The Century of Cities

The Century of Cities celebrates our 100th guest as we welcome Lord Norman Foster, one of the world's most influential architects and Founder and Executive Chairman of Foster + Partners. Drawing on six decades of practice, he traces the shift from gritty, industrial cities to cleaner, safer, and more mobile urban environments, shaped by digital technology, new forms of mobility, and changing patterns of density. While progress has been undeniable, Lord Foster warns that many cities have lost distinct identity, creativity, and affordability along the way. He makes a powerful case for rediscovering the lessons of the traditional city: compactness, mixed use, walkability, and strong public spaces. From Madrid and Vienna to London, Paris, and New York, he argues that density done well is not only more sustainable but also more joyful and socially resilient. He calls for a return to positive, big-picture planning, investing in infrastructure, embracing layered cities, and designing streets and neighbourhoods that support daily life and long-term health. His vision for the future is optimistic but clear-eyed: greener, quieter, more humane cities are possible, but only if technological innovation is matched with human-centred design and the courage to plan for generations to come.

Edward L. Glaeser, one of the world's leading urban economists and the Fred and Eleanor Glimp Professor of Economics at Harvard University, joins The Century of Cities to reflect on decades of research and his landmark work, Triumph of the City. He traces the arc from urban decline and deindustrialization to the resurgence of cities as centers of knowledge, creativity, and economic opportunity. Ed examines the most difficult challenges cities face, including housing affordability, climate risk, governance capacity, and social mobility. He offers a pragmatic framework for urban leadership, arguing that cities must generate economic value while investing deliberately in their most vulnerable residents. From making it easier to build housing at scale to strengthening public safety, upgrading institutions, and adapting new technologies, he emphasizes that cities require care, competence, and long-term commitment. Despite their vulnerabilities, he remains optimistic: cities, he argues, are humanity's greatest engines for reducing poverty, expanding opportunity, and shaping a more prosperous future.

The Century of Cities welcomes Andrés Rodríguez-Pose, Professor of Economic Geography and Regional Planning, to examine deep spatial inequalities shaping politics, prosperity, and trust in institutions across the world. Drawing on decades of research, Andrés explains how economic growth has become increasingly concentrated in a small number of cities and regions, while many places have been systematically left behind, creating what he describes as the "geography of discontent." He explores how neglecting these regions has fueled political polarization, social fragmentation, and rising distrust in democratic systems. Andrés challenges the assumption that growth alone will solve spatial inequality. He argues for place-sensitive policies that recognize the unique assets, constraints, and identities of different regions rather than one-size-fits-all solutions. From rethinking innovation policy to rebuilding local capacity and dignity, Andrés makes a compelling case that the future of cities, regions, and democracy itself depends on addressing territorial inequality head-on, and doing so with long-term commitment rather than short-term fixes.

Maria Camila Uribe, Principal Technical Lead for Housing and Urban Development and Coordinator of the IDB Cities Network at the Inter-American Development Bank, joins us on The Century of Cities. She explains how rapid urbanization, democratization, and decentralization shaped the lives of hundreds of millions, leaving legacies of both ingenuity and inequality. From informal settlements to bold planning reforms, Maria outlines how Latin American cities became hubs of creativity, civic leadership, and problem-solving under pressure. She reveals groundbreaking work underway at the IDB, including a new financing pilot allowing cities to borrow directly without sovereign guarantees, and the urgent efforts to strengthen Amazonian cities ahead of COP30. With clarity and optimism, she highlights why Latin America continues to pioneer urban innovations and how empowered local leaders can reshape the future of an entire region.

In this episode of The Century of the Cities, Ming Zhang, Global Director for Urban, Resilience, and Land at the World Bank, brings a sweeping global perspective on how cities have transformed since 1980. From witnessing Shanghai's shift from a stagnant industrial city to a world-class metropolis, to tracking urbanization across South Korea, Brazil, India, and Africa, Ming explains how innovation, governance, and economic shifts have reshaped the urban landscape for billions of people. Ming outlines the profound challenges and opportunities that cities will navigate: rapid urbanization in Africa and South Asia, aging populations in mature economies, climate-related threats, and the need for massive investment in infrastructure, housing, and resilience. He shares insights from the World Bank's Banking on Cities report, underscoring why cities must build autonomy, mobilize revenue, and use technology wisely to remain livable, adaptive, and economically vibrant.

The Century of Cities welcomes Claudia López, former Mayor of Bogotá and the city's first female leader, who shares how her administration redefined inclusion, productivity, and progress through one bold idea, the care blocks. From her childhood in a working-class neighbourhood in southern Bogotá to leading one of Latin America's largest capitals, Claudia traces a journey of transformation rooted in equity and imagination. She discusses how Bogotá evolved from disorganized transit and insecurity to a city of electric buses, social innovation, and global recognition for its "care economy." She reflects on the power of collaboration between cities, nations, and citizens to confront violence, empower women, and shape a future where care is not a favour, but a foundation for prosperity.

Anna König Jerlmyr, former Mayor of Stockholm, joins The Century of Cities to explore how cities have evolved from regulation-heavy, risk-averse places to global engines of climate action, innovation, and design. She reflects on Stockholm's shift from a tightly controlled urban environment to a vibrant, outward-looking city shaped by global culture, cleaner energy systems, and a stronger public realm. Anna highlights how cities worldwide have become more agile, more collaborative, and far more willing to test new ideas. Looking ahead, she imagines cities operating more like living organisms, regenerative, circular, and supported by AI systems that resolve issues before they surface. Yet she also warns of risks, including lifestyle shifts that reduce physical activity and weaken social connections. Her message is clear: the strongest cities will be those that rebuild community, embrace innovation, and protect the human connections that keep urban life resilient.

In this episode of The Century of Cities, we are joined by Susan Aitken, Leader of Glasgow City Council. Susan reflects on the dramatic shift in how cities are perceived. Once viewed as distressed places marked by deindustrialization, population loss, and narratives of decline, cities are now recognized as hubs of innovation, diversity, and economic resilience, and as the places best positioned to solve society's biggest challenges. She highlights Glasgow's remarkable renaissance, from its cultural revival to its leadership on climate action, equity, and just transition. Susan points to the city's resilience and the grit of its people as the driving forces behind its reinvention. Looking ahead, she envisions a Glasgow built on clean industries, inclusivity, and improved health, while cautioning that global pressures like climate shocks and mass migration will continue to land hardest in urban areas. Her message is clear: cities hold the solutions, but they need the powers, resources, and collective voice to deliver them.

The Century of Cities welcomes Felipe Correa, architect, author, and founder of Somatic Collaborative. Felipe reflects on why 1980 marked a pivotal shift in urbanization, as the explosive post-war expansion of cities gave way to slower growth, new planning logics, and a more diverse design toolkit. From Latin America to Asia, he illustrates how procedural planning, emerging urban scales, and a renewed focus on inner-city form reshaped the trajectory of cities entering the 21st century. Today, he argues, two forces define the urban landscape: the rapid rise of intermediate-scale cities and the widening pressures of environmental uncertainty. Migration, climate-driven risk, and even the influence of the insurance industry are quietly but profoundly reshaping the built environment. Felipe remains optimistic about cities' remarkable ability to bring people together, yet he emphasizes that the future depends on rethinking density, reinvesting in shared infrastructure, and training a new generation of architects who can visualize and communicate transformative change.

In this episode of The Century of the Cities, Carlo Ratti, Architect, Engineer, MIT professor, and Director of the Senseable City Lab, joins us to explore how data, design, and emerging technologies are reshaping urban life. Carlo reflects on the rise of the "big boom cities" and discusses how urbanization has evolved, from the moment global population tipped into majority-urban to today's era of shrinking populations, climate pressure, and the need for smarter, more adaptive cities. Carlo explains how real-time data, AI, and interdisciplinary research are transforming how we understand cities. He argues that the greatest breakthroughs will come from forging a new alliance between the natural and the artificial, and from embracing open, iterative, trial-and-error innovation.

Sally Capp, former Lord Mayor of Melbourne and management consultant, joins us on the Century of Cities to reflect on leadership, livability, and the transformation of cities through vision and action. As the first woman directly elected as Lord Mayor, Sally led Melbourne through one of its most defining chapters, the pandemic, while championing inclusion, innovation, and community connection. She shares lessons from her time in office on how to build vibrant, people-centred cities, the importance of independent leadership, and the power of focusing on what can be done rather than what can't. Sally envisions cities that are dynamic, sustainable, and deeply human places that inspire a sense of belonging, pride, and purpose for all who call them home.

The Century of Cities welcomes Enrique Peñalosa, globally recognized urban visionary and two-time mayor of Bogotá. Known for transforming Colombia's capital through public transit, parks, libraries, and bike infrastructure, Enrique shares his belief that cities are among our most powerful tools for equality and happiness. He reflects on how thoughtful design can bridge social divides, not only through taxation or policy, but by creating public spaces where people meet as equals. Enrique calls on future urban leaders to build cities that nurture dignity, interaction, and joy, especially as rapidly growing regions like Africa and India continue to urbanize. His vision is of cities that are inclusive, democratic, and fertile grounds for human potential, places where everyone, regardless of income, can thrive.

In this episode of The Century of Cities, we welcome Helle Søholt, founding partner and CEO of Gehl. Helle explores how cities can evolve from designed objects into living systems that foster connection, equity, and resilience. She shares how her people-first approach champions urban environments shaped by culture, community, and care. Reflecting on the architect's evolving role as a facilitator of social and environmental change, Helle offers a compelling vision for a new urbanism that is circular, inclusive, and deeply human.

Maria Vassilakou, internationally recognized urban transformation expert and former Vice Mayor of Vienna, joins The Century of Cities. Drawing on her decade of leadership in Vienna, Maria explores how cities can balance livability, affordability, and sustainability while safeguarding democracy itself. From reimagining housing as a human right to redefining livability through a child's eyes, Maria shares an inspiring vision of cities designed for every generation. She reflects on the crossroads we now face, between inclusive, decarbonized, and democratic urban futures or divided "bubble cities" defined by inequality and disconnection. Through stories of community innovation, social housing, and small-scale empowerment, Maria reminds us that transformation begins with leadership, and sometimes, with just 40 people moving together in the same direction.

Francesca Froy, Lecturer in Sustainable Urban Development at the University of Oxford and Fellow of Kellogg College, joins us on The Century of Cities. Francesca explores how cities evolve as living, complex systems, shaped by design, policy, and the countless small, interconnected decisions made every day. She argues that to build sustainable cities of the future, we must learn from the past: valuing walkability, connectivity, and human interaction over technological quick fixes. Rather than controlling cities from the top down, she calls for policymakers to observe, steward, and harness the natural complexity already at work, allowing cities to evolve intelligently on their own terms.

The Century of Cities welcomes Henrietta Moore, Founder and Director of the Institute for Global Prosperity, and Arthur Kay, Senior Advisor at Innovo Group and board member at Transport for London. Together, they unpack their new book Roadkill: Unveiling the True Cost of Our Toxic Relationship with Cars, a powerful exploration of how our dependence on cars shapes our health, cities, and future. From the exponential rise in global car ownership since 1980 to the ripple effects on climate, inequality, and urban design, Henrietta and Arthur reveal how car culture has quietly become one of the most expensive and destructive addictions of our time. They share examples from Los Angeles to Lagos, Dallas to Delhi, showing how communities are reclaiming streets, re-imagining mobility, and redefining freedom in urban life. As we look toward 2080, they challenge us to imagine cities built not around vehicles, but around people, where prosperity is measured not by how fast we drive, but by how freely we move.

In the episode of The Century of Cities, we are joined by Vera Bukachi, Executive Director and Managing Principal of the Kounkuey Design Initiative in Nairobi. Vera has spent two decades at the intersection of climate adaptation, urban resilience, and community-led design, championing dignity, equity, and collaboration in the built environment. Tracing Nairobi's transformation from its post-colonial roots to today's "Silicon Savannah," she reflects on the city's rapid growth, its deep inequalities, and the quiet power of local innovation. Vera argues that informality need not mean indignity and that resilience begins when communities, governments, and designers work together to create spaces that honour lived realities. Vera envisions African cities that thrive through dignity by design, where inclusion, innovation, and justice are woven into every street and public space.

Patrick Cobbinah, Associate Professor of Urban Planning at the University of Melbourne, joins The Century of Cities to reimagine the future of African urbanism through a decolonized lens. Drawing on his work across Ghana and the Global South, Patrick shares how colonial planning systems still shape land use, governance, and inequality today, and why genuine progress depends on embracing bottom-up, citizen-led approaches to city-building. He argues that Africa's growing youth population, rising education levels, and rapid urbanization present a once-in-a-century opportunity to redefine how cities evolve. From rethinking informality as a strength to integrating indigenous knowledge into urban planning, Patrick envisions a future where governance is transparent, communities are empowered, and cities are built with people, not just for them. 

In this episode of The Century of Cities, we are joined by Kecia Rust, Executive Director at Centre for Affordable Housing Finance in Africa. As the leader of a network spanning 70 organizations across 23 countries, Kecia has spent decades studying how affordability, finance, and policy intersect to determine who gets to call the city home. She traces the evolution of African housing from the constraints of apartheid-era exclusion to today's rapid urbanization, revealing how outdated financial systems, rigid policies, and colonial legacies still shape access to land, credit, and ownership. Kecia calls for a radical rethinking of informality, not as a failure, but as a force. She argues that embracing the ingenuity of informal builders, young entrepreneurs, and local communities is key to unlocking sustainable, inclusive cities across the continent.

Jennifer Hart, Professor, historian, author, and chair of history at Virginia Tech, joins The Century of Cities to share two decades of insight into Ghana's urban evolution. Through her work on Accra and her book Making an African City, Hart reveals how colonial legacies, economic shifts, and social resilience have shaped African cities from 1980 to today. She invites us to rethink expertise, arguing that the future of urban development lies not in imported models but in DIY urbanism, the creative, community-led practices that emerge when residents assert their right to the city. From Accra's Impact Hub to informal neighbourhood initiatives, Hart highlights how ordinary citizens are redefining what progress looks like. Her call to action is clear: it's time to put communities, not technocrats, at the center of how cities grow.