The Century of Cities

The Century of Cities brings together Bohan Chen of KPF in New York, Borane Gille of The Business of Cities in London, and Sagar Jadhav of BMC in Mumbai as part of our special series recorded in Singapore in association with the World Cities Summit Mayors Forum and the Centre for Liveable Cities. They bring three very different vantage points to the same question: what will it take to create better cities in the decades ahead?
From architecture and urban design to city strategy and municipal delivery, they reflect on what happens when the next generation of city-makers sits around the same table. They discuss the value of learning across borders, why cities don't need to reinvent every solution, and how small interventions can have an outsized impact on everyday life. Most importantly, they make the case for a more connected urban future, one where ideas move between cities, disciplines, and generations, and where the people shaping cities are willing to keep learning from one another.

The Century of Cities welcomes Clarence E. Anthony, CEO and Executive Director of the National League of Cities, as part of our special series recorded in Singapore in association with the World Cities Summit Mayors Forum and the Centre for Liveable Cities. Clarence takes us from the emergence of local power and civic engagement in the 1980s to a very different urban landscape today, where cities are increasingly on the front lines of housing, climate, technology, and inclusion.
For Clarence, the future of cities will be shaped by what happens at the local level. He explores why mayors must think beyond election cycles, put people at the centre of decision-making, and bring government, business, universities, and communities together. As national politics become increasingly divided, he sees something powerful in city-to-city relationships: a global network of local leaders able to cross borders, exchange solutions, and keep working together.

The Century of Cities welcomes Mayor Ana Abrunhosa of Coimbra, Portugal, as part of our special series recorded in Singapore in association with the World Cities Summit Mayors Forum and the Centre for Liveable Cities. A city shaped by more than seven centuries of university life and a remarkable cultural heritage, Coimbra has spent decades confronting suburban sprawl, car dependency, industrial decline, and the challenge of bringing people back to its historic centre.
Ana shares her vision for a Coimbra that is more walkable, connected, affordable, and resilient, while remaining distinctly itself. From restoring the relationship between the city and its river to strengthening regional collaboration, attracting younger generations, and making the university a more active civic partner, she explores a different model of urban leadership, one where citizens help diagnose problems, co-create solutions, and shape the city's future.

The Century of Cities welcomes Mayor Van R. Johnson II of Savannah, Georgia, as part of our special series recorded in Singapore in association with the World Cities Summit Mayors Forum and the Centre for Liveable Cities. Once marked by economic decline and a fading downtown, Savannah has reinvented itself through its history, creativity, institutions, and diverse communities. Today, it is balancing rapid growth and global attention with the needs of the people who call it home.
Van explores how Savannah can balance tourism, industry, heritage, climate resilience, and inclusion while remaining a city that belongs to everyone. From building relationships across the African diaspora to learning from cities around the world, his leadership approach is grounded in a simple idea: cities are strongest when they reach outward and make room for more voices, partnerships, and possibilities.

The Century of Cities welcomes Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui of Cambridge, Massachusetts, as part of our special series recorded in Singapore in association with the World Cities Summit Mayors Forum and the Centre for Liveable Cities. A city once shaped by manufacturing and industrial decline, Cambridge has reinvented itself as a global centre for research and innovation. But that success has brought a new challenge: how can a city remain prosperous without becoming inaccessible to the people who call it home?
Sumbul explores the next chapter for Cambridge, where housing affordability, climate adaptation, emerging technology, and economic inclusion are becoming inseparable from the city's future. She makes the case for long-term, collaborative leadership that brings universities, businesses, community organizations, and residents into the same conversation. For a city built on knowledge and innovation, the next great challenge may be making sure that opportunity remains open to everyone.