That was the question we explored at a Nord55 event hosted by the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce on 9 June.

The discussion focused in particular on how urban spaces are increasingly shaped by economic interests: housing is becoming an investment asset, public spaces are being commercialised, and social divisions risk becoming physically embedded in the fabric of our cities. How do we ensure that people remain at the centre of urban development?

The speakers included Camilla van Deurs, Head of Urban Development at Nordic Office of Architecture and former City Architect of Copenhagen; Torleif Falk, City Architect of Stockholm; author and commentator Faysa Idle; Anders Rubing, Editor-in-Chief of Nordic Review of Architecture; journalist and podcast host Hilde Sandvik; Hanna Stjärne, Chief Executive of the Nobel Foundation; Stig Kirk Ørskov, Chief Executive of the World Association of News Publishers; Lise Bach Hansen, Project Director at Nord55; Peter Sandberg, Vice president, and Daniella Waldfogel, Chief Executive of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce.