20 years of Congress: A journey through cities, stories, and shared learning
As the AoU builds towards its 20th anniversary, Jas Atwal reflects on two decades of learning from place
This article was written by Jas Atwal, former AoU Chair, Congress Curator 2010-2021, and Director, Kevin Murray Associates, with input from Shane Quinn, AoU Board Director and Congress Curator since 2022.
Congress 2025 in June will launch the AoU's 20th anniversary. Join us in Utrecht to start the party together!
Reflecting on 20 years, I’m struck by the cumulative wisdom these events have gathered and shared. When we took part in the very first Academy Congress back in 2006, none of us quite knew the nature or extent of the journey we were embarking upon – either literally or metaphorically. What began as a pre-Crash gathering of enthusiastic practising urbanists, all passionate and experienced in shaping better places, has evolved over the last two decades into a vibrant and ever-growing tapestry of people, places, and ideas.
From the waterfronts of Copenhagen and Newcastle to the historic streets of Cork and Cambridge, Congress has always been about more than just presentations and panel discussions. It was about immersing ourselves in a place, walking the streets, hearing local voices, and building connections and friendships that extended far beyond the event itself.
Here’s a whistle-stop tour through the cities we’ve visited over the past two decades:
2006 – Copenhagen & Malmö: Our first Congress was a tale of two cities. While Copenhagen (pictured) dazzled with its public life and urban design legacy, Malmö brought a different, but equally inspiring, narrative on sustainable transformation.
2007 – Dublin: A city full of energy and change. At Dublin Castle we explored its emerging regeneration story, then seemingly strong and ongoing, set in an international context, including the tensions between tradition, modernity and identity.
2008 – Sheffield: A lesson in industrial heritage and progressive transformation, Sheffield gave us rich insights into the power of public realm investment and civic pride.
2009 – NewcastleGateshead: A strong host location with a rich urban fabric, seen from a wonderful boat trip on the Tyne. We delved into housing, health, and the importance of shaping the place with positive policy.
2009 – NewcastleGateshead: A strong host location with a rich urban fabric, seen from a wonderful boat trip on the Tyne (pictured left). We delved into housing, health, and the importance of shaping the place with positive policy.
2010 – Manchester: My first Congress as Curator. The energy in Manchester was electric. From its bold city leadership to neighbourhood-level projects, it showed what confidence and vision can do for a city. The Congress dinner, at the newly refurbished Gorton Monastery, with the ethereal, shimmering sound of a harpist to welcome delegates and Lemn Sissay’s powerfully evocative poetry was truly memorable.
2011 – Glasgow: The theme for Glasgow was ‘Liveable Neighbourhoods’, discovering how Glasgow transformed itself from “the worst corner of Britain” (The Observer) to a “fantastic world class city” (Conde Naste). Glasgow offered authenticity and grit. We discussed urban health, resilience, and post-industrial renewal, all rounded off with a trip to the wonderful Glasgow School of Art.
2012 – Derry~Londonderry: Congress in Derry~Londonderry was held just ahead of the city being named UK City of Culture for 2013, and that sense of anticipation and civic energy was tangible. The Congress theme focused on Derry’s story of resilience, reconciliation, and renewal.
2013 – Bradford: Congress in Bradford explored how an established post-industrial city rethinks its role, economy, and also recasts its physical place to help it compete both locally and in the global economy. The Congress dinner was a true highlight, held on the stage of the historic Alhambra Theatre (pictured, right), with the added pleasure of the Academy’s poet-in-residence Ian McMillan hosting, with John Thompson, an interactive haiku writing session.
2014 – Bristol: The Academy was invited to host Congress in Bristol, by its then Mayor, George Ferguson, Co-Founder of the AoU. Congress was there the year before the city was named European Green Capital. It had a strong international flavour with leading urbanists from around the world, and drinks hosted at Aardman Studios and dinner aboard the SS Great Britain.
2015 – Birmingham: A city on the up, with lots to show and tell, we explored Birmingham intensively through the lens of health, happiness and wellbeing. This Congress had a fitting closing keynote address from Charles Montgomery on the Happy City.
2016 – London: Our 10th Congress was held in London, with the title ‘The future of urbanism – Ideas, innovation, adaptation’. We looked at how cities can evolve and remain both competitive and liveable, which was showcased through the exploration of the city of Toronto, by Jennifer Keesmaat (pictured), the then Chief City Planner. It was appropriately rounded off with a celebratory party at Trinity Buoy Wharf.
2017 – Aarhus: Denmark again, this time Aarhus, the European Capital of Culture. We were treated to some stunning architecture + design and transformational waterfront developments. We learned about the importance of strong leadership and bold decisions in re-thinking the nature of a place and its many roles.
2018 – Cork: ‘Cities on the Rise’ was a fitting theme - where better to explore this than in Cork, Ireland’s great maritime city on the Atlantic rim of Europe? Once the staging post for European emigration to the US, it now sees people and investment flow in the other direction, including the European HQ of Apple. Glorious weather, a barbecue in Nano Nagle Place, musical performances from local students, and a boat trip all made for a Congress that was magical.
2019 – Eindhoven: Congress in Eindhoven looked at affordable housing, and the city’s innovation ecosystem and creative use of post-industrial spaces stood out, as it sought to deal with major economic transformation. The Young Urbanist debates, group cycle tours and Congress dinner in the old Philips factory campus (pictured) were all memorable parts.
2020 – No Congress: Covid-19 brought everything to a halt. It was the first time we couldn’t gather in person, and it felt like a real loss.
2021 – Edinburgh (Online): Still under some restrictions, we ran our first fully digital Congress. Edinburgh was the virtual host city, and local teams helped create filmed study tours. It was moving, in its own way, a reminder of how much urbanists value being in place.
2022 – Belfast: We were lucky to have Shane Quinn, a long-standing Academician, take on the Curator role in his home city of Belfast for the first in-person Congress post-Covid. From tours of the emerging Titanic Quarter to discussions about including often marginalised voices, keynote speakers from Tirana and Aarhus, and with plenary sessions in the landmark buildings of the MAC and Ulster Museum, delegates learnt valuable lessons from a ‘City Overcoming Challenges’ at a time when all cities were grappling with the challenge of a lifetime.
2023 – Cambridge: In 2023, Shane returned again as curator, and I returned, this time as Chair of the Academy. Delegates in Cambridge soaked up both the sun and lessons about how crucial ‘Designing for the Future’ is. Congress immersed itself in venues within the city’s ancient university and the restored Corn Exchange, with tours of the Cambridge Science Park and the world-class neighbourhood of Eddington, and with keynotes from youthful, thoughtful, and future-focused deliverers, Marion Waller and Itai Palti.
2025 – Utrecht (11–13 June): Our next chapter. We’re heading back to the Netherlands, and I can’t encourage you enough to come along. Utrecht (pictured) is an urban pioneer and promises inspiring approaches to mobility, public space, and inclusive planning.
In the post-Covid world, meeting people in settings that inspire feels ever more vital. It’s part of why Congress offers such a unique experience - to learn about a city, not only through screens but from seeing and touching and living what a city is doing for two or three days.
As we put the finishing touches on the 2025 Congress in Utrecht, don’t miss out on your chance to experience world-leading urbanism being delivered and considered daily in a city that is defining much of what we need to do: shaping itself to encourage Healthy Urban Living, not as a slogan but as part of the everyday.
Looking Back, Thinking Ahead
As we celebrate the Academy’s 20th Anniversary, I feel incredibly proud to have played a small part in this story. And more than anything, I’m excited to see where the next 20 years will take us—and what new cities, conversations, and surprises lie ahead.
Here’s to the next 20 years. And hopefully, to seeing you in Utrecht.
