The Urbanist What we learned at the World Design Congress
Sep 18, 2025
Renowned British architect Lord Norman Foster discusses how public spaces can reshape urban life, advocating for walkable, low-carbon cities. He emphasizes the importance of citizen engagement in city planning. Landscape architect Julia Watson shares insights on indigenous knowledge and low-tech solutions for resilience against climate change, showcasing ancient practices in modern design. The conversation also touches on Seattle’s new Waterfront Park, highlighting its community-focused approach and innovative urban planning.
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Speak Up About Your City
- Citizens should make their views loud and contribute to how cities are shaped.
- Foster urges people to actively participate because cities are about citizens.
Learning From Indigenous Systems
- Julia Watson recounts learning to integrate Indigenous knowledge while trained in Australia.
- She later taught in the US to fill a gap she noticed in design education.
Low-Tech Means Local TEK
- 'Low-tech' (local + TEK) describes Indigenous technologies and long-held ecological knowledge.
- Watson says these systems use ecosystem knowledge to solve food, water and resilience problems.
