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Energy Efficient Retrofitting put into Practice 🏛️⚡ As part of Urban Future 2025, around 20 city leaders joined a Field Trip hosted by ROCKWOOL Group that focused on the “how-to” of energy-efficient retrofitting — especially in historic urban settings.✨ @rockwool_group Participants explored some of Łódź’s most inspiring transformation projects and learned how local teams tackled challenges like modernisation vs. heritage. Or how cities can adapt old building layouts to meet today’s needs. From innovative materials to smart design choices, the tour showcased solutions that boost energy performance AND make sound business sense. Lynne Donald shared her takeaway: 💬 “It was incredibly valuable to see how these planned and completed projects function in practice - including from an energy efficiency standpoint - and how renovation contributes to more resilient, and high-performing spaces for people to live and work in.”

The faces of Urban Future 25 💛   Behind every bold idea and inspiring session at UF25 are the people driving real change in our cities. After all, Urban Future is all about people — the doers, the innovators, the change-makers.    Thank you to everyone who showed up with energy, passion & purpose. 🔥    📸 Were you there? Be sure to download your portrait from the UF25 gallery—available for a limited time only!

💬 You spoke — and we’re listening (with big grins 😁):   Here’s what you told us: 🌟 Average rating: 4.6 out of 5 ✅ 97% rated the event 4 or 5 stars 🧡 66% gave us a full 5 stars   Your feedback helps us grow — and fuels our motivation to keep delivering meaningful, energizing experiences for CityChangers like you.   Thank you! We’re truly grateful for your ratings.    Onward — towards an even better cities event! 💛

“Steam to Style” in Łódź! 🏭🤌🏻   Attendees of this UF25 Field trip took a big step into the past - and a leap into the future! The field trip explored the iconic Karol Scheibler Power Plant, taking in the raw energy of its historic boiler and machine rooms. The journey then continued with an insight into the vibrant Łódź Design Festival, where industrial heritage met bold, future-forward creativity. 🧠   A definite highlight? The introduction of Fuzja Echo, the MIPIM 2025 Award-winning project, by its visionary developer. Check out the project at 🔗 fuzja-echo.pl   A perfect fusion of past, present, and what’s next.    What’s your favourite memory from Łódź? 💭 ............................................................ Photographer credits: Konrad Bączyński & Patryk Grądys Fuzja Echo @fuzjalodz | Archicom @archicom.deweloper | Łódź Design Festival @lodzdesign | Waldemar Olbryk | Michał Piernikowski @michal_piernikowski | MIPIM @mipim_world

The well-being of our cities — and the people in them — is at the heart of what we do at Urban Future. That care extends deeply to our schools, our children, and their safety.  🏫   As parents, educators and citizens, the hope that every child returns home safely is a shared, universal one.   Recently, a tragedy in a local school here in Graz, where Urban Future is based, reminded us just how fragile that sense of safety can be. We are grieving with our community and also reflecting on how we can be part of meaningful prevention.   Dr. Jeni Cross — a sociologist specialising in applied social network theory, and a powerful Urban Future CityChanger — offers valuable, research-backed insights into how tragedies like school shootings can be prevented.   TWO KEY LESSONS FROM DR. JENI CROSS:   𝟭. 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 — 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗳 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱. In almost every case studied, at least three people knew at least one element: that the shooter had a weapon, a target, and/or a plan. But without systems that encourage those people to speak up and connect the dots, the threat goes undetected. Let’s create culture structures that encourage people to talk and share information.   𝟮. 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. Every school shooter studied had experienced multiple deep traumas: loss, social isolation, mental health issues. Building systems that connect students, parents, teachers, and law enforcement helps identify when a young person is in serious distress — and opens a path to help.   Jeni’s work shows that prevention is not only possible — it’s scientifically understood.   Please feel free to reach out to her to learn more. 👉 drjenicross.com | @jenicross24

What if daylight could transform the way we renovate our cities? 🌞🌆 In Łódź, we joined the field trip “Innovation in Renovation: Daylight & Indoor Climate” powered by @velux to explore exactly that. From the inspiring @mediateka_memo, to the evolving Kamienica Siemensa, and the vibrant @fabryka_aktywnosci_miejskiej — each stop highlighted how natural light can help shape healthier, more human-centered urban spaces. We love to explore! 🗺️ #FieldTrips #łódź #UF25

In moments like these, words fall short.   Our hearts are heavy as we process the horrific tragedy of the school shooting in Graz, our hometown. At Urban Future, we work every day to make cities around the world better: more sustainable, more just, more human. But when something so unthinkable happens right in your own community, it strikes a different chord. It shakes you deeply.   In this moment of sorrow, we are incredibly moved by the outpouring of support from our global community. To the countless CityChangers from across the world who have sent messages of compassion, strength, and solidarity - thank you. Your kind words mean more than we can say.   They remind us of the kind of community we aspire to build: one where people care for one another across all borders.   Today, we stand with the families, friends, and everyone affected. And we hold on to the belief that love, compassion, and connection are the foundations of the better cities we’re all working toward. 🤍

50 bright, curious minds from 40 different cities, united by one bold dream: BETTER CITIES FOR ALL. 🌆 - Can we get a happy dance? 🕺 A massive 🩷 THANK YOU 🩷 to the 2025 Young Leaders cohort for challenging the status quo, sparking change, and lifting each other higher every step of the way: Sarah, Nora, Jacek, Julia, Olivia, Niki, Timotei, Dieudonné Elohym, Samantha, Bailey, Victoria, Theo, Ruth, Josefine, Charlotta, Martyna, Estefania, Akira, Tereza, Tilda, Alice, Jason, Franciszek, Shanika, Katarzyna, Tariro, Laurenz, Kate, Eleonora, Birgit, Nicolas, Reda, Tara, Judith, Paula, Joy, Shreya, Nola, Mabel, Constantin, Matt, Matthew, Rebeccah, Margarida, Michelle, Oliwia, George, Victoria G. Also, a huge shoutout to our powerhouse mentors – Ronni Kahn, Ewelina Jaskulska, Heinrich Strößenreuther, Katharina Schätz, Jan Kattein, Tina Saaby, Helle Soholt, Lisette van Dorn, Imandeep Kaur, Remedius Simasius, Ilya Alexander Yacine, Carolin Meyer, Pim Isaacs, Elizaveta Fakirova, Fanny Téoule, Julia Micklewright – as well as Anna & Maciej - for the private tour through your beloved city. 🙌 This is how change starts: with people who care deeply, act boldly, and rise together. We can’t wait to see what you all do next. Want to join the ride? UF26 applications open later this year. Stay tuned. The future needs minds & hearts like yours.🫀

You brought the fire, the ideas, the hope.❤️‍🔥 Together, we built something unforgettable.    THE BETTER-CITIES EVENT OF 2025 So many passionate souls. So many powerful ideas. So many moments we’ll never forget.   Are you feeling all the feels, too? 🥰✨ When #CityChangers come together, we are unstoppable.   Thank you, Łódź — you’ve shown us your heart, your spirit, your future. You’ll always have a home in our (very pink) Urban Future hearts.💗   We’re already dreaming of what’s next... 🇸🇮 See you in Ljubljana, Slovenia in 2026!   Let’s keep changing cities — for the better.

One last group photo, one last hug! 💛 🔥Thank you for your energy, ideas & passion, #CityChangers! You brought it all. This is not goodbye — it’s see you in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Let’s keep the energy going until next spring!☀️🌸 Safe travels, everyone 😘

Magic happens when we all come together. 🤜✨🤛   3 days of brilliant minds, big laughs, bold ideas & deep connections. Thank you CityChangers, thank you Łódź. 🫶 The buzz is alive, and the impact is real.   The Better-Cities Event of 2025: What.A.Ride.🎢

YESTERDAY! 👏🏼 Just wow.   Insights & inspiration from Day 2 of The Better-Cities Event:   🩷 "Behaviour can’t be changed through facts." - Anja Floetenmeyer-Woltmann   🩷 “People make decisions on emotions. When they enter a space, they need to experience the possibilities.” - Jason Roberts   🩷 “If you don’t build trust, you won’t succeed in your project.” - Robert Douglas McKaye 🩷 “It’s not only about emissions but also resource, scarcity, ecosystems, fire safety and health.” -Anne-Sofie Drud Gregersen 🩷 “Late design changes are expensive and less effective. That’s why we need to come with a strategy and develop our tools and to tackle the early design stages." - Sophia S. Pibal 🩷 “Imagine trying to put out the fire with just a teaspoon of water. If we all use a teaspoon it will fill a bucket. Take your teaspoon and start the action - it’s time to take care of the planet.” - Ronni Kahn   🩷 “The thing about walking is you don’t need anything special for it — there’s no cool gear, no lifestyle branding. So how do we make walking feel more attractive & exciting — maybe even sexy?” -Martina Gleissenebner-Teskey   🩷 “Testing out new ways of building and constructing though pilot projects is an inspiring way of driving change.” - Pia Bodahl   🩷 "How do we story tell in a way that motivates the community to take ACTION?” - Michael Shank, Ph.D. Thank you to everyone who took the stage and those who filled the rooms with questions, curiosity and connection! 🫶 You are our heroes!