Christian Bason emphasizes the importance of fostering a sense of belonging among citizens and building long-term partnerships across sectors to create sustainable, impactful change. According to Bason, reimagining our cities requires both collective imagination and collaboration to chart a better future for people and the planet.
Cities face complex, intertwined issues, ranging from environmental crises and mental health challenges to social equity, affordable housing, and biodiversity loss. Addressing these requires a shift in mindset—one that fosters belonging, where citizens feel deeply connected to their cities and empowered to help shape the future. Belonging also entails embracing a broader set of values beyond economic growth, such as social cohesion, mental health, trust, and thriving natural systems. For Bason, expanding our collective imagination and cultivating empathy—both for people and nature—are critical to reimagining a better tomorrow.
Partnerships are equally essential for achieving long-term strategic goals. Successful initiatives require cross-sector collaboration that mobilizes diverse stakeholders to co-create solutions. For example, Denmark’s response to the youth mental health crisis brought together 150 actors, including young people, businesses, and city officials, to envision thriving futures. This collaboration produced an imaginary city that modeled systemic changes and inspired similar efforts nationwide. By creating tangible, shared visions, citizens and stakeholders are empowered to contribute to sustainable change.
The European Union’s New European Bauhaus project offers another example of building partnerships. By engaging architects, designers, artists, and businesses, it created a shared vision of climate-neutral cities that are beautiful, inclusive, and sustainable. This approach united participants through their love of place and appreciation for sustainable materials, fostering a common purpose across sectors.
Cities must also adopt a portfolio approach—a collection of interconnected interventions that balance addressing immediate needs, experimenting with bold ideas, and implementing radical changes. Governing through portfolios shifts city administrations from decision-makers to enablers, empowering citizens and sectors to collaborate. For instance, one Danish city uses the Three Horizons framework to stop outdated practices, pilot innovative solutions, and implement long-term strategies.
To navigate these complexities, Bason advocates for «mission management,» where cross-sector teams resolve conflicts, align interests, and maintain strategic direction. These roles transcend traditional city administration, fostering shared innovation hubs that benefit entire communities. By transforming governance and nurturing belonging and partnerships, cities can inspire long-term, impactful change.
As anthropologist David Graeber once noted, humans have always reshaped their world. By reigniting our imagination and working together, we can reimagine cities to meet the urgent challenges of today and tomorrow.