Urban Limitrophe

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

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 a Free Building Can Cost Everything: China, Africa, and Gifting Parliaments | Dr. Innocent Batsani-Ncube

    5D AGO

    How a Free Building Can Cost Everything: China, Africa, and Gifting Parliaments | Dr. Innocent Batsani-Ncube

    A gift isn't always free. But when a foreign government offers to build your parliament—for free—it's easy to miss where the real cost lands. In this episode, Dr. Innocent (Ib) Batsani-Ncube discusses China's role in constructing parliament buildings across Africa, and what these projects reveal about architecture, power, procurement, and urban development. Drawing from years of research across Malawi, Zimbabwe, and Lesotho, Ib unpacks how these landmark buildings reshape cities and political systems—from imported construction materials and sidelined local architects to leaking domes that only foreign maintenance crews can repair. Together, we explore: How parliament buildings shape political culture and urban identityWhat gets lost when foreign actors design local democratic spacesWhy procurement and infrastructure are never politically neutralThe tension between modernity, symbolism, and local belongingWhat ordinary citizens, planners, and parliament staff really think about these projectsThis episode explores how infrastructure is never just infrastructure. Parliament buildings are not only physical spaces — they shape governance, political culture, procurement systems, and the everyday experience of cities. By examining who builds these spaces and whose visions are embedded within them, the conversation raises deeper questions about sovereignty, urban identity, and development in African cities. Dr. Batsani-Ncube's book, China and African Parliaments, is available now via Oxford University Press.  Guest: Dr. Innocent (Ib) Batsani-Ncube 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 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

    1 hr
  2. How to Build a Better Innovation Ecosystem: Lessons from Botswana | Dr. Pierce Otlhogile-Gordon

    MAR 3

    How to Build a Better Innovation Ecosystem: Lessons from Botswana | Dr. Pierce Otlhogile-Gordon

    We often think of innovation as something inherently good — new technologies, sleek apps, disruptive ideas, and economic growth. But who actually benefits from innovation? And what gets erased in the process? In this episode, Alexandra speaks with Dr. Pierce Otlhogile-Gordon, a knowledge architect and social change educator based in Botswana, about the relationship between innovation, development, land, power, and cultural knowledge systems. Together, they unpack Botswana’s efforts to build an innovation economy beyond diamonds, while exploring larger questions around colonialism, intellectual property, indigenous knowledge systems, youth unemployment, and the politics of global development.   Dr. Pierce shares how land, policy, history, and local knowledge shape what innovation can — and cannot — achieve; how national ambition meets lived reality; and what other countries, regions, and cities can learn from Botswana’s approach. Together, we explore: How innovation is shaped by policy, history, and placeThe opportunities and constraints facing emerging entrepreneursWhy innovation is never truly neutralThe relationship between indigenous knowledge and intellectual propertyThe tension between national development goals and everyday realities Guest: Dr. Pierce Edward Cornelius Otlhogile-Gordon 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 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

    54 min
  3. Trans Africa Pipeline (Pt. 3): Why Africa’s Water Crisis Matters Everywhere and What We Can Do About It | Dr. Rod Tennyson & Dr. Romila Verma

    FEB 3

    Trans Africa Pipeline (Pt. 3): Why Africa’s Water Crisis Matters Everywhere and What We Can Do About It | Dr. Rod Tennyson & Dr. Romila Verma

    How will water scarcity shape the future of cities, migration, and global stability? From climate change to migration, the African water crisis is deeply connected to global challenges — and global solutions.  In the final episode of this series, we explore why water scarcity is not just a regional issue, but a global one. We unpack the legacy of extractive systems, the role of youth and local leadership, and the urgency of declaring not just a climate emergency, but a water emergency.  Through the lens of the TransAfrica Pipeline, we ask: what does global responsibility look like in a time of water crisis — and what can we do to build a more secure, just, and caring future? Guest: Dr. Rod Tennyson & Dr. Romila Verma Series: How the Trans Africa Pipeline (TAP) Can Solve the Sahel Region’s Water Crisis What if water infrastructure could do more than deliver clean drinking water — what if it could transform economies, support food security, reduce climate migration, and unite communities across borders? In this 3-part series, Urban Limitrophe explores the story of the TransAfrica Pipeline (TAP) — a visionary project to bring clean, desalinated water across the Sahel through a 7,000-kilometre pipeline powered by renewable energy. Through conversations with co-founders Dr. Rod Tennyson and Dr. Romila Verma, we unpack how water connects to everything: agriculture, innovation, migration, environmental justice, and community resilience. 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 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

    34 min
  4. Trans Africa Pipeline (Pt. 2): How Water Infrastructure Shapes Our Lives | Dr. Rod Tennyson & Dr. Romila Verma

    JAN 20

    Trans Africa Pipeline (Pt. 2): How Water Infrastructure Shapes Our Lives | Dr. Rod Tennyson & Dr. Romila Verma

    Why do some water systems work— and others fail? Successful water infrastructure isn’t just about engineering. There’s a hidden social side — shaped by governance, culture, and power — that often determines whether systems actually work, or get built at all. In this second episode, beyond the technical side of infrastructure to explore the social, ethical, and ecological dimensions of water access. Dr. Verma introduces her Four Pillars of Water Sustainability — science, governance, economics, and cultural connection — and we explore how these ideas can reshape how cities, towns, and regions manage water today. From sponge cities to sacred rivers, we discuss why collaboration and care are at the heart of any truly sustainable water system. Guest: Dr. Rod Tennyson & Dr. Romila Verma Series: How the Trans Africa Pipeline (TAP) Can Solve the Sahel Region’s Water Crisis What if water infrastructure could do more than deliver clean drinking water — what if it could transform economies, support food security, reduce climate migration, and unite communities across borders? In this 3-part series, Urban Limitrophe explores the story of the TransAfrica Pipeline (TAP) — a visionary project to bring clean, desalinated water across the Sahel through a 7,000-kilometre pipeline powered by renewable energy. Through conversations with co-founders Dr. Rod Tennyson and Dr. Romila Verma, we unpack how water connects to everything: agriculture, innovation, migration, environmental justice, and community resilience. 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 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

    18 min
  5. Trans Africa Pipeline (Pt. 1): How to Build a Continent-Sized Water System | Dr. Rod Tennyson & Dr. Romila Verma

    2025-09-01

    Trans Africa Pipeline (Pt. 1): How to Build a Continent-Sized Water System | Dr. Rod Tennyson & Dr. Romila Verma

    What if water infrastructure could do more than deliver clean drinking water — what if it could transform economies, support food security, reduce climate migration, and unite communities across borders? In this 3-part series, Urban Limitrophe explores the story of the TransAfrica Pipeline (TAP) — a visionary project to bring clean, desalinated water across the Sahel through a 7,000-kilometre pipeline powered by renewable energy. Through conversations with co-founders Dr. Rod Tennyson and Dr. Romila Verma, we unpack how water connects to everything: agriculture, innovation, migration, environmental justice, and community resilience. TAP is more than a pipeline — it’s a call to imagine water systems built with care, innovation, and the future in mind. Guest: Dr. Rod Tennyson & Dr. Romila Verma Episode 1: How to Build a Continent-Sized Water System How do you build a continent-sized water system? In this episode, we explore what it takes to design a 7,000-kilometre pipeline to bring clean water across one of the driest regions in the world. Co-founders Dr. Rod Tennyson and Dr. Romila Verma share the origin story of the TransAfrica Pipeline (TAP) — a visionary infrastructure project that combines solar-powered desalination, salt recovery, and lightweight materials to deliver sustainable water access across the Sahel. From technical design to big-picture ambition, we dive into how TAP was engineered — and how it could change lives on a continental scale. 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 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

    31 min
  6. How DO Architecture Co-Designs for Dignity After Disaster | Omar Degan

    2025-07-09

    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
  7. 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
  8. 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
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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 - 2026
  • Episodes
    35
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Urban Limitrophe