Future Cities

What are the new frontiers for urban life?

New cities are being built from scratch, while other cities are developing new regions and districts on greenfield sites.

How can planners, developers, businesses and the community take the opportunity to jointly develop “cities of the future” on a clean slate, with revolutionary urban and social paradigms that support the liveability of cities across generations?

Plenary I:
What are the paradigm shifts needed to build future cities?

The world is facing resource constraints, climate stresses, and new divides are forming along values and generational lines. This plenary discusses how new approaches in the way we live and work. Further deep dive into how play, learn, move, consume and interact are needed to build liveable cities now and for future generations.

Plenary II:
From Vision to Reality: Developing Future Cities

This closing plenary explores how partnerships with businesses, communities and people should be included in planning processes and governance approaches in the development of future liveable cities.


Track Sessions

These are deep dives within each thematic track, featuring panel discussions, special convening sessions and roundtables


Future Cities – Rejuvenating Urban Spaces
(led by the Housing Development Board, Singapore)


As cities continue to grow and evolve, their existing infrastructure would be put under greater stress. This plenary session aims to address the challenges posed by growing communities on ageing infrastructure and explore sustainable approaches to rejuvenate our urban spaces.

The session will delve into innovative architectural and design approaches that have successfully revitalised ageing infrastructure. From adaptive reuse to futuristic urban designs, our experts will share insights on how cities can reimagine their built environment to meet contemporary needs while preserving historical and cultural elements. Real world examples of urban rejuvenation through public housing initiatives will emphasise the importance of collaboration between government, communities, and private organisations. Case studies from Singapore’s Housing and Development Board will also demonstrate how sustainable building materials, renewable energy integration, and smart infrastructure solutions can transform public housing into sustainable, resilient, and inclusive homes.


Future Cities – Future of Liveability

As cities face unprecedented global challenges and adapt to the evolving needs of diverse populations, the concept of "liveability" – reflecting residents' quality of life – has gained paramount importance. Liveability indices, measuring various urban life aspects, play a pivotal role in pinpointing critical intervention areas.

These indices are now essential in assessing, benchmarking and enhancing urban liveability. City governments and policymakers can use them to guide decisions and policies, fostering cross-city learning by drawing insights from global benchmarks and other cities' initiatives.

As global trends shape urban landscapes, there is a need for new indicators that accurately reflect evolving aspirations and concerns.

This panel discussion brings together perspectives from leading index houses to discuss the future of urban liveability. The conversation explores the role of data and indices in shaping more liveable urban futures.


Future Cities – Urban Leaders Roundtable: Building Tomorrow’s City Today
(led by the Urban Development Authority, Singapore)

Urban planning is a multidisciplinary field that aims to address multifaceted challenges, ensuring cities evolve sustainably and thrive amidst the complexities of the 21st century. This dynamic forum will discuss dimensions of resilience planning, encompassing not only environmental considerations but also social, economic, and infrastructural aspects. Join us in exploring cutting-edge strategies to design cities that are not just functional but vibrant, sustainable, inclusive and resilient to climate change.


Future Cities – From Today’s Challenges to Tomorrow’s Cities: Female Leaders Driving Urban Innovation
(led by the United Nations Development Programme - UNDP)

In the face of rapid urbanisation and escalating challenges, traditional short-term approaches are proving inadequate, underscoring the necessity for a shift towards innovative and long-term strategies for urban resilience and adaptability.

In this session, female city leaders will share their pioneering experiences on essential capabilities, guiding principles, and collaborative strategies on how to navigate and lead the transformation towards resilient and thriving cities in the face of future uncertainties.