Start with Children

Miniseries

Miniseries focused on building better cities for children

TU–BA Centre for Architecture and City Planning, Bratislava, 2026

About Miniseries:

Start With Children is back in Bratislava! This year as a miniseries of lectures and workshops hosted at TU-BA, our new Centre for Architecture and City Planning. We will open topics such as housing for intergenerational communities, role of women in changing cities, sustainability, inclusive masterplanning or co-design and green mobility.

Expect inspiring speakers and engaging topics focused on creating cities that work better for children and, in turn, are better for everyone.

This year's topics

Housing for Thriving Communities Women Changing Cities Copenhagen Urban Life Strategy Vienna's Approach to Inclusive Masterplanning Empowering Young People Through Co-Design

Melissa & Chris Bruntlett: Women Changing Cities

Melissa and Chris Bruntlett, authors of the new book Women Changing Cities and leading urban mobility advocates, explore how women leaders are reshaping cities to be safer and more welcoming for children—and therefore better for everyone.

Drawing on examples from Paris, Barcelona or Bogotá, they highlight initiatives such as school streets, protected cycling and inclusive public spaces. The discussion is joined by Simon Battisti, advancing school streets through Qendra Marrëdhënie in Tirana, and Petra Marko, head of the Metropolitan Institute of Bratislava spearheading the City for Children programme.

19 May 2026

18:00–19:30

Kristian Villadsen: Copenhagen's Urban Life & Sustainable Behaviour

What makes urban life truly liveable for everyone — and how can sustainable behaviour be embedded into masterplanning from the start?

Urban advisor and architect Kristian Villadsen draws on over 20 years’ experience at Gehl and BRIQ shaping districts such as Carlsberg Byen in Copenhagen. He shares lessons on family- and child-focused design, showing how placemaking and thoughtful strategy can turn masterplans into vibrant districts where people of all ages belong.

28 May 2026

18:00–19:30

Eva Kail: Vienna's Approach to Inclusive Masterplanning

How can cities be designed so that every child’s needs are genuinely considered?

Urban planner Eva Kail shares insights from her pioneering work advancing gender-sensitive planning in Vienna. From early research on everyday mobility patterns to guiding major developments such as Aspern Seestadt, her work demonstrates how inclusive policies and thoughtful design—from parks to public space—can shape accessible, playful environments and create more equitable cities for future generations

3 June 2026

18:00–19:30

Registration opening soon

MATT+FIONA: Empowering Young People Through Co-Design

What if children could help shape the places where they live, learn and play?

Fiona MacDonald and Matthew Springett of MATT+FIONA share how their practice enables young people to design and build real spaces in their communities. Through hands-on projects and collaboration with schools and cities, they demonstrate how involving youth in placemaking fosters creativity, confidence and a lasting belief that young people can shape the world around them.

17 June 2026

18:00–19:30

Registration opening soon

Cany Ash: Housing for Thriving Communities

How can neighbourhood design nurture intergenerational connection, everyday play and children’s independence?

Cany Ash, co-founder of the award-winning London architecture studio Ash Sakula, explores community housing models that strengthen social life and children’s agency. Drawing on projects including The Malings and the Profitable Neighbourhoods research, she shows how mixed-tenure streets, homes opening onto shared spaces, and human-scaled design can support play, neighbourly interaction, and resilient local communities.

9 April 2026

18:00–19:30

past event

More coming soon!

Let's meet in TU‑BA!

Join the discussion on child-friendly urban planning right from the heart of Slovakia’s capital.

Štúrova 12/4, 811 02 Staré Mesto

Start with Children – Miniseries 2026