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Choices we make now in the design of our cities have major effects on future generations. But (how) do we know now what developments in the distant future we need to consider? How do we make the right choices for our cities within the constraints of time, money, and space? How do government, entrepreneurs, scientists, professionals, creatives, and residents together come up with the best integrated solutions for the major challenges we face?

Cities are vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Heat waves, long periods of drought, and flooding from extreme rainfall will become more frequent in the future. Petrified areas are especially vulnerable to this: water cannot be retained or drained properly, and all that stone and asphalt can lead to a very high wind chill. How can we ensure that our cities remain liveable? For example, how can we adapt our water management, sewerage, and land use so that they can better retain or drain water?

Cities desperately need nature in their built-up areas. Urban nature and rich urban biodiversity are essential for clean air, fresh water, drainage, cooling, reducing the impact of natural disasters, and providing a healthy living environment for people. How can we further strengthen urban nature and biodiversity in times of population growth and climate change? How can we integrate nature into the design of buildings and urban outdoor spaces? How can we add new parks and improve existing ones?

The public space in the city belongs to everyone. It is the place where all layers of the population meet, where everyone can play sports and exercise, experience culture and enjoy greenery. Yet the city is not equally attractive, safe, and accessible to everyone. How do we design our streets and squares, gardens, and parks so that everyone feels at home in them, regardless of age, disability, gender, cultural background, or the size of one’s purse?

The health of residents in cities is not doing well. For example, the number of overweight people is growing rapidly. Unhealthy temptations are on the lurk and we exercise less and less. Moreover, there are large health disparities within cities themselves. How can we transform the public spaces of our cities to make healthy choices easier, and make a healthy lifestyle within reach of everyone?

Cities are becoming increasingly crowded and busy. How do you make or keep the city attractive and authentic for this growing group of residents and visitors? How do we develop outdoor spaces that have value and meaning for the user? How do we create outdoor spaces that feel good, stimulate the senses, evoke emotions, and incite you to think, to do, to meet, where you want to be? And what role can green design, parks, and programming play in this?

We are at the dawn of the post-fossil era, in which we are independent of fossil fuels. The extraction and use of raw materials have too great an impact on natural resources and the earth’s climate. How do we reside, work, live and move in cities that can no longer use oil, gas and coal? How do we ensure value preservation and reuse of resources? And how does this affect the choices we make in the design, layout, and management of public space?

If you are an expert and would like to share your innovative project, method, technique or otherwise. with a large audience, you can do so through a classroom master class. We especially welcome submissions that include multiple city cases in the presentation.

Number of participants: max. 100. Duration: 60 minutes.

In Workshops XL we take 3.5 hours to go into depth with participants on larger topical themes in an interactive session. Examples of themes: ‘Vertical gardens’, ‘biodiversity’, ‘national park cities’, ‘healthy neighbourhoods’, ‘lighting’ etc. An example of how an XL workshop can be organised: You start with a short presentation of a theory and/or practical examples. Then, under your guidance, you lead the participants in a challenging assignment and give feedback on their presentations.

Number of participants: max. 35. Duration: 3.5 hours.

A Fieldtrips XL goes to a city with a maximum of one hour (by train) from Utrecht. There you will take participants on a tour (on foot, by bike, by boat), focusing on the green transformation in a single programme, project, or area. Preferably the tour will be given by people with different perspectives, for example the designer, a representative of the municipality and an engaged resident.

Number of participants: max. 35. Duration: 5 hours incl. travel time.

For this format, we invite scientists to share their latest research findings and insights.

Number of participants: max 100. Duration: 60 minutes.

Serious games and escape rooms are a great interactive way for participants to playfully explore various possibilities and scenarios with other participants. If you have a serious game or escape room that you would like to play with participants, you can do so here.

Number of participants: max 50. Duration: 1.5 hours.

The theatre provides a stage for musicians, theatre artists, comedians, poets, and others who want to bring their substantive message into the limelight in a creative or theatrical way. Because sometimes inspiration comes through more powerfully in a song, a poem, or a theatre performance than in a presentation.

Number of participants: max. 100. Duration: 60 minutes.

A picture says more than a thousand words. In our cinema you can show films and documentaries of up to twenty minutes. They can be existing films, or films you have made in your own environment for this conference, that give a vivid picture of what you want to discuss. You will give a short introduction to the film beforehand, and after the screening, the filmmakers and/or lead actors will engage with participants in a Q&A session.

Number of participants: max. 100. Duration: 60 minutes.

Do wild animals belong in a city? Where does the smart city end and the right to privacy begin? Should you squeeze as much greenery as possible into the limited space in inner cities, or is it better to invest in a rich outdoor area accessible to everyone? In our debate arena, participants discuss topical statements with multiple points of view. They do so under the guidance of an experienced moderator, who ensures that all opinions are heard, and searches for consensus with the participants. We provide the moderator, you provide a number of stimulating statements and the experts who can introduce and explain the content of the statements.

Number of participants: max. 100. Duration: 60 minutes.