Charles Montgomery, author of Happy City and ranked among the world's 100 most influential urbanists, will be the international keynote speaker at Tilia – Romanian Cities Summit on April 23-24 in Iași. This marks Montgomery's first visit to Romania.
Montgomery will deliver "The Science of Happy Cities: Principles and Ideas for Romania" on the main stage at the Palace of Culture on April 23. His presentation will explore how urban design influences wellbeing and how these principles can be applied to Romanian cities, from creating walkable neighbourhoods to designing public spaces that support community life.
"Cities are not made of stone and glass. They are made of the decisions we make together. The question is whether we design for fear or for trust, for isolation or for encounter," Montgomery said.
Montgomery founded Happy Cities, an interdisciplinary team that helps city-builders achieve healthier, more inclusive societies. His collaborators have included the World Health Organization, the Guggenheim Museum, and governments in Vancouver, Auckland, Mexico City, Denver and Dubai.
The summit, organised by Iulius in partnership with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), expects over 300 participants including mayors, architects, urban planners and civil society representatives. "The invitation of an internationally recognised voice like Charles Montgomery reflects the ambition behind Tilia: to connect Romania's urban conversation with the most relevant global thinking," said Raluca Munteanu, Development Manager at Iulius.
