Underground Space for Sustainable Cities Discussed at Changing Cities VII
Underground Space for Sustainable Cities Discussed at Changing Cities VII
The 7th International Conference on Changing Cities (Changing Cities VII), held from 15–19 June 2026 on Spetses Island, Greece, brought together leading researchers, planners, architects, engineers, and policymakers from around the world to explore innovative approaches to creating more sustainable, resilient, and future-ready cities.
Antonia Cornaro, Expert on Underground Space at Amberg Engineering, represented ITACUS, the ITA Committee on Underground Space, at the conference. During the event, she co-presented the paper: "Underground Space - The Creation of Self-Reliant Cities: From 2D Surface Sprawl to 3D Volumetric Planning" which she co-authored with Chrysothemis Paraskevopoulou and Asimina Paraskevopoulou.
The paper highlighted the importance of integrating underground space into future urban planning strategies to help address challenges of climate change, rapid urbanization and resource constraints. By shifting traditional two-dimensional approaches towards 3D volumetric planning, cities can make more efficient use of available space, strengthen resilience, and create more sustainable urban environments.
As cities worldwide face growing challenges related to climate change, urban growth, and resource efficiency, innovative approaches to planning and infrastructure are essential. The intelligent use of underground space represents an important opportunity to support adaptable, resilient, and future-ready cities.
Changing Cities VII provided an inspiring international platform for researchers, planners, architects, engineers, and policymakers to exchange ideas on the future of cities, including smart cities, sustainability, resilience, cultural heritage, and innovative urban development.
Through experts such as Antonia Cornaro, Amberg Engineering actively contributes to advancing knowledge on underground space and sustainable infrastructure, supporting the development of more resilient and future-ready cities.
