Kicking off in Melbourne next Wednesday 18 September, followed by Sydney two days later, the Living Cities Forum will bring together six of the world’s foremost thinkers on the topics of urban design, placemaking, architecture and design. Collectively, they will shine a spotlight on progressive ideas and solutions from across the globe, all trained on the future of the public realm. 

Although Chat GPT as we know it is only two years old, the AI revolution has well and truly begun. Standing on the precipice of one of the most fundamental societal and economic shifts in living memory, there has never been a more pressing time to engage in deep conversations about the challenges and opportunities ahead for our cities. Add to this the fact that Melbourne and Sydney are on track to become megacities, with populations exceeding 10 million by 2050, the urgency around the fundamentals of urban planning and city design has reached a critical point.

Presented by Naomi Milgrom Foundation — champions of art, design and architecture to improve Australian lives — the Living Cities Forum is a key initiative in the foundation’s proactive pursuit of supporting and facilitating necessary conversations that shape Australia’s future. 

As a flagship event for Australia’s urban designers, placemakers, architects and socially and culturally engaged thinkers and creative practitioners, the day-long series of international keynotes and conversations will explore the notion of Common Interests. 

No matter where we live, or the size of our cities, we all share common interests with our neighbours. It is essential to examine and reimagine the role of open public spaces and civic spaces, for it is in these spaces, where individuals intentionally come together or simply intersect while going about their day, that communities can either flourish or stagnate. 

Moderated by program director Andrew Mackenzie, the Living Cities Forum global program features internationally acclaimed cross-disciplinary speakers including Nathalie de Vries, Professor Lesley Lokko, Marti Franch, Catherine d’Ignazio, Kabage Karanja, and Jill Desimini. Each hailing from different countries and different disciplinary backgrounds, the conversations are guaranteed to be lively and engaging as they each share inspiring, actionable ideas to improve the cities of today and tomorrow.

Considered through the lens of actionable ideas, the theme of common interests can be interpreted as a provocation to think globally and act locally — because common interests do and must extend reciprocally beyond geographic borders. From the right to protest to the impacts of those protests on businesses and retail, and from the benefits of surveillance for safety to the infringement on privacy, these interests are often in active tension.

While there is no singular right answer to the issues facing our cities today, or in an as-yet unimaginable future, the Living Cities Forum serves as a catalyst for ongoing conversations around civic engagement. In asking and interrogating questions of place, design and liveability, the forum is a unique opportunity for industry professionals, students and anyone invested in the future of our cities to hear from a global, multi-disciplinary panel sharing transformative ideas and solutions essential for shaping our urban future.

Key details:
Melbourne, Wednesday 18 September 2024, 8.30am – 5.30pm at The Edge, Fed Square.
Sydney, Friday 20 September 2024, 8.30am – 5.30pm, State Library of NSW.

If you haven’t yet secured your place for a day that will open up new ways of thinking and foster connections between global thinkers and local doers, don’t delay. Head to the Living Cities Forum website to buy tickets and find out more about each of the speakers.