With rising sea levels threatening 570 coastal cities and 800 million people by 2050, the need for innovative urban strategies has never been more urgent. Traditional flood barriers are proving insufficient – so what if cities embraced water instead of resisting it?

On 6 March 2025, Maria Stamati, Associate & Business Development Manager for Urban Planning at MVRDV, will take part in the Cities on the Frontline Speaker series, organised by the Resilient Cities Network. In an online panel titled "The Future of Infrastructure for Coastal Cities", Maria will present insights from MVRDV’s Sea Level Rise Catalogue, showcasing adaptive solutions such as floating developments, elevated structures, and nature-based defences.

Maria StamatiShe will be joined by Arnoud Molenaar, Global Director for Resilience and Partnerships at Square Floating City, who will discuss the potential of floating infrastructure as a climate-resilient urban expansion strategy. Fitse Gelaye (Regional Engagement Coordinator, Africa and Senior Manager, Programs Resilient Cities Network) will host these talks.

Now in its fifth year, the Cities on the Frontline Speaker Series has become a key platform for urban resilience, convening over 13,000 participants across 90+ sessions. Originally launched in response to the COVID-19 crisis, the series now tackles climate resilience, energy transitions, and urban adaptation, bringing together global experts and city leaders to share forward-thinking solutions.

• Date & time: 6 March, 15:00 (CET).
• Location: online.
• More information on how to join the talk can be found here.