
superwien podcast
Ethan Kent: How Places Can Drive Urban Regeneration
The conversation with Ethan Kent explores placemaking as a tool for urban regeneration initiated by the public sector, arguing that successful development should start with people, local life and public space rather than buildings or investment. Ethan introduces “place-led development”, where community needs, everyday activities and local culture shape the direction of investment and design. We also discuss how placemaking can move from individual grassroots projects to systemic, city-wide change. Ethan stresses the importance of collaboration across planning, design, transport, government, communities and the private sector, with the “Power of Ten” providing a framework for scaling from individual places to entire districts and cities. New York City-based Ethan Kent is a world-renowned leader, activist, and pioneer in the field of placemaking and urban transformation. As the co-founder and Executive Director of PlacemakingX, he works globally with communities, cities, and practitioners to transform public spaces into socially inclusive, vibrant, and resilient places. Drawing on more than two decades of international experience, Ethan has worked across more than 50 countries, helping build local and global networks that advance placemaking through learning, advocacy, and action. His work increasingly focuses on place-led development, connecting community-led placemaking with urban regeneration, governance, and investment. With Adriana Sasāo from PROURB at the National University of Rio de Janeiro superwien worked on the sustainable urban corridors project with IDB and C40 and implemented a great placemaking project in the Oswaldo Cruz neighbourhood. Watch our videos about the diagnostic and implemention . Our goal was to create a policy how to use placemaking in the process of developing those corridors in Rio. Learn more about Ethan's work: PlacemakingX #urbanism #placeleddevelopment #publicspace #bettercities

