Conscious Cities Festival 2021

The Conscious Cities Festival 2021 centres on the theme “The Person-Space Continuum,” exploring the dynamic interplay between individuals and their environments through the lens of interdisciplinary research and practice. Organised by the Centre for Conscious Design (CCD), the event addresses how physical, digital, and social spaces influence individual and collective wellbeing, cognition, and behaviour. The festival's programme spans a range of topics, including urban design, architecture, psychology, public health, and technology, with a specific focus on how environments can actively support mental and physical health.

Targeted at professionals, researchers, and students in urban planning, architecture, public health, design, and the social sciences, the festival brings together participants from a global network. The event features a series of panels, discussions, and interactive workshops led by notable contributors. Key speakers and panellists include Dr. Layla McCay (Director, Centre for Urban Design and Mental Health), Dr. Chris Neale (Director of Research, Urban Design Group), Dr. Victor Santiago Pineda (President, World Enabled), Sheela Søgaard (CEO, BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group), and Dr. Sille Krukow (founder of Krukow Behavioural Design).

Participating organisations represent a diverse array of sectors, including the World Health Organization, Gehl, Arup, UN-Habitat, the Royal College of Art, and the International WELL Building Institute. Sessions examine critical themes such as the connection between built environments and mental wellbeing, the inclusive design of public spaces, behaviour-informed design strategies, and the impact of technology on spatial experience.

The Conscious Cities Festival 2021 provides a multidisciplinary forum for examining how environments shape and are shaped by the needs, behaviours, and well-being of individuals and communities. The event underscores the significance of evidence-based, human-centric design in building healthier, more equitable cities.