Urbanistica Podcast - Cities for People
Mustafa Sherif
A podcast about how we plan and design cities for people. Tune in and join listeners from over 150 countries.
I'm Mustafa Sherif, an Urbanist, Placemaker and studio manager based in Sweden. I interview people working in architecture, Palcemaking, urban planning and design about their projects, processes, methods, handbooks, challenges, leadership, and passions in life.
It’s not just about projects, it’s about the people behind projects.
In collaboration with AFRY (Urban Planning and Design section in Stockholm).
I'm Mustafa Sherif, an Urbanist, Placemaker and studio manager based in Sweden. I interview people working in architecture, Palcemaking, urban planning and design about their projects, processes, methods, handbooks, challenges, leadership, and passions in life.
It’s not just about projects, it’s about the people behind projects.
In collaboration with AFRY (Urban Planning and Design section in Stockholm).
Episodes
Mentioned books
Apr 5, 2026 • 53min
597. The Art and Science of Community Building - Engin Ayaz and Tala Al Ansari
Tala Al Ansari, Executive Advisor at ATÖLYE, and Engin Ayaz, Co-founder and CEO of ATÖLYE, explore how community-driven design is shaping the future of cities, organizations, and innovation.We dive into ATÖLYE’s journey from a small creative hub in Istanbul to a global multidisciplinary consultancy working across Europe and the Middle East. At the core of their work is a powerful idea: building strong, diverse communities is not a side activity, it’s the strategy.Tala and Engin unpack what truly defines a community (and why it’s not the same as an audience), the importance of blending physical and digital spaces, and why meaningful community-building takes time, intention, and trust. They also share practical insights on diversity, curation, and how to avoid “community bubbles” by fostering cross-disciplinary collaboration.The episode closes with a simple but powerful principle: create more value than you capture.Useful links by our guests:Community Playbookhttps://atolye.io/community-playbook/Public resource on community strategy and designhttps://www.communitypowered.io/ A select set of case studieshttps://atolye.io/projects/ 12 years of articles on design, innovation and communitieshttps://atolye.io/insights/ ___Keep Up the Good Work. Keep Loving Cities ❤️️__All opinions expressed in each episode are personal to the guest and do not represent the Host of Urbanistica Podcast unless otherwise stated.____Follow Urbanistica on Instagram , TikTok, Facebook & Youtube channel._____Let's connect and talk further about this episode Mustafa Sherif Linkedin._____Visit Mustafasherif.com for collaborations and nominations or email me at info@mustafasherif.com_____Thanks to Urbanistica Podcast partner AFRY (Urban Planning and Design)AFRY is an international engineering and design company providing sustainable solutions in the fields of energy, industry, and infrastructure.
Mar 26, 2026 • 47min
596. Women After Dark book by Nourhan Bassam
Nourhan Bassam, (The Feminist Urbanist, CEO of The Gendered City, Asst. Professor of Feminist Urbanism) Author of the new book Women After Dark, reflects on how cities continue to exclude women and marginalised groups after sunset.Grounded in personal experience, feminist research, and a multi-year project with the FemDes Network, the discussion explores how the night intensifies inequalities related to safety, mobility, visibility, and access to public space. Conventional solutions such as policing, CCTV, and excessive lighting are questioned, with a focus instead on participatory, community-led, and context-sensitive urban design.The episode also draws on insights from nighttime governance in cities like Amsterdam, London, and Barcelona, highlighting fear as a structural issue and the need to centre lived experience in creating safer, more inclusive cities after dark.Nourhan on Linkedinhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/nourhan-bassam-39164b78/Here are links to get the book: "You can get the book from Waterstones, La Feltrinelli, or Amazon."https://www.waterstones.com/book/women-after-dark/nourhan-bassam//9798266961876https://www.lafeltrinelli.it/women-after-dark-how-cities-libro-inglese-nourhan-bassam/e/9798266961876?srsltid=AfmBOooNB7la4Zb9zMYDUnWzvIjyHxI3VJLjt5tPkxqF910WmLk99A2_https://www.amazon.it/Women-After-Dark-Cities-Failing/dp/B0FWCR7FB3You can also check out the Feminist Placemaking Academy, a viral program that is expanding worldwide, here:https://genderedcity.org/feminist-pm-program___Keep Up the Good Work. Keep Loving Cities ❤️️__All opinions expressed in each episode are personal to the guest and do not represent the Host of Urbanistica Podcast unless otherwise stated.____Follow Urbanistica on Instagram , TikTok, Facebook & Youtube channel._____Let's connect and talk further about this episode Mustafa Sherif Linkedin._____Visit Mustafasherif.com for collaborations and nominations or email me at info@mustafasherif.com_____Thanks to Urbanistica Podcast partner AFRY (Urban Planning and Design)AFRY is an international engineering and design company providing sustainable solutions in the fields of energy, industry, and infrastructure.
Mar 12, 2026 • 1h 58min
595. بين هندسة العمارة وريادة الأعمال: رحلة حسين آل طعمه
تتناول الحلقة تجربة حسين علي آل طعمه، طالب الهندسة المعمارية في الجامعة التكنولوجية في بغداد، الذي اختار أن يخوض طريقًا مختلفًا يجمع بين الدراسة وريادة الأعمال.من محاولات ومبادرات ثقافية ومجتمعية في سن مبكر، إلى العمل مع أكثر من 10 شركات والمساهمة في أكثر من 70 مشروعًا ضمن مجالات مختلفة، وصولًا إلى تأسيس شركة روّاد التمكين عام 2025 والعمل على مشاريع مثل غروسكو وتزكارو.لكن هذه الحلقة ليست فقط عن المشاريع…بل عن التجربة، التحديات، وبناء الطريق خطوة بخطوة في بيئة ليست سهلة.وفي ختام الحلقة يؤكد حسين أن النجاح لا يُقاس بالمال فقط، بل بالتأثير الذي يمكن أن يتركه الإنسان في مجتمعه. ومع ذلك، يمكن للمال أن يكون أداة لتوسيع هذا التأثير، عبر بناء مبادرات أكبر وتمويل أفكار قادرة على صنع فرق حقيقي.حوار صريح عن رحلة مليئة بالتجارب، الأسئلة، والمحاولات…طريق لا تدرّسه الجامعة، لكنه قد يكون الطريق الذي يغيّر حياتك. روابط حسابات حسين الرسمية :LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/husseinaltomahFacebookhttps://web.facebook.com/Husseinaltomah/Instagram – Personalhttps://www.instagram.com/hussein.tomah/Instagram – Content & Projects (Tomah Space)https://www.instagram.com/tomah.space/Instagram – Tswer Platformhttps://www.instagram.com/tswerplat/Instagram – Growesco Platformhttps://www.instagram.com/growesco.iq/
Mar 8, 2026 • 1h 10min
594. Leveraging places - Chuck Wolfe
Audio note: The sound quality may not be the best, as AI-based noise reduction was used during a digital recording.Chuck Wolfe, author of three books on urbanism and place, lawyer, urbanist, and photographer, speaks about his journey from land use law into writing, observing, and shaping cities. He explores the meaning of “leveraging place” and how it differs from placemaking and place branding, while highlighting the importance of history, stewardship, and authentic local context. Through examples such as Kiruna and Santa Fe, Chuck reflects on identity, urban change, and the risks of superficial planning. The conversation also touches on observation, participation, AI, and why humility and curiosity remain essential for urban professionals. BooksSustaining a City’s Culture and Character (2021): https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/sustaining-a-citys-culture-and-character-9781538133248/Seeing the Better City (2017): https://islandpress.org/books/seeing-better-city#descUrbanism Without Effort (2013/2019): https://islandpress.org/books/urbanism-without-effort#desc Links:Substack: https://resurgencejourney.substack.com/Leveraging Place Toolkit: https://www.planetizen.com/blogs/136366-leveraging-place-toolkit-staying-loyal-places-we-shapeLeveraging Place in Santa Fe: https://resurgencejourney.substack.com/p/leveraging-place-in-santa-fe“Listening to Santa Fe While Planning for Change:” https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/real_estate/listening-to-santa-fe-while-planning-for-change/article_0a55a6cc-5a2d-4079-9601-56e55ce3b2ca.html
Feb 28, 2026 • 1h 14min
593. Vems kultur får ta plats i staden? Sanda Tcacencu
Sanda Tcacencu, projektledare på Boo Folkets Hus, om platsutveckling, kultur och trygghet i våra städer.Vi pratar om kulturhusens roll som mer än bara byggnader – som demokratiska mötesplatser där gemenskap, identitet och delaktighet formas. Vems kultur får ta plats? Hur integreras kultur i platsutveckling och aktivering på riktigt?Sanda delar konkreta exempel från sitt arbete och reflekterar kring vad som faktiskt skapar trygghet i det offentliga rummet. Behöver alla platser vara aktiverade – eller finns det också ett värde i det lugna och oprogrammerade?Vi diskuterar samverkan mellan kommun, civilsamhälle och andra aktörer – och vem som bör ta ledarrollen. Avslutningsvis blickar vi mot 2026 och kommande projekt.Länk till Sandas Linkedinhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/sanda-tcacencu-72723b88/___Keep Up the Good Work. Keep Loving Cities ❤️️__All opinions expressed in each episode are personal to the guest and do not represent the Host of Urbanistica Podcast unless otherwise stated.____Follow Urbanistica onInstagram , TikTok, Facebook & Youtube channel._____Let's connect and talk further about this episode Mustafa Sherif Linkedin._____Visit Mustafasherif.com for collaborations and nominations or email me at info@mustafasherif.com_____Thanks to Urbanistica Podcast partner AFRY (Urban Planning and Design)AFRY is an international engineering and design company providing sustainable solutions in the fields of energy, industry, and infrastructure.
Feb 22, 2026 • 1h 22min
592. Shrinking Cities - Anna Belinskaia
Urban Planner, Designer and Creative Strategist Anna Belinskaia discusses her master’s thesis Planning in Times of Less: Reimagining Shrinking Cities through the Case of Överkalix (KTH, 2025). The conversation explores how planning can respond to demographic decline and what it means to move beyond growth as the default goal.Anna shares her research questions, methodology, and why Överkalix became the chosen case. Instead of reversing shrinkage, her proposal focuses on managing decline strategically through care, resilience, and long-term adaptability.She also reflects on receiving the Arwidsson award and looks ahead to what’s next in 2026Read her master thesis herehttps://kth.diva-portal.org/smash/record.jsf?pid=diva2%3A1988866&dswid=6434 ___Keep Up the Good Work. Keep Loving Cities ❤️️__All opinions expressed in each episode are personal to the guest and do not represent the Host of Urbanistica Podcast unless otherwise stated.____Follow Urbanistica onInstagram , TikTok, Facebook & Youtube channel._____Let's connect and talk further about this episode Mustafa Sherif Linkedin._____Visit Mustafasherif.com for collaborations and nominations or email me at info@mustafasherif.com_____Thanks to Urbanistica Podcast partner AFRY (Urban Planning and Design)AFRY is an international engineering and design company providing sustainable solutions in the fields of energy, industry, and infrastructure.
Feb 7, 2026 • 1h 7min
591. SWE Allt ska ju äga rum, om staden och arkitektens roll - Christer Larsson
Christer Larsson, arkitekt SAR/MSA, tidigare stadsbyggnadsdirektör och adjungerad professor i arkitektur, samt grundare av AKTIEBOLAGETHELASTADEN, i ett samtal om arkitektur som samhällskraft. Vi diskuterar varför den byggda miljön – värd tusentals miljarder – sällan behandlas som en central samhällsfråga, och varför fokus behöver flyttas från nyproduktion till att ta bättre hand om det vi redan har. Samtalet berör arkitekturens roll i klimat- och cirkularitetsfrågor, biologisk mångfald och demografiska förändringar, samt arkitektens ansvar och kompetensbehov de kommande åren.I den personliga delen delar Christer sin resa, drivkrafter och syn på framgång, arv och framtid. Avsnittet avslutas med medskick till sitt yngre jag, till studenter och till dig som lyssnar. 🎧___Keep Up the Good Work. Keep Loving Cities ❤️️__All opinions expressed in each episode are personal to the guest and do not represent the Host of Urbanistica Podcast unless otherwise stated.____Follow Urbanistica on Instagram , TikTok, Facebook & Youtube channel._____Let's connect and talk further about this episode Mustafa Sherif Linkedin._____Visit Mustafasherif.com for collaborations and nominations or email me at info@mustafasherif.com_____Thanks to Urbanistica Podcast partner AFRY (Urban Planning and Design)AFRY is an international engineering and design company providing sustainable solutions in the fields of energy, industry, and infrastructure.
Jan 25, 2026 • 1h 4min
590. Decolonising Urban Planning & Feminist Refusal - Safa Charafi
Safa Charafi, Founder and CEO of Urban Inclusion, challenges Eurocentric and colonial approaches to urban planning, arguing for cities shaped by local knowledge, lived experience, and fairer power structures. The conversation explores how dominant Western models have erased indigenous practices — and why true decolonisation remains limited under extractive economic systems.A central theme is feminist refusal: the right to say no to harmful or tokenistic development projects. Safa shares personal experiences of walking away from work that ignored community needs, framing refusal as an act of integrity, sovereignty, and care.The episode also highlights Safa’s journey as a migrant urbanist, her work on gender inclusion, climate adaptation, and migrant integration with partners like UNHCR, and her advice to future practitioners: trust lived experience, share power, build community, and design cities with empathy and justice at the core. Urban Inclusionhttps://urban-inclusion.com/Safaa on LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/safaa-charafi/___Keep Up the Good Work. Keep Loving Cities ❤️️__All opinions expressed in each episode are personal to the guest and do not represent the Host of Urbanistica Podcast unless otherwise stated.____Follow Urbanistica on Instagram , TikTok, Facebook & Youtube channel._____Let's connect and talk further about this episode Mustafa Sherif Linkedin._____Visit Mustafasherif.com for collaborations and nominations or email me at info@mustafasherif.com_____Thanks to Urbanistica Podcast partner AFRY (Urban Planning and Design)AFRY is an international engineering and design company providing sustainable solutions in the fields of energy, industry, and infrastructure.
Jan 24, 2026 • 24min
589. Redefining Smart Cities with Mayor Maimunah Sharif
Audio note: Recorded in a busy event hall. Some background noise remains, despite AI-based noise reduction.Maimunah Mohd Sharif, Mayor of Kuala Lumpur and former Executive Director of UN-Habitat, shares her perspective on what it really means to build a smart city today.The conversation explores Kuala Lumpur’s smart city vision, key initiatives shaping the city, and the main challenges ahead. It also dives into leadership in times of rapid urban and technological change, common mistakes cities should avoid when going “smart,” and where the line should be drawn between AI-driven systems and human decision-making in city life.A thoughtful, human-centred discussion on the future of cities, technology, and leadership.____In collaboration with SMART CITY EXPO in Barcelona.Read morehttps://www.smartcityexpo.com/#___Keep Up the Good Work. Keep Loving Cities ❤️️__All opinions expressed in each episode are personal to the guest and do not represent the Host of Urbanistica Podcast unless otherwise stated.__Let's connect and talk further about this episode Mustafa Sherif Linkedin.Visit Mustafasherif.com for collaborations and nominations or email me at info@mustafasherif.comFollow Urbanistica on Instagram , TikTok, Facebook & Youtube channel.
Jan 17, 2026 • 1h 49min
588.SWE Vad är arkitektens värde idag? - Haval Murad
Haval Murad är arkitekt och VD för Detail Group. Samtalet rör sig mellan arkitektbranschens stora frågor och det personliga ledarskapet bakom ett växande kontor. Utgångspunkten är Detail Groups framgång i SISAB:s ramavtal, där företaget tog full poäng, ett resultat som väcker frågor om kvalitet, strategi och långsiktighet i en tid av hård konkurrens och pressade arvoden.Vi pratar om låga timpriser och prisdumpning, arkitektens roll de kommande fem åren och vilken kompetensutveckling branschen behöver för att möta framtidens krav. Haval delar också sina erfarenheter som chef och ledare, de största utmaningarna i vardagen och hur han ser på utvecklingen fram mot 2026 med nya projekt och satsningar.I den mer personliga delen berättar Haval om sin bakgrund, sin resa till där han är idag och vad som driver honom. Samtalet berör synen på framgång, varför han väljer att hålla en låg profil i media, livet utanför jobbet och mer existentiella frågor om vad han vill lämna efter sig.Avsnittet avslutas med personliga medskick – till hans yngre och framtida jag, till studenter och till dig som lyssnar. Ett reflekterande och inspirerande samtal om arkitektur, ansvar och framtidstro.___Keep Up the Good Work. Keep Loving Cities ❤️️__All opinions expressed in each episode are personal to the guest and do not represent the Host of Urbanistica Podcast unless otherwise stated.____Follow Urbanistica on Instagram , TikTok, Facebook & Youtube channel._____Let's connect and talk further about this episode Mustafa Sherif Linkedin._____Visit Mustafasherif.com for collaborations and nominations or email me at info@mustafasherif.com_____Thanks to Urbanistica Podcast partner AFRY (Urban Planning and Design)AFRY is an international engineering and design company providing sustainable solutions in the fields of energy, industry, and infrastructure.
