- IULIUS launches a new national initiative dedicated to concrete solutions for the development of cities in Romania
- The first edition of TILIA, the Summit of Cities in Romania will take place in Iași between April 23 and 24, 2026
- Over 300 leaders from administration, investment and finance, architecture and civil society gather in Iași to discuss urban planning and mobility, public-private partnerships and affordable housing
- EBRD, one of the most important institutional investors in Romania and a leader in urban regeneration and sustainable real estate, joins TILIA as a strategic partner to bring practical, finance-ready solutions for greener and more inclusive cities
- Foster + Partners, a renowned international architecture firm, is bringing an exhibition to Romania for the first time at the Palace of Culture in Iași. It will be open to the public between April 7 and May 3, 2026.
IULIUS announces the launch of TILIA – Today's Ideas and Leadership In Action (Romanian Cities Summit), a national initiative dedicated to concrete solutions for the development of cities in Romania. Developed by the IULIUS Foundation, TILIA marks the beginning of an annual effort of dialogue and collaboration for urban development.
The first edition of the Romanian Cities Summit will bring together, on April 23–24, 2026, at the Palace of Culture in Iași, over 300 mayors, architects, urban planners, representatives of international financial institutions, academia and civil society, to jointly build applicable solutions for a better life in Romanian cities. The summit will be complemented by a national premiere architecture exhibition that can be visited at the Palace of Culture, between April 7 and May 3.
The initiative's ambition is to become an annual benchmark for all actors involved in the transformation of cities in Romania - a space for dialogue in which the urban vision is directly connected to concrete financing and implementation mechanisms, in order to generate real solutions and collaborations that can be put into practice.
"We often talk about cities either in terms of the future or looking back. Through TILIA we want to bring the conversation to the present, to what we can do concretely, today, for the cities we live in. We conceived this initiative as a framework in which administrations, investors, architects, academia and civil society work together, not just to generate ideas, but to transform them into applicable solutions, based on real examples, on the application of lessons learned and on the exchange of good practices," said Raluca Munteanu, Development Director, IULIUS.
“The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is delighted to be IULIUS’ partner in TILIA, bringing Romania’s cities to the forefront and collaborating to chart concrete directions towards greener urban spaces, higher living standards and more inclusive communities. We are happy to make our expertise available to support the implementation of this initiative,” said Victoria Zinchuk, EBRD Head of Office, Romania.
Future Proof: Foster + Partners architectural exhibition
One of the key moments of the first edition is Future Proof by Foster + Partners, presented for the first time in Romania. Recognized worldwide for emblematic projects on six continents and constructions in over 45 countries, Foster + Partners will bring, to the Palace of Culture in the center of Iași, 30 mock-ups, 3D models of representative international projects.
The exhibition will open on April 7, and the works will be on view until May 3, offering the general public, as well as professionals in the field, the opportunity to explore decades of world-class architecture and urbanism, from Apple Park to the Great Court in the British Museum, the Reichstag (the new Parliament building in Berlin, Germany) as well as masterplans for entire cities.
“This is an extraordinary opportunity to showcase over five decades of our studio’s work to the people of Iași — inside a remarkable building, the Palace of Culture. The exhibition highlights our approach, which has always been defined by a forward-looking commitment to innovation and responsible design,” said Maximilian Zielinski, Senior Partner, Foster + Partners.
The exhibition reflects Foster + Partners’ approach to architecture and urbanism, built over five decades around responsible, adaptable and sustainable design. From interventions on historic buildings to masterplans for low-carbon cities and urban systems, the projects on display explore how infrastructure, energy and public spaces can contribute to the development of resilient communities.
As part of the TILIA summit – Today's Ideas and Leadership In Action, the exhibition will be complemented by a masterclass supported by the Foster + Partners team, offering architects, urban planners and decision-makers the opportunity to directly dialogue about the application of these principles in real projects.
The IULIUS company is going through a strategic stage and is collaborating with Foster + Partners on two projects under development: the remodeling of the Palas mixed-use complex near the Palace of Culture in Iași and the vision for the urban reconversion of 38 former industrial hectares in the central area of Constanța.
Romanian Cities Summit: from vision to implementation
The first edition of the Romanian Cities Summit is built around the idea that cities transform when vision and implementation are approached together. Day one, April 23 – Vision and Urban Design – explores the principles underlying vibrant and people-oriented cities, with international perspectives and case studies in urban regeneration. Day two, April 24 – Financing and Implementation – moves the discussion from vision to concrete mechanisms: financing urban projects, structuring public-private partnerships and solutions for one of the most pressing urban challenges – affordable housing.
The full agenda is available on the official website of the TILIA Summit of Cities in Romania.
On the main stage, representatives of commercial banks, international development financial institutions, and public policy experts will debate the current challenges of cities, from financing to the legislative framework, with the objective of generating solutions that can then be taken up by all actors involved.
In parallel, on the second stage, Cities in the Making: Design, Culture and Nature explores the forces that shape a city's character – from architecture and creative industries, to mental health and green infrastructure.
At the first edition of TILIA - Today's Ideas and Leadership In Action, the Romanian Cities Summit, an event held between April 23-24, 2026, in Iași, over 300 participants are expected - mayors, architects, urban planners, representatives of academia and civil society - to discuss concrete solutions for the development of cities in Romania.
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