The Living Cities Forum 2024 is offering a 10% discount to the Parlour community – book now to hsar from global, multi-disciplinary panels sharing ideas and solutions to shape the urban future of Australia.

Living Cities Forum is a day-long series of international keynotes and conversations, presented by the Naomi Milgrom Foundation in Melbourne and Sydney. Moderated by Andrew Mackenzie, it will spotlight progressive ideas and solutions from across the globe, centring on the theme of ‘Common Interests’. With Melbourne and Sydney on track to become megacities by 2050, reimagining public spaces amid population growth, increased densities, and a warming planet has never been more vital.

Keynote speakers

Nathalie de Vries (Netherlands) – a visionary architect, urbanist and co-founder of Dutch architectural firm MVRDV, known for designing innovative, unexpected, and joyful mixed-use buildings that transform urban spaces.

Professor Lesley Lokko OBE (Ghana/Scotland) – a leading voice in architecture, academic, educator, best-selling novelist and founder of the African Futures Institute. Named on the list of the 100 most influential people of 2024 by Time Magazine and curator of the Venice Architecture Biennale 2023.

Martí Franch (Spain) – a landscape architect pioneering low-cost, large-scale green infrastructures in Catalonia, transforming neglected urban areas into vibrant, multifunctional public spaces.

Catherine d’Ignazio (US) – a coder, scholar, and artist/designer combining feminism and technology to create more inclusive open spaces, both online and offline.

Kabage Karanja (Kenya) – architect and co-founder of Cave Bureau, exploring architecture’s role in urbanism, nature, and culture, and co-curator of the UK Pavilion for the 2025 Venice Biennale.

Jill Desimini (US) – An associate professor and landscape architect exploring the design possibilities of vacant lots and residual spaces as sites of public amenity and climate justice, at a time when climate impacts on public space will be greater in poorer neighbourhoods.

Discover the full program at Living Cities Forum.

When & where

Melbourne Wednesday, 18 September 2024, 8:30 am–5:30 pm
The Edge, Fed Square, Swanston St &, Flinders St, Melbourne VIC 3000.

Sydney Friday, 20 September 2024, 8:30 am–5:30 pm
State Library of NSW, 1 Shakespeare Pl, Sydney NSW 2000.

Cost

$250 for the day, or $225 with the Parlour discount

To access the 10% discount apply the code PARLOUR at the checkout.