Smart in the City – The BABLE Podcast

In the fourth episode of our Greencities S-Moving series, we explore another small town in Spain: Gata de Gorgos, located south of Valencia. We had a very insightful discussion with Leticia Monfort Peiró, town councillor for European Funding, Innovation and Transparency.

With her, we learned more about the town, its smart and green initiatives, and the delicate balance of preserving tradition while embracing modern sustainability projects.

Overview of the episode:

01:50 - Teaser: Gata de Gorgos in three words

03:21 - Meet Letitia Monfort Peiró: the Town Counselor for European Funding, Innovation, and Transparency for Gata de Gorgos

04:37 - What is Gata de Gorgos all about?

07:52 - What is Gata de Gorgos doing in terms of innovation and climate issues?

11:13 - Gata's vision: harnessing its abundant sunshine for a cleaner, more energy-efficient future

13:35 - Shifting citizen behaviour toward active mobility

15:35 - How can learnings from bigger cities be applied to Gata de Gorgos?

21:10 - Roll with the Punches: Our guest answers "this or that" questions quickly and with her first instincts

24:25 - Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?

Like our show? Remember to subscribe and rate it!

Want to join us for an episode? Contact our host Tamlyn Shimizu.

And for more insights, join our Smart City Community!

In this episode, recorded at the Neext Future Summit 2024 in Berlin powered by Drees & Sommer, Dennis Hauer, Director of Urban Climate Architects, shares his insights on sustainable urban development and climate adaptation.

With him, we discuss how his firm tackles challenges like urban heat islands, sustainable housing, and climate-resilient infrastructure using green rooftops, bio-based materials, and innovative water management solutions. Our guest also emphasises the need to create vibrant, livable cities by integrating social and environmental factors into urban design, sharing inspiring examples from projects in the Netherlands.

This conversation provides a fresh perspective on the transformative role of architecture in building sustainable cities.

Overview of the episode:

[00:01:28] Teaser Question: "If you had to describe your mission as an urban climate architect in terms of a superhero, which would it be and why?"

[00:02:15] Our guest's background: Dennis shares his journey in architecture, from his early fascination with design in the Netherlands to his focus on sustainability and his role at Urban Climate Architects

[00:04:43] Integrating climate adaptation into urban design: Dennis explains the philosophy behind Urban Climate Architects, including reinvigorating cities by integrating nature, housing, and urban functions for vibrant city centres.

[00:07:37] Urban heat island effect: Dennis discusses the urban heat island effect and how cities can mitigate this through green and blue infrastructure.

[00:09:19] Greening public and private spaces: Solutions for making cities greener, including green rooftops and facades, and challenges in maintaining these green spaces.

[00:11:39] Adapting to changing weather patterns: Innovative approaches to water management, including water storage solutions to handle flooding and droughts.

[00:13:22] Highlight project - Bio-based housing for the Salvation Army: Dennis describes a meaningful project providing sustainable housing solutions with bio-based materials for the homeless, emphasising the social impact of architecture.

[00:14:45] The "Urban Boots" project: A project incorporating sustainability, social aspects, and technology, with features like car-sharing and real-time sustainability monitoring.

[00:16:42] Climate-neutral building and urban resistance: Dennis discusses resistance to urban redesign, especially in historic areas, and how they address it by adding value through thoughtful integration.

[00:21:10] Addressing energy balance and technology in urban settings: Insights on smart energy solutions, like connecting energy usage between buildings, to reduce peaks and improve sustainability.

[00:23:11] Social impact in urban design: Dennis highlights the importance of creating social spaces and fostering community through diverse, multi-functional areas.

[00:24:05] Shoutout Segment: Dennis gives a shoutout to Building Balance, a Dutch organization bridging sectors like building and agriculture to tackle sustainability challenges collaboratively.

[00:25:38] Ending Question: "To you, what is a Smart City?"

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Want to join us for an episode? Fill out the form on our Podcast Page.

And for more insights, visit our BABLE Smart Cities Knowledge Hub

Dans ce tout premier épisode en français du podcast, nous avons eu le plaisir d'acceuillir Stéphane Raffalli, le maire de la ville de Ris-Orangis, située en Île-de-France, et Myfanwy Boudry, Cheffe de projets Assistance à maitrise d’usage chez Ville Hybride, une agence en innovation sociale et urbaine.

Nous avons notamment discuté avec eux du projet d'assistance à maîtrise d'usage et de réaménagement du parc de la Theuillerie, un espace naturel stratégique de Ris-Orangis.

Nous avons également parlé de collaboration entre les secteurs privés et publics, de démocratie participative, et des défis que rencontre la ville de Ris-Orangis, tels que la désindustrialisation et la gentrification dans la seconde couronne parisienne.

Résumé de l'épisode:

[00:02:44] Teaser : une brève description de Ris-Orangis et du projet du Parc de la Theuillerie

[00:02:55] Les parcours professionnels de Stéphane Raffalli et Myfanwy Boudry

[00:04:23] Quels sont les principaux déjà à relever pour Ris-Orangis ?

[00:06:13] Quel est le rôle de Ville Hybride dans le projet du Parc de la Theuillerie ?

[00:07:06] En quoi les collaborations entre secteurs privés et publics fonctionnent-elles bien et en quoi parfois peuvent-elles échouer ? Quelles peuvent en être les limites ?

[00:08:54] Qu'est-ce que "remettre le vivant au coeur du projet urbain" signifie dans le contexte de ce projet ?

[00:10:42] Quelles méthodes ou plateformes sont utilisées pour consulter les citoyens dans ce projet ?

[00:11:39] Ce modèle de démocratie participative prend-il de plus en plus d'importance dans la gestion de la ville ?

[00:14:02] Quel futur pour le Parc de la Theuillerie et son projet de réaménagement ?

[00:15:22] Si nos invités avaient des ressources illimitées, qu'auraient-ils fait différement au cours de ce projet ?

[00:19:26] Inverser le scénario : nos invités se posent les questions !

[00:23:33] Question récurrente : selon vous, qu'est-ce qu'un Smart City ?

Like our show? Remember to subscribe and rate it!

Want to join us for an episode? Contact our host Tamlyn Shimizu.

And for more insights, join our Smart City Community!

In the fifth episode of our Greencities S-Moving series, we discussed with María José, the Head of Operations at ALIA - Alicante Investment Agency in Spain. She told us about the agency's mission and its significant role in attracting tech companies and sustainable startups to the city.

Discover how Alicante's unique blend of quality of life and work opportunities is enticing companies worldwide, and how ALIA is working collaboratively with the public and private sectors to build a sustainable future.

Overview of the episode:

[00:01:26] Teaser: If Alicante were a type of food, what type of food would it be?

[00:01:48] Introduction of the guest, María José, Head of Operations at Alicante Investment Agency

[00:03:01] The mission and role of the Alicante Investment Agency

[00:06:31] Public-private collaboration and support

[00:10:50] Attracting companies based on quality of life

[00:17:31] Aligning with the European Green Deal for sustainability

[00:19:17] Roll with the Punches: Our guest answers "this or that" questions quickly and with her first instincts

[00:21:29] Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?

Like our show? Remember to subscribe and rate it!

Want to join us for an episode? Contact our host Tamlyn Shimizu.

And for more insights, join our Smart City Community!

In this episode, we talked with Milan Sarzik, Business Development and Marketing at iTranSys, about their AI-powered public transport optimisation tool. The discussion covered how this innovative solution addresses driver shortages and inefficient scheduling in Slovakia, showcasing significant improvements in cities like Povazska Bystrica.

The conversation also delved into the challenges and insights gained from various regional implementations and examined the potential for international expansion.

Overview of the episode:

[00:02:02] Teaser Question: "If iTranSys was a type of food, what type of food would it be?"

[00:03:34] Our guest's background

[00:05:32] The problem iTranSys aims to solve for cities

[00:12:08] Planning and real-time management powered by AI

[00:14:59] Learnings from implementations

[00:17:23] Balancing stakeholder needs

[00:19:49] Future development plans

[00:24:55] Roll With the Punches: our guest answers this or that questions quickly and with their first instinct!

[00:28:52] Ending Question: "To you, what is a Smart City?"

Like our show? Remember to subscribe and rate it!

Want to join us for an episode? Fill out the form on our Podcast Page.

And for more insights, visit our BABLE Smart Cities Knowledge Hub!