Imagine the City – A Series of Conversations About the Future

A city can be smarter. More accessible. Better. A city that responds to the needs of 21st-century residents. From this reflection grew the series Imagine the City. Conversations About the Future, organized by the Voelkel Foundation in cooperation with Concordia Design.

From May to October 2021, the series brought together leading experts, practitioners, and visionaries to discuss the key challenges and directions for the development of contemporary cities. Each meeting focused on a different aspect of urban life — from urban planning and ecology, through art in public space, to social responsibility and civic education.

The Future of Cities. Urbanization After the Pandemic

‍The series opened with Zuzanna Skalska, trend researcher and founder of 360Inspiration. Together with Piotr Voelkel, Natalia Sawicka, Zbigniew Maćków, and Mikołaj Smoleński, she explored the rise of co-working and co-living in the context of pandemic-driven change. The discussion centred on the future of work, housing, and the design of shared spaces that respond to the new needs of urban residents.

Art in the Cityscape

‍Bogna Świątkowska, president of the Bęc Zmiana Foundation, addressed the role of art in public space. The conversation highlighted the value of contemporary art “on the street,” examples of cities investing in culture as a driving force, and the importance of accessibility — of both art and design — as tools for social transformation.

Sustainable Development for the City and the World

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Moderated by Marta Żakowska, urban anthropologist and editor-in-chief of Magazyn Miasta, this discussion focused on ecology and technology. Participants examined which resources will shape the architecture of the future, how to implement renewable energy solutions, and how to create green enclaves that improve the quality of life in cities.

The Social Responsibility of New Architecture

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The keynote speaker was Joanna Erbel, sociologist and founder of the Blisko Foundation. The conversation explored the relationship between developers and local communities, the role of designers in public consultations, and the importance of cultural initiatives supported by companies and municipal authorities.

Let’s Imagine the City — and Build It

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The series concluded with a conversation led by Maciej Frąckowiak, sociologist and researcher of urban culture. The discussion focused on civic education, shared responsibility for urban space, and the need to develop citizen-based urban education and cross-sector collaboration.

All events attracted a wide audience: residents, designers, urban planners, activists, and institutional representatives interested in shaping better cities. Imagine the City became a space for dialogue and reflection — and an impulse for change toward more sustainable, conscious, and resilient cities of the future.