Urban Limitrophe

Alexandra Lambropoulos
  • 5.0 (3)
  • SOCIAL SCIENCES
  • UPDATED MONTHLY
Urban Limitrophe

Urban Limitrophe is a podcast exploring the various initiatives happening in cities across the African continent (and diaspora) to creatively solve problems, support their communities, create vibrant urban spaces, and build better cities overall. Ideas from the continent are often overlooked. This podcast seeks to bring to light the intersecting ideas and practices from urban planning, architecture, economics, arts and culture, geography, and politics that define our urban living, and uncover how to build resilient communities, economies, and ecologies. Tune in to catch interviews with urban planners, designers, researchers, community-builders, creatives and more, doing great work to change the future of their cities and find out how you support them to make a difference in their communities and get inspired to take action in yours. 

  1. How DO Architecture Co-Designs for Dignity After Disaster | Omar Degan

    JUL 9

    How DO Architecture Co-Designs for Dignity After Disaster | Omar Degan

    What does it mean to rebuild with dignity after disaster strikes? In this episode of Urban Limitrophe, we speak with architect Omar Degan, founder of DO Architecture and the Fragility Lab. Together, they explore how architecture can be a tool for healing, not just shelter — and how co-designing with communities leads to more just, resilient spaces in the aftermath of crisis. Omar shares his journey designing in fragile contexts — from post-conflict housing in Somalia to consulting for the UN — and how his work challenges traditional top-down models of humanitarian aid. Instead of quick fixes, his approach centers culture, collaboration, and care. You’ll learn how DO Architecture uses emergency design to center communities in fragile contexts, and why beauty, dignity, and belonging should never be seen as luxuries — even in disaster recovery. Whether you're a planner, designer, changemaker, or curious listener, this conversation invites you to rethink how we rebuild, who we build for, and what’s possible when communities lead the way. Guest: Omar Degan Acknowledgements: This episode is co-supported by the Nurubian, the University of Toronto School of Cities and the Department of Geography and Planning.  About Urban Limitrophe: Please visit www.urbanlimitrophe.com for all episode show notes, references and guest details.  To access our newsletter visit: https://tinyurl.com/ULNewsletter Please address any related communication to hello[at]urbanlimitrophe.com  Credits:  Music by Imany Lambropoulos Podcast concept, development, and design by Alexandra Lambropoulos

    48 min
  2. What's in Season 2 of Urban Limitrophe?

    TRAILER

    What's in Season 2 of Urban Limitrophe?

    What do you build when the systems around you fall short? In Season 2 of Urban Limitrophe, we travel across continents, through cities, and into communities — from the innovation hubs of Botswana to the rural coastlines of Nova Scotia, the medinas of Tunisia to the farmlands of Togo, from Athens to Abidjan. This season is about community, imagination, innovation, and the power of everyday people to shape the places they call home — in housing, culture, cycling, climate, and beyond. We’ll hear from architects, artists, activists, and storytellers who are transforming how cities are designed, governed, remembered, and lived in — one idea, one connection, one act of care at a time. Subscribe now. New episodes every month.

    1 min
  3. How Civic Action Shapes Cities and What to Avoid When Building Megacities From Scratch | Dafe Oputu

    2024-12-01

    How Civic Action Shapes Cities and What to Avoid When Building Megacities From Scratch | Dafe Oputu

    The built environment is a reflection of political decisions. The officials you elect shape the environment around you. So, what happens if people don’t participate in the voting process? In this episode, we delve into the critical intersection of civic action and urban development with our insightful guest, Dafe Oputu. We’ll explore the urban landscapes of Accra, Ghana; Cotonou, Benin; and Lagos, Nigeria, examining how trust and accountability in municipal governance shape these cities. We’ll discuss different cities' strategies to encourage public participation and civic action, and why voting is crucial for building better cities. Together we also unpack Africa's obsession with megacities, like Akon City and Eko Atlantic (and how to avoid creating ghost cities). Guest: Dafe Oputu Acknowledgements: This episode is co-sponsored by the University of Toronto School of Cities and the Department of Geography and Planning.  About Urban Limitrophe: Please visit www.urbanlimitrophe.com for all episode show notes, references and guest details.  To access social media, newsletter, and additional projects visit: https://linktr.ee/urbanlimitrophe Please address any related communication to hello[at]urbanlimitrophe.com  Credits:  Music by Imany Lambropoulos Podcast concept, development, and design by Alexandra Lambropoulos

    44 min
  4. How the Just Cities Project is Using 3D Modeling to Co-Design Smart Cities in Kenya | Titus Kaloki

    2024-10-24

    How the Just Cities Project is Using 3D Modeling to Co-Design Smart Cities in Kenya | Titus Kaloki

    What makes a city truly smart? Or just? The answer lies with the people. In this episode, we explore the human-centric side of Smart Cities with our guest Titus Kaloki from the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Kenya office. Through their Just Cities Project, Titus is on a mission to make cities both smart and just, leveraging technology to put people at the center of urban planning. Titus and his team have been leveraging an innovative software called Urban Collective Design Environment (U_CODE) to achieve an 85% participation rate in their Just Cities Project in Nakuru City, Kenya. This process brings together local government, urban planners, and citizens to co-design the future of the city using 3D modelling software. Join us as we delve into how this approach results in community-informed plans that conform to urban guidelines and zoning while saving time, money, and reducing frustration for all parties involved. Guest: Titus Kaloki Acknowledgements: This episode is co-sponsored by the University of Toronto School of Cities and the Department of Geography and Planning.  About Urban Limitrophe: Please visit www.urbanlimitrophe.com for all episode show notes, references, and guest details. To access social media, newsletter, and additional projects visit: https://linktr.ee/urbanlimitrophePlease address any related communication to hello[at]urbanlimitrophe.com Credits:  Music by Imany LambropoulosPodcast concept, development, and design by Alexandra Lambropoulos

    58 min
  5. How Escrevivências Challenge Urban Planning Norms: Afro-Brazilian Communities’ Strategies for Reclaiming the Right to the City | Mayara Almeida de Paula

    2024-09-16

    How Escrevivências Challenge Urban Planning Norms: Afro-Brazilian Communities’ Strategies for Reclaiming the Right to the City | Mayara Almeida de Paula

    What if the true architects of our cities are not the government officials or urban planners, but the communities who live in them? In this episode, we dive deep into a provocative question: When governments fail to provide essential services like water and electricity, and communities step up to fill the gaps, who define the future of urban development? We journey to Brazil to unravel the story of the 2001 City Statute, a groundbreaking piece of legislation aimed at making cities more equitable. This innovative law, born from decades of activism and aimed at redistributing urban resources, has struggled with implementation challenges. My special guest, Mayara Almeida de Paula, a PhD candidate at the University of Toronto and an expert in urban planning, will share her insights on how race, gender, and urban policies impact the lives of Black women in Brazil and how these factors either support or restrict their right to the city. Guest: Mayara Almeida de Paula Acknowledgements: This episode is co-sponsored by the University of Toronto School of Cities and the Department of Geography and Planning.  About Urban Limitrophe: Please visit www.urbanlimitrophe.com for all episode show notes and references and guest details.  Instagram & Twitter: @urbanlimitrophe  Subscribe to the newsletter: https://shorturl.at/dKQV9 Please address any related communication to hello[at]urbanlimitrophe.com  Credits:  Music and editing by Imany Lambropoulos Podcast concept, development, and design by Alexandra Lambropoulos

    53 min
  6. How Think Tanger's Multicultural Approach Transforms Suburban and Urban Spaces | Amine Houari & Naziha Nasrin

    2024-08-15

    How Think Tanger's Multicultural Approach Transforms Suburban and Urban Spaces | Amine Houari & Naziha Nasrin

    In this episode, we're headed to Tangier, Morocco. My co-host Naziha Nasrin and I speak with Amine Houari of Think Tanger, a non-profit cultural agency shaping Tangier's development through art, research, and collaboration. Together, we discuss crucial topics such as creative insurgency, planning in suburban contexts in Toronto (Scarborough) and Tangier (Bir Chifa), multicultural approaches to community development, and insights for other cultural planning organizations. Additionally, we offer advice for Western cities planning for diverse cultural contexts. Key insights from the episode include: Planning in multicultural cities and suburbs The importance of people-centred practices to urban/suburban developmentThink Tanger's StudioCity program and how it promotes dialogue, arts, city-building, and neighbourhood pride in TangierThe foundational elements of Think Tanger's approach to fostering a more inclusive and engaged communityExploring the colonial history of Tangier and its impact on the city's culture and built environmentHow Think Tanger uses publications like their magazine MAKAN and their store KIOSK alongside residency programs to support the decolonization of arts and culture in the cityCrafting inclusive approaches that resonate with the unique cultural and historical context of a cityStrengthening cultural programming and development through strategic collaborations and financial supportInclusive approaches to cultural planning Guest: Amine Houari of Think Tanger Co-Hosts: Naziha Nasrin of plazaPOPS Acknowledgements: This episode is co-sponsored by the University of Toronto School of Cities and the Department of Geography and Planning.  About Urban Limitrophe: Please visit www.urbanlimitrophe.com for all episode show notes and references and guest details.  Instagram & Twitter: @urbanlimitrophe  Subscribe to the newsletter: https://shorturl.at/dKQV9 Please address any related communication to hello[at]urbanlimitrophe.com  Credits:  Music and editing by Imany Lambropoulos Podcast concept, development, and design by Alexandra Lambropoulos

    1h 8m
  7. How the Bicycle Mayor of Toronto is Making Toronto's Streets Safer for All | Lanrick Bennett Jr., Joycelyn Guan & Erin

    2023-12-21

    How the Bicycle Mayor of Toronto is Making Toronto's Streets Safer for All | Lanrick Bennett Jr., Joycelyn Guan & Erin

    Join me, along with my co-hosts Joycelyn and Erin, as we dive into an insightful conversation with Lanrick Bennett Jr., Toronto's Bicycle Mayor, and the Executive Director of Charlie's FreeWheels. We explore his tenure as a bike mayor and the expansive network of BYCS-appointed mayors, stretching from India to Uganda and beyond. In this episode, we discuss crucial topics such as Vision Zero and efforts to reduce vehicular-related fatalities in Toronto. We delve into designing inclusive cycling infrastructure and offer advice for those looking to cycle in the city and who want to get involved in making their streets safer for all. Key insights from the episode include: Understanding the significance of inclusive cycling infrastructureExploring how Shaw St has evolved into Toronto's cycling havenThe importance of political will in creating safer streetsWays to actively contribute to advocating for safer streets in your communityInsights from international transit advocates on Toronto's cycling infrastructureWhat it takes to ensure safer streets for cyclists, pedestrians, and drivers alikeThe global network of Bicycle Mayors and their impact on urban developmentAnd much more Guest: Lanrick Bennett Jr., Bicycle Mayor of Toronto & Executive Director of Charlie’s FreeWheels Co-Hosts: Joycelyn Guan and Erin Acknowledgements: This episode is co-sponsored by the University of Toronto School of Cities and the Department of Geography and Planning.  About Urban Limitrophe: Please visit www.urbanlimitrophe.com for all episode show notes and references and guest details. Instagram & Twitter: @urbanlimitrophe Subscribe to the newsletter: https://shorturl.at/dKQV9Please address any related communication to hello[at]urbanlimitrophe.com  Credits:  Music by Imany LambropoulosPodcast concept, development, and design by Alexandra Lambropoulos

    1h 10m
  8. Artistry Beyond Borders: Exploring the Power of Public Art in Toronto with Destinie Adélakun

    2023-12-18 · BONUS

    Artistry Beyond Borders: Exploring the Power of Public Art in Toronto with Destinie Adélakun

    This episode marks the first video episode of the podcast! Here's a sneak peek of my conversation with Destinie Adélakun, an emerging multi-disciplinary artist, who masterfully weaves her Nigerian-Indian heritage into her breathtaking solo exhibition, "Journey of Adé." Destinie also shares the excitement of exhibiting at Toronto's renowned Nuit Blanche, her work bridging mental wellness and public art as part of the Scarborough-based Behind the Art Collective, and the crucial role that public art plays in shaping the identity of our cities.  This is just a snippet of our conversation. To watch our full discussion head on over to the new Urban Limitrophe YouTube channel to see all of the art pieces that Destinie refers to in the episode. Guest: Destinie Adélakun, Behind the Art Collective Acknowledgements: This episode is co-sponsored by the University of Toronto School of Cities, the Department of Geography and Planning, and GlowReel About Urban Limitrophe: Please visit www.urbanlimitrophe.com for all episode show notes and references and guest details.  Subscribe to the newsletter: https://shorturl.at/dKQV9 Please address any related communication to hello[at]urbanlimitrophe.com

    12 min
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Trailers

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Urban Limitrophe is a podcast exploring the various initiatives happening in cities across the African continent (and diaspora) to creatively solve problems, support their communities, create vibrant urban spaces, and build better cities overall. Ideas from the continent are often overlooked. This podcast seeks to bring to light the intersecting ideas and practices from urban planning, architecture, economics, arts and culture, geography, and politics that define our urban living, and uncover how to build resilient communities, economies, and ecologies. Tune in to catch interviews with urban planners, designers, researchers, community-builders, creatives and more, doing great work to change the future of their cities and find out how you support them to make a difference in their communities and get inspired to take action in yours. 

Information

  • Creator
    Alexandra Lambropoulos
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2025
  • Episodes
    30
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Urban Limitrophe

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