- Charles Montgomery, author of the book Happy City will be the main international speaker at TILIA — Romanian Cities Summit, April 23-24, Iași
- In Romania for the first time, Montgomery is among the 100 most influential urban planners in the world (Planetizen, 2023)
- His speech, “The Science of Happy Cities: Principles and Ideas for Romania", will take place on the first day of the Summit, dedicated to urban vision and human-centered design, on April 23 on the Main Stage in the Palace of Culture
- TILIA — The Romanian Cities Summit takes place between April 23–24, 2026, at the Palace of Culture in Iași, organized by IULIUS in partnership with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
IULIUS announces the participation of Charles Montgomery — urban planner, author and leader of global experiments to improve the well-being of cities — as an international speaker at the first edition of TILIA — Romanian Cities Summit, which will take place between April 23–24, 2026, at the Palace of Culture in Iași.
Montgomery is the author of The Happy City: Transforming Our Lives Through Urban Design — a landmark work that examines the intersection of urban design and the science of happiness. The work has changed the way cities around the world look at public space, mobility, and social infrastructure. The book has become an international reference for urban planners, policymakers, and public administration leaders alike. His new book on design that builds trust will be published in 2026.
At TILIA- Romanian Cities Summit, Montgomery will deliver his keynote address “The Science of Happy Cities: Principles and Ideas for Romania,” followed by a Q&A session. Drawing on global research and relevant examples, his presentation will explore how urban design influences well-being. He will also highlight how these principles can be applied in the context of Romanian cities, from creating more walkable neighborhoods to shaping public spaces that support community life and long-term urban resilience. He will take the stage on the first day of the Romanian Cities Summit—Vision and Urban Design—with a people-first keynote address that uses evidence-based approaches to building the future of cities.
"Cities are not made of stone and glass. They are made of the decisions we make together"
“The question is whether we design for fear or for trust, for isolation or for community , ” said Charles Montgomery.
Charles Montgomery is an award-winning author, urban planner, and experimenter for improving well-being in cities around the world. His acclaimed book, The Happy City: Transforming Our Lives Through Urban Design , examines the intersection of urban design and the emerging science of happiness. Charles founded the interdisciplinary Happy Cities team , which helps city builders on four continents achieve healthier, happier, and more inclusive societies. His collaborators have included the World Health Organization, the Guggenheim Museum, the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, and governments in Vancouver, Auckland, Mexico City, Denver, and Dubai. Charles is a member of the Centre for Conscious Design. In 2023, Planetizen magazine named Charles Montgomery one of the 100 most influential urban planners in the world.
“The presence of an internationally recognized voice like Charles Montgomery reflects the ambition behind TILIA-Romanian Cities Summit: to connect Romania’s urban conversation with the most relevant global thinking today. At a time when Romanian cities and their leaders face increasing pressure — from demographic shifts and housing shortages, to adapting to climate change — the summit aims to bring the tools and experts that can turn ideas into action ,” said Raluca Munteanu, IULIUS Development Director.
The first edition of TILIA – Romanian Cities Summit is based on the idea that cities transform when vision and implementation are approached together.
Day One, April 23 – Urban Vision and Design – explores the principles behind vibrant, people-centered cities, with international perspectives and case studies in urban regeneration.
The next day, 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 complete agenda is available on the official TILIA website.
On the main stage, representatives of commercial banks, international development finance institutions, together with public policy experts, will debate the current challenges of cities – from financing to the legislative framework – with the aim of generating solutions that can then be taken up by all the actors involved. In parallel, on the second stage, Cities in the Making: Design, Culture and Nature explores the forces that shape the character of a city: 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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