Davor Meersman pt 2 – Wicked Problems: Migration, Housing, and Climate Change

What do affordable housing, migration, and climate change have in common? Davor Meersman explores how these interlinked crises require systemic solutions rather than isolated fixes. He shares insights from his research into urbanisation and global inequality, explaining why technological innovation alone isn’t enough—and how cities must rethink how they grow and develop.

Davor Meersman pt 4 – Carbon Sequestration, Sustainable Materials, and Open Source Design

Can the way we build houses help fight climate change? Davor Meersman discusses how wood construction can act as a carbon sink, the financial incentives behind carbon sequestration, and how open-source architecture can accelerate the shift to sustainable building practices. He also unpacks the economic models that could make nature-based materials the default choice in construction.

Davor Meersman pt 6 – The Next Generation of City Building:

Open Source, AI, and Community Design

Francesca Rizzo pt 2 – Multidisciplinary Thinking and the Future of Urban Innovation

What happens when architecture, urban studies, and design come together? Francesca Rizzo reflects on her unconventional path from multimedia communication and electronics to design-driven urban transformation. She highlights the importance of breaking down silos between disciplines and how cities can benefit from a more systemic, collaborative approach.

Francesca Rizzo pt 3 – Digital Twins, Public Space, and Citizen Engagement

Can digital twins help us plan better cities? Francesca Rizzo shares insights from projects that use technology to create digital models of urban spaces, from historic fountains to entire neighbourhoods. She explains how these tools can improve maintenance, support policy decisions, and help citizens visualise the impact of urban development.

Frank van der Hoeven pt 4 – Sustainability, Infrastructure, and the Future of European Cities

Massive infrastructure projects—from bridges to industrial ports—pose some of the toughest sustainability challenges. Frank van der Hoeven discusses the transformation of Rotterdam’s vast petrochemical hub, the role of bio-based solutions, and the difficult balance between economic transition and environmental responsibility. He also reflects on the strange beauty of industrial landscapes and what might come next for Europe’s largest port.

Jan Bunge pt 1 – Storytelling, Simulation, and the Future of City Design

Jan Bunge, a trained landscape architect turned digital strategist, discusses the power of narrative in urban planning. He explains how real-time 3D environments and interactive simulations help decision-makers, stakeholders, and the public understand complex urban projects. With a background in both design and communication, he explores why the way we present ideas is just as important as the ideas themselves.

Jan Bunge pt 2 – Digital Twins, Open Data, and Smarter Cities

Can we create a complete digital model of a city? Jan Bunge examines the promise and limitations of digital twins, discussing how data-driven urban planning can optimise resources and reduce waste. He argues that while a perfect digital twin is impossible, integrating fragmented data into a shared understanding of cities is the key to better decision-making.

Jan Bunge pt 3 – The New European Bauhaus and Rethinking Urban Development

How do we build better cities when decision-making is short-term and profit-driven? Jan Bunge reflects on the challenges of property development, risk aversion, and the barriers to innovation in the built environment. He considers whether public administration could once again become a space for radical, forward-thinking urbanism, and what role the New European Bauhaus can play in shifting priorities.

Jan Bunge pt 4 – Participatory Design, AI, and the Role of the Public in Urban Planning

Should non-experts help design cities? Jan Bunge explores how real-time interactive tools are changing public consultation, allowing communities to shape their environments in ways never before possible. From game-engine-driven urban planning to AI-assisted design, he discusses the delicate balance between expert knowledge and democratic participation in shaping the future of our cities.

Mia Roth-Čerina pt 5 – Technology, AI, and the Role of Data in Design

Is the digital transformation of architecture making cities smarter or dumber? Mia Roth-Čerina discusses the role of AI, big data, and digital tools in urban planning, questioning whether an overreliance on quantifiable metrics risks erasing lived experience. She also explores the balance between technological innovation and the fundamental principles of good design.

Roberto Cavallo pt 5 – Rethinking Architectural Education in the Digital Age

Education is no longer confined to the classroom. Roberto Cavallo discusses the shift towards participatory, learner-centred approaches in architecture, the rise of informal education through digital platforms, and the need for safe spaces where students can experiment and learn from failure. He also examines how institutions can open up to a broader audience through lifelong learning initiatives.

Selma Harrington pt 5 – Who Designs Our Cities? Community Engagement & Urban Planning

Should non-experts have a say in urban planning? Selma Harrington unpacks the role of public engagement in shaping the built environment, discussing digital tools like urban modelling and digital twins. She shares case studies of how visualisation has changed urban development and highlights the power of collaborative design in avoiding disastrous planning mistakes.

Sheela Patel pt 1 – Informality, Migration, and the Right to the City

Sheela Patel, founder of SPARC and a leading voice on urban informality, shares how decades of work with migrant communities in Mumbai shaped her understanding of survival, resilience, and the structural barriers facing the urban poor. She discusses the politics of displacement, the failures of city planning, and why informal settlements should be seen as solutions rather than problems.

Sheela Patel pt 3 – The New European Bauhaus and the Global South

Why is a community organiser from Mumbai advising the EU on architecture and design? Sheela Patel discusses her role on the New European Bauhaus high-level roundtable and how European policies influence—and sometimes harm—communities in the Global South. She challenges Europe to rethink its sustainability goals in a way that accounts for global responsibility rather than just local impact.

Sheela Patel pt 4 – Roof Over Our Heads: Housing, Digital Tools, and Climate Resilience

What does it mean to build for survival? Sheela Patel explores how extreme weather, poverty, and exclusion are forcing communities to innovate with whatever materials they have. She discusses the Roof Over Our Heads initiative, the role of digital tools in community learning, and how grassroots knowledge can shape more inclusive housing solutions.