‘Feminist City – gender perspectives in urbanism’ (‘Miasto Feministyczne – perspektywa płci w urbanistyce’) conference was held in ZODIAK Warsaw Architecutre Pavilion on the 6th and 7th of February. This event was organised as a component of the specialised training provided by international experts to the personnel of the Katarzyna Kozyra Foundation. The conference advanced the understanding of urban planning through the gendered lens in Poland and became a key point in fostering international collaboration among women professionals in this field.

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On the first day, we welcomed experts in the feminist approach to urban planning. Our first guest was Dr Sara Ortiz Escalante from Catalonia, who co-creates the Col-lectiu Punt 6 cooperative, responsible for implementing a feminist perspective in urban development. Dr Escalante elaborated on actionable strategies to translate inclusive urban planning theory into practice. She alluded to the importance of community dialogue. She talked about the importance of walking together to observe the feelings of people most affected by inadequately planned urban environments. These are the key steps to initiate a conversation about creating an equitable urban space.

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Our next guest was Dr. Bahar Sakizlioglu, the urban sociologist from Turkey, who spoke of inclusive city planning, particularly emphasising its impact on marginalised communities and their sense of safety, community building, and social reproduction. Additionally, Dr Sakizlioglu shed light on the growing phenomenon of gentrification and the significance of a home in a broader sociological meaning, precisely the idea that domestic life influences how we interact with the outside world and moulds societal roles. After the seminar, the audience asked questions that enriched the value of the conference - we heard about the examples of patriarchal architecture, both within households and urban landscapes. Lastly, the participants took part in a walk around the neighbourhood to observe the area, as advised by Dr. Escalante in the previous seminar.

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On the last day of the conference, they featured hands-on workshops by architects from the Architektoniczki collective. These workshops were created to incorporate the feelings and impressions of participants after the neighbourhood walks. The activities that took place were designed to evoke the emotions participants might experience while walking alone at night and explored the intersection of urbanism with individual experiences, mainly focusing on the extent to which cities adapt to the needs of women. The Architektoniczki collective also implemented elements of the research methodology they have developed as part of the mobilities supported by the European Union into the workshops, providing participants with an opportunity to understand how the architects cultivate expertise in this profession.

Further reading:

Architektoniczki in Berlin – gender issues in urban studies

Equal spaces in the city – Architektoniczki explore Stockholm

Architektoniczki exploring feminist urban planning in Spain!