Week Lights in Stockholm - Elise Cervin and Lara Szabo Greisman
Stockholm transforms into a glowing gallery during Nobel Week Lights. Our guests Lara Szabo Greisman, co-founder of the festival, and Elise Cervin, Outreach & Production for Tensta, share how art, science, and community meet through light.We explore the stories behind the installations, how the festival brings Nobel ideas to life in public space, and what it means to create connections from th
577. SWE Centralstaden - Daniel Markström
Daniel Markström, Regionchef ProjektutvecklingTillsammans utforskar vi varför Stockholms centralstationen och området runt omkring behöver utvecklas, och hur visionen ser ut för framtidens pulserande knutpunkt mitt i landet. Daniel berättar om hur processen har sett ut hittills, vilka aktörer som driver arbetet framåt och hur den internationella arkitekttävlingen landade i det vinnande förslaget –
576. AI Vision, Alerts & Robotic Dogs: Is This the Future of City Safety? – Micheline Hou
Micheline Hou, Sales Manager at Yuan High-Tech in Taiwan, introduces the next generation of AI-powered smart-city surveillance solutions. She explains how Yuan integrates cameras, edge-computing devices, NVIDIA Jetson technology, cloud platforms, and pre-trained AI models into a single end-to-end system. From real-time alerts and vision-language models to robotic patrol dogs and disaster-predictio
575. Placemakers’ Perspective on Smart Cities - Daniel Rádai , Milena Ivkovic , Mustafa Sherif and Päivi Raivio
Milan, Daniel, Päivi and Mustafa, four leading placemakers from across Europe, share their reflections after attending Smart City Expo in Barcelona. The discussion moves from digital twins and civic participation to the challenge of scaling up placemaking while keeping it inclusive, slow, and meaningful. This episode highlights the tension and potential between the “smart” and the “place,” showing
574. How Microclimate Simulations Shape Cooler Cities – Dr. Jiří Tencar
Jiří Tencar, Phd, founder and CEO of ECOTEN Urban Comfort, explains how urban microclimate simulation can help cities design cooler, healthier, and more resilient neighborhoods. From understanding thermal comfort to rethinking building geometry, greenery, and materials, Jiří shares real project insights on how data, climate science, and design come together. He also reflects on how planners and ar
573. How Robotic Cargo Drones Help Create Car-Free Cities – Jakob Saalfrank
Jakob Saalfrank, CEO of Grasshopper Air Mobility, shares how his team is building a new generation of heavy-payload cargo drones designed for seamless indoor-to-indoor logistics. With a background in startups, supply chain, and digital logistics, Jakob explains how Grasshopper’s fully automated, zero-emission drone system can fly long distances, drive the final kilometer, and transform aerial acce
572. How can Microsoft Copilot Studio help cities? – David Williams
David Williams, Director, Global Public Safety and Justice, Leader in Microsoft's worldwide government team.Microsoft Copilot Studio: Complete tasks and execute processes with agents for individuals, teams, or functions. Read more https://www.microsoft.com/en/microsoft-copilot/microsoft-copilot-studio?market=afIn collaboration with SMART CITY EXPO in Barcelona.Read morehttps://www.smartcityexpo.c
571. SWE Länsstyrelsens uppdrag i samhällsbyggandet – Tatjana Joksimović
Tatjana Joksimović, arkitekt SAR/MSA och enhetschef på Länsstyrelsen i Stockholm, delar sina erfarenheter från över 30 år inom stadsbyggnad i både Sverige och Serbien.Vi går igenom Länsstyrelsens uppdrag, dess plats i samhällsbyggandets hierarki och hur myndigheten samverkar med kommuner och regioner. Tatjana berättar om sitt team inom bostäder och fysisk planering, den främjande rollen, reglering
570. INNOVATE Stockholm book - Lyllian Abrahamsson
Lyllian Abrahamsson, Publisher of INNOVATE™ Stockholm, shares what inspired her to write the book and unpacks what truly makes Stockholm’s innovation ecosystem so unique — from collaboration and creativity to sustainability and inclusion.She talks about the three key factors that drive innovation, how she selected the inspiring companies, entrepreneurs, and changemakers featured in the book, and w
569. The 1st Prize winner of "Museum of Emotions #6" competition Natalie Battah
We’re joined by architect Natalie Battah, winner of the 1st prize in the “Museum of Emotions” competition. Natalie shares her journey from graduating at the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Stockholm to working on retail and villa projects in Mallorca, and now contributing to multi-family housing in Sweden.We dive into how she views architecture as a means to shape behaviour and influence we
568. SWE Spekulativ design - Beate Undén
Service Designern Beate Undén från AFRY Experience Studios gästar podden för att prata om spekulativ design – ett sätt att utforska framtiden genom kreativitet och fantasi.Hon berättar om projektet Värningsverket, som undersöker hur hållbar matproduktion kan se ut i Malmö år 2050, och delar sina tankar om passion, kreativitet och modet att tänka bortom det självklara.Läs mer om projektet https://v
567. SWE Byggekonomi och återbruk: vad kostar det egentligen? -
I dagens avsnitt pratar vi återbruk i byggsektorn tillsammans med byggekonom Dennis Bognar på AFRY. Vad kostar egentligen en återbrukad dörr, och varför är svaret mer komplext än man tror? Vi reder ut myterna om att allt kan återbrukas, att det är gratis och att det alltid ger stora besparingar.Dennis delar erfarenheter från riktiga projekt, hur branschen kan räkna hem både klimat- och ekonominyt
566. The art of conversation - Johannes Riegler, Robin Cox and Mustafa Sherif
Johannes Riegler, Host of Cities Reimagined Podcast, Robin Cox, Host of Good Place Podcast,Mustafa Sherif, Host of Urbanistica Podcast.We turn the microphone on ourselves to explore the craft behind podcasting about place, people, and projects. What makes a story stick—and what skills should placemakers develop to tell stories that move hearts and minds? Together, we’ll create a “recipe” for power
565. How local economies can thrive in a globalized world - Giulio Buciuni
Giulio Buciuni, Trinity College Dublin, Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Innovator; Associate Professor in Entrepreneurship & Innovation.Giulio explores how local economies can thrive in a globalized world. As Associate Professor and Associate Director of the M. Sc. in Entrepreneurship and Innovation, he has guided the next generation of innovators while shaping the study of entrepreneurial ecosystem
564. Mental health, cultural identity, and place-based healing - Ronke Oluwadare
Ronke Oluwadare: Social, organizational, and communication psychologist and psychotherapist.Ronke represents the crucial intersection of mental health, cultural identity, and place-based healing. Her dual expertise as a clinician specializing in minority stress and racial trauma, combined with her groundbreaking cultural work building bridges between Italy and Africa, offers profound insights into
563. Music, Placemaking and cities - Luciana Renner
Luciana Renner, Architect, radio host, and music selector. She combines her work in placemaking with sound projects that explore the relationship between city, memory, and music, such as Ciudades Sonoras on Radio Nopal and Daydream on Radio Escondido. She has performed at venues in Mexico City like Drama and Parker & Lenox.Instagram: @lucyrennerDaydream x Radio Escondido: https://www.youtube.c
562. Kolarec: Rural Placemaking and the Power of Community - Ivana Šatrak
Ivana Šatrak, mag.paed/PM & co-founder of NGO 'KORAK'. While cities often take the spotlight in placemaking, Ivana brings us a fresh perspective — from a small Croatian village called Kolarec, where she’s “cooking” a sequence of rural placemaking projects.In this heartfelt conversation, Ivana shares how Kolarec — once nearly destroyed by fire in 1938 and rebuilt through collective effo
561. Placemaking research project Plovdiv, Bulgaria - Mariya Badeva
Architect and PhD researcher Mariya Badeva joins Mustafa Sherif live from Placemaking Week Europe in Reggio Emilia, Italy. She shares insights from her research on placemaking, urban regeneration, and how cities like Plovdiv, Bulgaria can evolve through community participation and cultural heritage. A thoughtful look at how local action shapes global urban change.Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/mariabad
560. Global Cultural Districts Network - Gregorio Lucena Scarpella
Gregorio Lucena Scarpella (Director of Global Cultural Districts Network) .The Global Cultural Districts Network (GCDN) is committed to improving the quality of urban life through the contribution of the arts, culture, and the creative industries.GCDN members represent policymakers, planners, and executives from widely diverse international contexts, all working at the intersection of culture and
559. DearNeighbour Romania - Sabina Mihailescu
Sabina Mihailescu (Co-founder & GM, DearNeighbour and IntreVecini)At DearNeighbour (RO name: IntreVecini), they focus on placemaking and community-driven initiatives, creating spaces and opportunities where neighbors can collaborate and shape the future of their cities together. Up until now, they have created over 100 communities in 32 cities in Romania, helping 15,000 neighbours create over
558. Smart City Expo World Congress 2025 in Barcelona - Ugo Valenti
Our host Mustafa Sherif kicks off Urbanistica Podcast’s special collaboration with Smart City Expo World Congress 2025 in Barcelona.He speaks with Ugo Valenti, the event’s Director, about the evolution of the smart city concept, from tech-driven beginnings to a human-centered movement.We are giving 25% discount codes . Please email info@mus
557. Rural placemaking - Elena Giunta , Sven Kohlschmidt and Emilia Pardi
We meet Emilia Pardi (PUSH), Sven Kohlschmidt (urbanista / Simeri Laboratorio Urbano), and Elena Giunta (SHIFT) to explore how placemaking can strengthen small towns and interconnected settlements, the “distributed city” model typical of the Reggio Emilia region.This conversation dives into the opportunities and challenges of rural placemaking, highlighting communities facing demographic decline,
556. Playful Placemaking - Giorgia Floro and Lorenza Salati
We meet Giorgia Floro and Lorenza Salati to talk about “Pensare con i Piedi – Playful Placemaking”, a project funded by the Bosch Alumni Network. Inspired by Osvaldo Soriano’s work and rooted in the radical placemaking legacy of Gibellina (Sicily), they reflect on how fun and playfulness can become powerful tools for reimagining public spaces.They share insights from their recent workshop at the C
555. When Inclusion Excludes - Donica Buisman and Hans Karssenberg
Hans Karssenberg (Partner / Board Member, Stipo) and Donica Buisman (founder/ director, RAUM) discuss lessons from RAUM’s work in Utrecht and research by STIPO revealing how even inclusive practices can unintentionally exclude. Through real-life examples and reflection on unconscious bias, they explore practical tools for creating public spaces shaped by all communities.___In collaboration with Pl
554. Placemaking in Academia - Katusha Sol and Romee Nicolai
Bicycle Mayor of Amsterdam and former Placemaking University of Amsterdam student Romee Nicolai and Drs. Katusha Sol, teacher and education developer University of Amsterdam, explore how universities can cultivate a new generation of placemakers. Together, they discuss the evolution of placemaking education at the University of Amsterdam, the challenges of embedding it for the long term, and the e
553. Healthy Cities - Ruth Gow McLenachan and Celia Garcia Albertos
Why should urban planners prioritize health? In this episode, we explore the value of integrating health into urban planning, beyond sustainability alone. We discuss how communities can shape healthier cities, examine real-world examples of cities leading the way, and unpack the challenges they face. Finally, we look ahead to the biggest opportunities for creating healthier urban futures over the
552. Cultural placemaking - Bruno Costa and Daniel Vilar
We unpack the idea of cultural placemaking and how it differs from traditional urban development. We explore why artists and cultural organizations should play a bigger role in shaping cities, how participation can turn audiences into co-creators, and whether temporary events can spark lasting change. We close with a key takeaway for every placemaker—a single idea, tool, or provocation to carry fo
551. Holding Her Fall (Elderly women)
This episode explores cross-cultural placemaking through emotional storytelling games, based on interviews and walks with elderly women in the Netherlands, Italy, China, and Ethiopia. We trace life choices from youth to old age, opening conversations on care, independence, and belonging. Developed by Spring Onion Atelier with international collaborators, it offers fresh ways to weave emotion, memo
550. Walls Talk (Street Art) - Anna Stolyarova
Anna Stolyarova, Founder of Stichting Street Art Museum Amsterdam (SAMA).we explore how street art and storytelling can amplify the voices of communities often unheard in urban spaces. We discuss how co-creating murals fosters inclusion and belonging, the challenges artists and communities face when using art for social change, and the powerful role of storytelling in strengthening community ident
549. The Power of Drawing - María Tula García Méndez
María Tula García Méndez, architect and urban planner.We dive into the power of drawing as a way to reconnect with the hidden layers of our cities. Together with Maria, we trace forgotten waterways through stories and on-site chalk drawings, exploring how creative, place-based actions can deepen our emotional connection to place and highlight the relationship between urban design and natural cycle
548. The story of Reggiane Parco Innovazione - Luca Torri
Luca Torri CEO, STU Reggiane - Reggiane Parco InnovazioneThe Parco Innovazione was the main venue for Placemaking Week Europe. In this episode, we hear the story of this place.The Reggiane Innovation Park represents a territorial hub for industrial research and technological transfer, able to stimulate and facilitate collaboration between companies, research laboratories, creatives, and investors
547. Urban Furniture Lab in Doha - Reem Al-Muraikhi and Isabella Rossen
We spotlight Qatar Museums’ Urban Lab and its innovative approach to reimagining Souq al Haraj in Doha. In this episode, we discuss the Urban Furniture Lab project and explore how collaborative design interventions can transform public spaces, turning traditional markets into dynamic civic laboratories for creativity and community engagement.Guests:Reem Al-Muraikhi, Architect LinkedIn: https://www
546. Digital placemaking with marginalized communities - Sirin Hassan and Vineeta Shetty
Digital Placemaking with Marginalized Communities, focusing on indigenous and marginalized groups from across four regions share how placemaking becomes a form of resistance and empowerment. From Palestinian activists using digital storytelling, to Indian practitioners mapping ancestral lands, this global dialogue shows how technology and placemaking together can amplify erased voices and reconnec
545. Placemaking in Tehran - Mahdi Haghi
Mahdi Haghi shares insights from ten years of placemaking in Tehran, exploring how public space interventions address urban decay, build community resilience, and foster civic engagement within a top-down municipal system. He highlights key projects, methods, and inclusive strategies involving Afghan migrants, tenants, women, and children, while reflecting on lessons learned and the future of plac
544. Placeshaping for Climate Resilience - Lisa Taylor
This episode explores how placeshapers can take a more active role in climate resilience and adaptation, moving from “why” to “how” in driving tangible change. We discuss intergenerational learning and leadership transition within placemaking movements, and the role of independent facilitators in building trust, connecting stakeholders, and co-designing better places.Lisa Taylor, Director, Coheren
543. Trenčín 2026 European Capital of Culture - Hana Laššová and Omar Mirza
We explore how the city of Trenčín, Slovakia is reimagining its public spaces ahead of Trenčín 2026 – European Capital of Culture. The conversation highlights the City Reimagined project, which transforms everyday urban spaces into lively, people-centered places through both small placemaking interventions and large-scale infrastructure and strategic initiatives. As part of the Cities in Placemaki
542.AR من المنسي إلى المفضل: عن صناعة المكان في القاهرة وما بعدها - عمر زهران
كيف يمكن للتراث، والسينما، والمجتمع أن يعيدوا تخيّل مستقبل مراكز المدن؟ في هذه الحلقة، نستضيف المهندس عمر زهران لنتتبع رحلته من مهندس معماري شاب إلى صانع مكان عالمي، ونكتشف المكوّنات السرّية لإحياء وسط المدن.نتحدث عن القاهرة كذاكرة حية، والسينما كأرشيف عمراني، ودور الشباب والمجتمع في صناعة المكانللتواصل مع عمر على LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/omarzahran27/ Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com
541. Planning and Placemaking - Roland Krebs
Roland Krebs, Director of Superwien urbanism, Vienna Austria.Connect with Rolandhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/rolandkrebs/https://www.instagram.com/superwien.architektur.urbanism/www.superwien.com___In collaboration with Placemaking Week Europe 2025 in Reggio Emilia. Read more: https://placemaking-europe.eu/pwe/reggio-emilia-2025/__Keep Up the Good Work. Keep Loving Cities ❤️️__All
540. The Zero Empty Spaces model in the U.S - Evan Snow
Evan Snow, Co-Founder / Managing Partner of Zero Empty Spaces. Zero Empty Spaces is a company that revitalizes underutilized commercial real estate by converting vacant retail, restaurant, bar, and office spaces into creative, community-oriented hubs. They offer specialized models for artists, culinary ventures, retail brands, and mixology, combining lease-management, activation, and community pro
539. Systems Thinking in urban design - Abdul Wasae Syed
Abdul Wasae Syed, Building & Architectural Engineer | Founder & Strategic Designer @ EcoSpectrals & Kognitions | Urbanist @ IMM Design Lab, Politecnico di MilanoLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/abdul-wasae-syedInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/kognitions/In collaboration with Placemaking Week Europe 2025 in Reggio Emilia. Read more: https://placemaking-europe.eu/pwe/reggio-emilia-202
538. Why Businesses, Not Governments, May Hold the Keys to Sustainable Cities - Marcos Gold
Marcos Gold, Director of Policy and Place, UK.In this episode, we explore why businesses—not governments—may hold the keys to building sustainable cities. From the agility of Business Improvement Districts to the difference between real action and greenwashing, we unpack how private actors can drive change faster than traditional planning. We also tackle the social challenges of urban improvement
537. The Future of Railway Stations in Cities - Alice Lunardon
Arch. PhD Alice LunardonLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alice-lunardon-69622b63/New Publications:Lunardon, A.; Vladimirova, D.; Boucsein, B. How railway stations can transform urban mobility and the public realm: The stakeholders’ perspective, Journal of Urban Mobility, Volume 3, 2023 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667091723000031New Projects:RAIL4CITIES - Railway statio
536. Why street dance matters for placemaking - Stephanie Hápp
Stephanie Hápp, Street dancer, Intern at Placemaking EuropeHer Master’s thesis on placemaking through street dance, you can read more about it here https://placemaking-europe.eu/2025/why-street-dance-matters-for-placemaking/?mc_cid=db36917526&mc_eid=c77ca179d5Get in touch with Stephanie on LinkedIn herehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-t-happ-27bb67378/___In collaboration with Placemaking
535. OBEL Award and HouseEurope! - Alina Kolar and Jesper Eis
In this episode, we sit down with Alina Kolar of HouseEurope! and Jesper Eis, Director of OBEL.OBEL is a foundation that recognises and rewards architecture's potential to act as a tangible agent of change.This year, the OBEL Award went to HouseEurope!, a citizen-led initiative advocating for a radical shift in Europe's housing culture, calling for renovation over demolition to fight specu
