Terugkijken: Guest Urban Critic Maria Vassilakou

Listen to the talk of this years Guest Urban Critic Maria Vassilakou. She spent years transforming the Austrian capital of Vienna into one of the world’s most livable cities. Since 2019, Maria is also a member of the EU Horizon Mission Expert Board for Climate Neutral Smart Cities.

Maria currently works globally as an independent consultant on urban transformation. After leaving office, she founded Vienna Solutions, a network of experienced Viennese urban experts and practitioners, with whom she collaborates to build flexible teams to deliver complex urban projects. Maria is known for her commitment to sustainable mobility, such as the expansion of cycling infrastructure and public transport, and to making the city a greener place. Her work has contributed to Vienna’s reputation as one of the most livable and environmentally friendly cities in the world.

In this talk, Maria Vassilakou shares new insights about Vienna, the second fastest-growing city in the German-speaking area. Maria shows how urban growth is both a challenge and an opportunity that should not be feared but faced and managed. Take away from this lecture as Maria shares lessons from the smart city strategy of the world’s most liveable city. She also shares recommendations on how we could better adapt to our urban growth.