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Urbanistica Podcast - Cities for People

Urbanistica Podcast - Cities for People
Author: Mustafa Sherif
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© Mustafa Sherif
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A podcast about how we plan and design cities for people. Tune in and join listeners from over 145 countries.
I'm Mustafa Sherif, an Urbanist, Placemaker and studio manager based in Sweden. In this podcast, I interview people working in architecture, Palcemaking, urban planning and design about their projects, processes, methods, handbooks, challenges, leadership, and passions in life.
It’s not just about projects, it’s about the people behind projects.
In collaboration with AFRY (Urban Planning and Design section in Stockholm).
I'm Mustafa Sherif, an Urbanist, Placemaker and studio manager based in Sweden. In this podcast, I interview people working in architecture, Palcemaking, urban planning and design about their projects, processes, methods, handbooks, challenges, leadership, and passions in life.
It’s not just about projects, it’s about the people behind projects.
In collaboration with AFRY (Urban Planning and Design section in Stockholm).
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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, memory, and empathy into design.Guests:Jammy Zhu, Co-founder of Spring onion atelier https://www.linkedin.com/in/jammy-zhu-4765b556/Yang Zhang, Co-founder of Spring onion atelierhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/yang-zhang-architect/Chun Hoi Hui, Co-founder of Spring onion atelierhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/chun-hoi-hui/and Meron Girma Woldeyohannise, Collaborator to Spring Onion Alterlier https://www.linkedin.com/in/meron-girma-woldeyohannise-b40b9734/Instagram to spring onion atelier:https://www.instagram.com/springonionatelier/___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 opinions expressed in each episode are personal to the guest and do not represent the Host of Urbanistica Podcast unless otherwise stated.__Let's connect and talk further about this episode Mustafa Sherif Linkedin.Visit Mustafasherif.com for collaborations and nominations or email me at info@mustafasherif.comFollow Urbanistica onInstagram , TikTok, Facebook & Youtube channel.Thanks to Urbanistica Podcast partner AFRY (Urban Planning and Design)AFRY is an international engineering and design company providing sustainable solutions in the fields of energy, industry, and infrastructure.
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 cycles.Links to Maria:LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariatulagarciamendez/ Portfolio https://mirardibujar.portfolio.site/___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 opinions expressed in each episode are personal to the guest and do not represent the Host of Urbanistica Podcast unless otherwise stated.__Let's connect and talk further about this episode Mustafa Sherif Linkedin.Visit Mustafasherif.com for collaborations and nominations or email me at info@mustafasherif.comFollow Urbanistica onInstagram , TikTok, Facebook & Youtube channel.Thanks to Urbanistica Podcast partner AFRY (Urban Planning and Design)AFRY is an international engineering and design company providing sustainable solutions in the fields of energy, industry, and infrastructure.
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. The Innovation Park contributes to identifying potential future challenges and opportunities in the market, working on strategic skills, and creating an “innovation chain”. In this place, education for creativity and change allows the productive world to dialogue and intersect with scientific, technological, and humanistic knowledge.Read more here: https://parcoinnovazione.it/en/reggiane-parco-innovazione-eng/___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 opinions expressed in each episode are personal to the guest and do not represent the Host of Urbanistica Podcast unless otherwise stated.__Let's connect and talk further about this episode Mustafa Sherif Linkedin.Visit Mustafasherif.com for collaborations and nominations or email me at info@mustafasherif.comFollow Urbanistica onInstagram , TikTok, Facebook & Youtube channel.Thanks to Urbanistica Podcast partner AFRY (Urban Planning and Design)AFRY is an international engineering and design company providing sustainable solutions in the fields of energy, industry, and infrastructure.
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 reconnect fragmented communities.Guests:Sirin Hassan (Activist Architect, Placemaker & Social Entrepreneur). LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/sirin-hassan-a730a0109/andVineeta Shetty, Founder at The Smart Citizen, Convenor at Placemaking India. LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/vistara/ ___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 opinions expressed in each episode are personal to the guest and do not represent the Host of Urbanistica Podcast unless otherwise stated.__Let's connect and talk further about this episode Mustafa Sherif Linkedin.Visit Mustafasherif.com for collaborations and nominations or email me at info@mustafasherif.comFollow Urbanistica onInstagram , TikTok, Facebook & Youtube channel.Thanks to Urbanistica Podcast partner AFRY (Urban Planning and Design)AFRY is an international engineering and design company providing sustainable solutions in the fields of energy, industry, and infrastructure.
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 placemaking in Tehran and beyond.Connect with Mahdi viaMahdihaghi90@gmail.comLinkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/mahdihaghi
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, Coherent Cities, Future of Greater Manchester, Future of LondonCo-founder - Place Collective UK.LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/lisactaylor___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 opinions expressed in each episode are personal to the guest and do not represent the Host of Urbanistica Podcast unless otherwise stated.__Let's connect and talk further about this episode Mustafa Sherif Linkedin.Visit Mustafasherif.com for collaborations and nominations or email me at info@mustafasherif.comFollow Urbanistica onInstagram , TikTok, Facebook & Youtube channel.Thanks to Urbanistica Podcast partner AFRY (Urban Planning and Design)AFRY is an international engineering and design company providing sustainable solutions in the fields of energy, industry, and infrastructure.
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 Placemaking program, the episode delves into collaborative approaches, key lessons, and the power of placemaking to shape more vibrant and inclusive cities.Ing. arch. Hana Laššová – Project Manager for Public Space, Trenčín 2026 (Slovakia)https://www.linkedin.com/in/hana-la%C5%A1%C5%A1ov%C3%A1-690366227/Mag. phil. Omar Mirza – City Curator, City of Trenčín (Slovakia)https://www.linkedin.com/in/omar-mirza-921ab5297/___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 opinions expressed in each episode are personal to the guest and do not represent the Host of Urbanistica Podcast unless otherwise stated.__Let's connect and talk further about this episode Mustafa Sherif Linkedin.Visit Mustafasherif.com for collaborations and nominations or email me at info@mustafasherif.comFollow Urbanistica onInstagram , TikTok, Facebook & Youtube channel.Thanks to Urbanistica Podcast partner AFRY (Urban Planning and Design)AFRY is an international engineering and design company providing sustainable solutions in the fields of energy, industry, and infrastructure.
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/omarzahran25/___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 opinions expressed in each episode are personal to the guest and do not represent the Host of Urbanistica Podcast unless otherwise stated.__Let's connect and talk further about this episode Mustafa Sherif Linkedin.Visit Mustafasherif.com for collaborations and nominations or email me at info@mustafasherif.comFollow Urbanistica onInstagram , TikTok, Facebook & Youtube channel.Thanks to Urbanistica Podcast partner AFRY (Urban Planning and Design)AFRY is an international engineering and design company providing sustainable solutions in the fields of energy, industry, and infrastructure.
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 opinions expressed in each episode are personal to the guest and do not represent the Host of Urbanistica Podcast unless otherwise stated.__Let's connect and talk further about this episode Mustafa Sherif Linkedin.Visit Mustafasherif.com for collaborations and nominations or email me at info@mustafasherif.comFollow Urbanistica onInstagram , TikTok, Facebook & Youtube channel.Thanks to Urbanistica Podcast partner AFRY (Urban Planning and Design)AFRY is an international engineering and design company providing sustainable solutions in the fields of energy, industry, and infrastructure.
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-2025/__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 Podcast unless otherwise stated.__Let's connect and talk further about this episode Mustafa Sherif Linkedin.Visit Mustafasherif.com for collaborations and nominations or email me at info@mustafasherif.comFollow Urbanistica onInstagram , TikTok, Facebook & Youtube channel.Thanks to Urbanistica Podcast partner AFRY (Urban Planning and Design)AFRY is an international engineering and design company providing sustainable solutions in the fields of energy, industry, and infrastructure.
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 stations as promoters of sustainable cities. From EU-RAIL JU Call Proposals 2022-02 (HORIZON-ER-JU-2022-02)__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 opinions expressed in each episode are personal to the guest and do not represent the Host of Urbanistica Podcast unless otherwise stated.Let's connect and talk further about this episode Mustafa Sherif Linkedin.Visit Mustafasherif.com for collaborations and nominations or email me at info@mustafasherif.comFollow Urbanistica onInstagram , TikTok, Facebook & Youtube channel.Thanks to Urbanistica Podcast partner AFRY (Urban Planning and Design)AFRY is an international engineering and design company providing sustainable solutions in the fields of energy, industry, and infrastructure.
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 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 opinions expressed in each episode are personal to the guest and do not represent the Host of Urbanistica Podcast unless otherwise stated.__Let's connect and talk further about this episode Mustafa Sherif Linkedin.Visit Mustafasherif.com for collaborations and nominations or email me at info@mustafasherif.comFollow Urbanistica onInstagram , TikTok, Facebook & Youtube channel.Thanks to Urbanistica Podcast partner AFRY (Urban Planning and Design)AFRY is an international engineering and design company providing sustainable solutions in the fields of energy, industry, and infrastructure.
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 speculation, displacement, and carbon emissions.Together, we discuss how OBEL is spotlighting architecture's political agency, and how HouseEurope! is mobilizing citizens across the EU to turn housing activism into legislation.Link to HouseEurope!'s ECI: https://eci.ec.europa.eu/052/public/#/screen/home__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 Podcast unless otherwise stated.Let's connect and talk further about this episode Mustafa Sherif Linkedin.Visit Mustafasherif.com for collaborations and nominations or email me at info@mustafasherif.comFollow Urbanistica onInstagram , TikTok, Facebook & Youtube channel.Thanks to Urbanistica Podcast partner AFRY (Urban Planning and Design)AFRY is an international engineering and design company providing sustainable solutions in the fields of energy, industry, and infrastructure.
Läs mer om programmet 3-5 okt 2025 och Open House Arkitektur festival härhttps://www.openhousestockholm.com/Om festivalen Open House Stockholm syftar till att involvera allmänheten i stadens utveckling och stimulera intresset för arkitektur och samhällsbyggande. Open House Stockholm är en del av det globala nätverket Open House Worldwide samt har ett treårigt samarbetsprojekt med Open House Europe.__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 Podcast unless otherwise stated.Let's connect and talk further about this episode Mustafa Sherif Linkedin.Visit Mustafasherif.com for collaborations and nominations or email me at info@mustafasherif.comFollow Urbanistica onInstagram , TikTok, Facebook & Youtube channel.Thanks to Urbanistica Podcast partner AFRY (Urban Planning and Design)AFRY is an international engineering and design company providing sustainable solutions in the fields of energy, industry, and infrastructure.
I detta avsnitt möter vi Rebecca Rubin, som rör sig mellan forskning, undervisning och praktiskt arbete med fokus på hur arkitektur kan bidra till jämlikhet i vardagen. Vi pratar om hennes erfarenheter från London som Mayor’s Design Advocate, hennes roll som hållbarhetschef på Hemvist och den kommande masterkursen på KTH. Samtalet kretsar kring arkitektens roll i en tid av växande sociala klyftor, framtidens städer och hur yrket kan förändras i takt med AI och samhällsutveckling.__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 Podcast unless otherwise stated.Let's connect and talk further about this episode Mustafa Sherif Linkedin.Visit Mustafasherif.com for collaborations and nominations or email me at info@mustafasherif.comFollow Urbanistica onInstagram , TikTok, Facebook & Youtube channel.Thanks to Urbanistica Podcast partner AFRY (Urban Planning and Design)AFRY is an international engineering and design company providing sustainable solutions in the fields of energy, industry, and infrastructure.
Gil Penalosa, urbanist and founder of Cities 4 Everyone, known for his belief that “cities should work equally well for an 8-year-old and an 80-year-old.”Gil shares lessons from working in 350+ cities worldwide, his transformative work as Bogotá’s Parks Commissioner creating hundreds of parks and scaling up the Ciclovía, and his run for Mayor of Toronto. He explains what makes public spaces successful, the biggest challenges cities face today, and how to start building more equitable, people-centered communities.On a personal note, Gil reflects on his background, what drives him, and offers advice for students and listeners on shaping the future of cities.More about Gilhttps://cities4everyone.ca/__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 Podcast unless otherwise stated.Let's connect and talk further about this episodeMustafa Sherif Linkedin.Visit Mustafasherif.com for collaborations and nominations or email me at info@mustafasherif.comFollow Urbanistica onInstagram,TikTok,Facebook &Youtube channel.
Rikard Espling, initiativtagare/grundare Open HouseStockholm, och Joanna Messmer, projektchef Open House Stockholm TIllsammans driver de FADEN Projektledning AB.I det här avsnittet möter vi arrangörerna bakom Open House Stockholm – festivalen som i tio år har öppnat dörrar till stadens mest spännande byggnader. Vi pratar om idén som startade allt, de största milstolparna och utmaningarna på vägen, samt samarbeten med partners och internationella nätverk. Joanna och Rikard tar oss med bakom kulisserna och delar med sig av både minnen och framtidsvisioner, där årets tema Future Heritage står i fokus.Läs mer här https://www.openhousestockholm.com/__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 Podcast unless otherwise stated.Let's connect and talk further about this episodeMustafa Sherif Linkedin.Visit Mustafasherif.com for collaborations and nominations or email me at info@mustafasherif.comFollow Urbanistica onInstagram,TikTok,Facebook &Youtube channel.
I speak with Alan Browne — CEO and co-founder of Soarvo — a company using AI and geospatial analytics to help national infrastructure providers like Highways UK detect risks and prevent failures across roads, energy systems, and urban networks. Alan discusses how predictive technologies can create more resilient, equitable, and sustainable cities.He offers an insider’s perspective on bringing innovation into risk-averse public-sector environments, shares real-world examples of Soarvo’s work, and reflects on the leadership mindset needed to foster innovation within teams. Finally, Alan looks ahead at what's next for AI and geospatial analytics — and why smarter infrastructure is key to future-proofing our cities. __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 Podcast unless otherwise stated.Let's connect and talk further about this episode Mustafa Sherif Linkedin.Visit Mustafasherif.com for collaborations and nominations or email me at info@mustafasherif.comFollow Urbanistica onInstagram , TikTok, Facebook & Youtube channel.Thanks to Urbanistica Podcast partner AFRY (Urban Planning and Design)AFRY is an international engineering and design company providing sustainable solutions in the fields of energy, industry, and infrastructure.
I used the voice function in ChatGPT to talk with the AI. The voice you hear in the episode is generated by a machine, not a real person. So crazy! I chat with ChatGPT about the future of the Placemaking movement and how AI can help design more vibrant, community-driven public spaces.__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 Podcast unless otherwise stated.Let's connect and talk further about this episodeMustafa Sherif Linkedin.Visit Mustafasherif.com for collaborations and nominations or email me at info@mustafasherif.comFollow Urbanistica onInstagram,TikTok,Facebook &Youtube channel.
This episode is from the Innovation Summit in the Social Housing Sector 2025 in Bahrain.I was honored to be invited to the Innovation Summit in the Social Housing Sector 2025, held from April 23 to 25 at Exhibition World Bahrain.The summit served as a dynamic platform for exploring innovative solutions in social housing, aligning with Bahrain's Economic Vision 2030.Key topics included sustainable construction, smart urban planning, community-centered development, and the role of the private sector in housing growth.The event emphasized collaboration between public and private sectors to foster economic growth and social development through improved housing strategies.For more information about the summit, please visit the official website: housingsummit.bh.
That's an amazing episode!!! Super interesting observations 🤩