From Vision to Reality

Working Group: Sustainable & Affordable Housing – Connective Cities

Affordable and sustainable housing remains one of the most pressing challenges for cities worldwide. In the next phase of the Connective Cities Sustainable & Affordable Housing Working Group, this online workshop introduces visualisation methods as a practical tool to support planning, communication, and peer learning among cities.

Building on previous working group exchanges, the session integrates principles of the New European Bauhaus and explores how AI-based visualisation can help cities translate strategic housing goals into tangible spatial concepts.

The workshop combines hands-on visualisation with a mini peer-learning format, allowing participating cities to reflect on concrete cases related to building rehabilitation, public spaces, infill development, and neighbourhood upgrading.

Objectives

• Introduce AI-supported visualisation approaches for affordable and sustainable housing
• Apply NEB principles (sustainability, inclusion, aesthetics) to real city cases
• Strengthen peer consultation and collective learning among Connective Cities alumni
• Bridge the gap between visual concepts and implementation planning

Format

• Short expert inputs
• Live AI-based visualisation session using selected city cases
• City-led peer consultation with feedback from peers, experts, and the Connective Cities team

Practical information

• Date: 22 January 2026
• Time: 10:00–13:00 CET
• Location: Online (Connective Cities Platform)
• Language: English
• Participation: Free of charge, register here

The workshop is open to the public. Active participation in the AI-based visualisation (including uploading own photos) is reserved for members of the Connective Cities Sustainable & Low-Cost Housing Alumni Group.

In case of questions, please contact:

Moses Munuve – moses.munuve@giz.de or Jelena Karamatijevic – jelena.karamatijevic@giz.de