Purpose-Built Cities

From Commodity to Collective: Rethinking Housing Affordability in Jakarta

By |2025-12-23T10:42:38+01:00December 23rd 2025|Housing and Construction|

Community-led rumah flat in Jakarta show how housing can function again as a social good, not a speculative asset. Elisa Sutanudjaja traces this shift towards more just and affordable cities.

Purpose-Built Cities

The Mirage of Purpose-Built Cities

By |2025-12-02T15:24:53+01:00December 2nd 2025|Housing and Construction|

Gulf purpose-built cities like Masdar and NEOM often fall short of their grand visions, becoming underpopulated and more symbolic than lived. Yasser Elsheshtawy calls for more grounded, socially responsive approaches that prioritise everyday life over spectacle.

Communal Partnerships between Cities

Berlin and Mexico City: Rethinking Partnerships to Envision the Cities We Aspire To

By |2025-09-12T11:03:58+02:00September 16th 2025|General|

The Berlin–Mexico City partnership, part of the Sister Cities in Action project, shows how city collaborations can move beyond official ties and become dynamic, community-driven initiatives. Silvana Almaraz describes how, by equality, South–South learning, and intersectionality, the tandem creates inclusive spaces where civil society leads collective action.

Communal Partnerships between Cities

Bridging the Divide: Urban-Rural Linkages as a Pillar for Territorial Partnerships and Collaboration in East Africa

By |2025-09-03T08:54:22+02:00September 3rd 2025|Gender and Inequalities, General|

Urban–Rural linkages are key to sustainable growth. Jackson Kago explores how partnerships between cities and their hinterlands can drive inclusive development in East Africa.

Indigenous Urbanisation

Summer Reading List: Explore Indigenous Perspectives on Urban Spaces!

By |2025-08-20T08:52:32+02:00August 19th 2025|Gender and Inequalities, Integrated Planning|

Discover fresh Indigenous perspectives on urban spaces this summer! Dive into stories, studies, and insights from ancient cities to today's urban life worldwide. Explore. Reflect. Enjoy!

Climate Adaptation

Local Wisdom, Global Impact: The Cape Town Water Project

By |2023-11-08T14:50:39+01:00November 2nd 2023|Resilient Cities and Climate|

Community-level capacity building and knowledge co-creation are key to resilience and justice. Join Gina Ziervogel as she takes us to explore the Cape Town Water Project.

Conflict and Reconstruction in Cities

Healing the Wounds: How Public Spaces Foster Peace and Rebuild Communities in War-torn Aleppo

By |2023-11-08T15:14:02+01:00August 15th 2023|Integrated Planning|

During the war, public spaces can be drivers for resilience. Ghada Rifai explores the transformative potential of public spaces in post-conflict cities through the example of Aleppo in Syria.

Inequality in Cities

Women’s Collective Power: Driving Responsible Urban Development

By |2023-11-08T15:21:00+01:00August 1st 2023|Gender and Inequalities|

India is rapidly urbanising. However, the disparities that affect the poor and marginalised are glaring. Bijal and Chirayu Brahmbhatt discuss aspects of addressing these inequalities through women-led approaches towards a better future for all.

Cities built4climate

A School with a Soul: Eco-Friendly and Community-Driven Building in Cape Town

By |2024-01-04T16:32:15+01:00November 3rd 2022|Resilient Cities and Climate, Sustainable Infrastructure|

Sustainable building approaches are not only more environmentally friendly than conventional building methods – but they may also teach people how to avoid waste. Peter McIntosh, the founder of the Natural Building Collective, highlights the advantages through the example of Ulwazi Educare in Cape Town.

Young Voices

The (Urban) Relevance of Community-Making

By |2024-01-04T16:24:58+01:00August 25th 2022|Integrated Planning, Sustainable Infrastructure|

The approach of the Fundación Hogares understands the relevance of strengthening social cohesion in neighbourhoods to respond to city-scale challenges. José Roberto shares some valuable insights into how community organisations are shaping their surroundings in infrastructure as well as in inclusiveness.

LIVEABLE CITIES

“It Is Ok To Not Be Ok” – How A Mental Health Programme Changes A Community

By |2024-01-04T16:20:01+01:00May 19th 2022|Integrated Planning, Sustainable Infrastructure|

The Friendship Bench is a community-based mental health counselling programme in Zimbabwe. Dr Ruth Verhey reflects on the contributions of such programmes to liveable communities for all.

LIVEABLE CITIES

The New Face of Bogotá’s Bronx

By |2024-01-04T16:20:25+01:00May 17th 2022|Gender and Inequalities, Integrated Planning|

Bogotá's Bronx used to be an area infamous for crime and violence. Gabriel Ortiz van Meerbeke outlines how the arts and the cultural industry are transforming the area into a liveable district.

Global Citizenship Education – A Local Topic?

By |2025-02-18T12:35:31+01:00January 20th 2022|Good Governance|

Teaching and learning global citizenship may be a powerful answer to some of the most pressing challenges of our time. But how can cities approach this in their policies? Michelle Diederichs and Werner Wintersteiner on the potential of ‘local’ Global Citizenship Education.

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