After previous editions in Venice, Chicago, and New Orleans, Shaping the City returns once again to Venice for two days of dialogue and reflection dedicated to housing and the sense of community. The sixth edition of the international conference, curated by ECC Italy as part of the biennial architectural exhibition Time Space Existence, will take place on 21–22 November 2025 at Palazzo Michiel and will be livestreamed on ECC Italy’s YouTube channel. Participation is free of charge, with prior registration required via Eventbrite.
Promoted by the European Cultural Centre, the initiative brings together architects, urban planners, designers, academics, policymakers, and representatives from local and international institutions to explore the role of architecture and urbanism in shaping cities and improving citizens’ quality of life. Over the years, Shaping the City has featured globally renowned figures and institutions such as Odile Decq, Kengo Kuma, Snøhetta, Aldayjover, MIT, the IOM International Organization for Migration, and UNDP, establishing itself as one of the most influential platforms for global urban dialogue.
The 2025 edition addresses two urgent and interconnected themes: the housing crisis and the construction of a sense of community. From consolidated metropolises to emerging cities, issues such as affordability, social inequality, environmental pressure, and urban fragmentation are reshaping the ways people live, work, and connect. Through the presentation of innovative projects in social housing, co-living, adaptive reuse, and participatory governance, the conference will highlight architectural strategies and development models that promote inclusion, equity, and sustainability.
Two thematic panels will guide the discussion:
“Living the future: shared solutions for inclusive cities”, exploring housing as a civic right and as a space for dignity, autonomy, and collective well-being.
“Community: building together”, focusing on the role of participation and collective action in creating supportive and resilient neighborhoods, where public space once again becomes a common good.
Shaping the City Venice 2025 forms part of the Time Space Existence exhibition program, open from 10 May to 23 November 2025 across Palazzo Bembo, Palazzo Mora, and the Giardini della Marinaressa. Organized by ECC Italy, the exhibition explores the themes of repair, regeneration, and reuse as new frontiers of contemporary architecture, emphasizing how design can become a driving force for environmental and social transformation.
For more information, visit www.shapingthecity.org
