Kalina Vankova – planning sustainable cities for people

Kalina Vankova says that we live in times of great urban changes. The interconnections between the different categories of change are mutually reinforcing their transformative impact on cities.

In response to the challenges cities face today, a growing number of projects are being created at the intersection of the public sector, the private sector, and civil society.

Kalina finds it fascinating how these new collaborative efforts have begun to reshape urban realities in different parts of the world.

“Believing that common value and interconnectivity should shape the future of cities, I see that the role of architects and urban planners, in this context, extends far beyond simply designing the physical and visible dimension of our environments.”

Kalina continues that architecture inspires us and catalyzes emotional experiences, provides places of contemplation and aesthetic reflection, connects us and creates meaningful relationships, communicates ideas and educates our children, collects memories and shapes our personalities, synchronizes our everyday lives to the frequency of the cities we live in, embodies them and defines their DNA.

And as such, wields the power to question and change them.

“Design is people, famously suggested Jane Jacobs and, it is to them, not buildings, that we must fit our plans. Exploring these new horizons and planning sustainable cities for people is what makes me tick.”