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Programme

Utopian Hours 2023

Full festival pass
Today, Utopian Hours is recognised by the public and by international media as one of the most important global events to discuss urban change and the role of cities in the future of the world.
Since its very first edition, the festival has contributed to bring a wide audience of young people and adults closer to the themes of the city, to popularise urban issues, and to turn city-making and urban innovation into engaging topics even for non-professionals.
Discover the rich 2023 programme!

Friday 13/10

Full day pass
Friday
14.30 - 15.00

The City as a Living classroom

A placemaker in Turin. From Brussels, Urban Foxes co-founder Bram Dewolfs will tell us what to focus on for a more livable, healthy and attractive city.

Friday
15.00 - 15.45

Reinventing Cities: accelerating zero carbon urban development

Jack Murphy, executive editor of The Architect’s Newspaper, leads the first international panel of Utopian Hours 2023. At the centre of the debate is the challenge of many cities around the world to reconcile urban development with the need to lower (to zero) emissions.

Friday
15.45 - 16.15

OKRA’s strategic vision towards the “healthy city“

Social inclusion, climate resilience, sustainable mobility. Martin Knuijt proposes his vision for the healthy city of the future.

Friday
16.15 - 16.45

Arts and global challenges with Miami’s The Underline

The underused spaces beneath Miami’s Metrorail are set to become a 16 km linear park, extending from Downtown to South Miami.

Friday
17.00 - 17.15

The Mayors Corner – Verona

The Mayor of Verona Damiano Tommasi brings his contribution to the Manifesto for a New City-Making to the stage.

Friday
17.15 - 17.30

The Making of Corso Farini

A short documentary to tell the story of Stratosferica’s second placemaking intervention

Friday
17.30 - 18.00

Rethinking Dubai with The Loop

A 93-kilometre highway for cyclists and pedestrians aims to encourage the emirate’s more than 3 million residents to move away from car use.

Friday
18.00 - 18.30

Temporality has its virtues, especially in cities

Sometimes, less is more – even when it comes to urban development. In Meanwhile City 30 international case studies will illustrate how temporary reuse can spark transformation in our urban landscapes.

Friday
18.30 - 19.00

Building on a promise: the 11th Street Bridge Park

In Washington DC, the city’s first elevated public park may become an example of urban regeneration, the challenges are far from limited.

Friday
19.00 - 19.30

Discovering BIG’s Pragmatic Utopias

Cutting-edge and experimental. These are the cornerstones on which the work of Bjarke Ingels Group is based. For an architecture that looks optimistically to the future of urban areas.

Friday
19.00 - 00.00

Utopian Hours Opening Night

An evening for urbanites and city lovers in the exclusive setting of La Centrale – Nuvola Lavazza

Friday
16.00 - 16.30

Placemaking and Citizen Making in Turin, Italy

A dip into Europe’s growing placemaking and community activation movement with Stratosferica

Friday
17.00 - 17.45

Making Miami

A multi-voice panel with some of the key actors of Miami’s local cultural, creative and entrepreneurial life.

Saturday 14/10

Full day pass
Saturday
09.00 - 13.30

Workshop — Meanwhile Placemaking

Starting from a forgotten building that has remained closed for decades, we imagine possible transformations for a more welcoming and dynamic Lungo Dora. The workshop on meanwhile placemaking by Utopian Hours 2023 curated by Petra Marko.

Workshop with limited seats

Saturday
14.30 - 15.00

STIPO’s ideas for a better Turin

A young urban planner, three days of exploration, a city to understand.

Saturday
16.00 - 16.15

The rise of urban campuses

Work, study, live and play — all in the same space. Is that an effective way to summarise the goal of urban campuses? These hybrid places, designed to accommodate different users and functions, are taking a central role in the development plans of many cities around the world.

Saturday
16.15 - 16.45

Doug Gordon’s
“The War on Cars”

“The War on Cars” is among the most successful urban podcasts of the last few years. At Utopian Hours the host discusses the future of mobility.

Saturday
17.00 - 17.15

The Mayors Corner – Bergamo

Giorgio Gori talks about change in Bergamo and the daily challenges that the mayor of a big city has to face.

Saturday
17.30 - 18.00

Africa’s first Chief Heat Officer

The pioneer in the fight against climate change comes from Sierra Leone. Eugenia Kargbo shares the challenges of a crucial role in saving the future of the planet. 

Saturday
18.00 - 18.30

The London visionary

Towns matter. People matter. Places matter. Rules for Real Estate developer by Richard Upton

Saturday
18.30 - 19.00

Future-proof architecture. UNstudio exposed

In operation for the past 35 years, UNstudio is among the most innovative and internationally recognised architectural practices. 

Saturday
19.00 - 19.30

Rethinking Urban Farming at Rotterdam’s Floating Farm

Can cows float on water? Yes, at the Floating Farm in Rotterdam.

Sunday 15/10

Full day pass
Sunday
14.30 - 15.00

OPENACT discovers Turin

Among this year’s Visiting Urban Explorer one of the New European Bauhaus’ finalists 2023. From Madrid, the fresh and attentive gaze of OPENACT’s co-founder.

Sunday
15.00 - 15.45

Public private partnerships. New Ventures for Social Bond

Private sector resources and public sector strengths meet: insights and reflections for more competitive cities.

Sunday
15.45 - 16.15

The think tank that wants to “urbanise” Artificial Intelligence

The alternative to the smart city. With Urban AI, Hubert Beroche pushes for new technologies to enhance the human value of cities. 

Sunday
16.15 - 16.45

Schoonschip.
Starting new, on the water

Many dream of living in a self-sufficient houseboat. From Amsterdam, an urban vision turned into reality. 

Sunday
17.00 - 17.15

Tribute to Calvino (1923-2023)

A special moment for our Italian audience, with readings dedicated to the city of one of the greatest national authors, 100 years after its birth.

Sunday
17.15 - 17.45

The ever-changing Holzmarkt

Along the Spree an “urban village” enhances the culture of temporary uses. An independent project to offer an alternative to top-down development plans that have long sought to privatize areas near Berlin’s main river.

Sunday
17.45 - 18.15

The Art of Recycling Urban Spaces

Third Places, First Choice: from Paris the masters of ecological and creative urbanism.

Sunday
18.15 - 18.45

“Designing Disorder”: practical guide for Open Cities

Together with Richard Sennett, the manifesto for an “open city” where people can rethink their collective living spaces. 

Sunday
18.45 - 19.15

MIT’s Secret Formula for Sustainable Materials: History + Science

From the ancient Romans the solution for stronger, cheaper and more sustainable buildings. Admir Masic anticipates the future of urban construction.

Sunday
18.30 - 22.00

Utopian Hours Closing Event

Fossick Project’s live performance closes the seventh edition of the international city making festival

Streaming Access

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