- IULIUS launches new national initiative dedicated to concrete solutions for the development of Romanian cities.
- The first edition of TILIA Romanian Cities Summit will take place in Iasi on April 23-24, 2026.
- Over 300 leaders from administration, investment and financing, architecture and civil society gather in Iasi to discuss urban planning and mobility, public-private partnerships and affordable housing.
- EBRD, one of the largest institutional investors in Romania and a leader in urban regeneration and sustainable real estate, joins TILIA as strategic partner to advance practical, finance‑ready solutions for greener, more inclusive cities.
- First ever architectural exhibition from Foster + Partners, a renowned international architecture firm, to open to public at the Palace of Culture in Iași. Available for visit April 7 – May 3, 2026.
IULIUS announces the launch of TILIA – Today’s Ideas and Leadership In Action, a national initiative dedicated to concrete solutions for the development of Romanian cities. Implemented through the IULIUS Foundation, TILIA marks the beginning of an annual initiative of dialogue and collaboration for urban development. The first edition of the Romanian Cities Summit will bring together, on April 23–24, 2026, at the Palace of Culture in Iași, over 300 mayors, architects, urban planners, representatives of international financial institutions, academia and civil society, to build together applicable solutions for a better life in Romania’s cities. The summit will be complemented by a national premiere architecture exhibition that can be visited at the Palace of Culture between April 7 and May 3.
The ambition of the initiative is to become an annual benchmark for all actors involved in the transformation of cities in Romania – a space for dialogue in which the urban vision is directly connected with concrete financing and implementation mechanisms, in order to generate real solutions and collaborations that can be put into practice.
“We often talk about cities either in terms of the future or looking backwards. Through TILIA we want to bring the conversation to the present, to what we can do concretely, today, for the cities in which we live. We thought of this approach as a framework in which administrations, investors, architects, academia and civil society work together, not only to generate ideas, but to transform them into applicable solutions, based on real examples and on the application of lessons learned and on the exchange of good practices” said Raluca Munteanu, Development Director, IULIUS.
“The EBRD is delighted to partner with IULIUS in TILIA, bringing Romania’s cities into the spotlight and working together to chart practical pathways towards greener urban spaces, better housing standards and more inclusive communities. We’re excited to lend our expertise to drive the initiative forward.” said Victoria Zinchuk, EBRD Director, Head of Romania.
Future Proof: Foster + Partners architectural exhibition (April 7 – May 3, 2026, Palace of Culture, Iași)
One of the key moments of the first edition is the exhibition, Future Proof by Foster + Partners, presented for the first time in Romania. Recognized worldwide for emblematic projects on six continents and built projects in over 45 countries, Foster + Partners will bring to the Palace of Culture in Iasi 30 models, 3D modulations of representative international projects.
The opening of the exhibition will take place on April 7, 2026, and the works can be visited until May 3, 2026 at the Palace of Culture in Iași – offering the general public, but also professionals in the field, the opportunity to explore decades of world-renowned architecture and urbanism, from Apple Park to the Great Court at the British Museum, the Reichstag (the new building of the Berlin
The exhibition reflects Foster + Partners’ approach to architecture and urbanism, built over more than five decades, around responsible, adaptable and sustainable design. From interventions on historic buildings to masterplans for low-carbon cities and urban systems, the projects presented explore how infrastructure, energy and public spaces can contribute to the development of resilient communities.
Maximilian Zielinski, Senior Partner, Foster + Partners, said: “This is an exciting opportunity to present over five decades of the practice’s work to the people of Iași – inside an incredible building that is the centrepiece of our new masterplan for the historic area. The exhibition sheds light on our approach, which has always been defined by a future-facing commitment to innovation and responsible design”.
During the TILIA – Today’s Ideas and Leadership In Action, the exhibition will be complemented by a masterclass held by the Foster + Partners team, giving architects, urban planners and decision-makers the opportunity to dialogue directly about the application of these principles in real projects.
IULIUS entered a new strategic phase in its development and partnered with Foster + Partners on two projects that were underway: the redevelopment of the Palas mixed-use complex adjacent to the Palace of Culture in Iași, and a vision for the urban regeneration of 38 hectares of former industrial land in central Constanța.
Romanian Cities Summit: from vision to implementation (April 23-24, 2026, Palace of Culture, Iași)
The first edition of the Romanian Cities Summit is built around the idea that cities transform when vision and implementation are approached together.
Day one, April 23 – Urban Vision and Design – explores the principles behind vibrant and people-oriented cities, with international perspectives and case studies in urban regeneration.
The next day, April 24 – Financing and implementation – moves the discussion from vision to concrete mechanisms: financing urban projects, structuring public-private partnerships and solutions for one of the most pressing urban challenges: affordable housing.
Full agenda is available on TILIA official website.
On the main stage, representatives of commercial banks, international development finance institutions together with public policy experts will debate the current challenges of cities – from financing to the legislative framework – with the aim of generating solutions that can then be taken over by all the actors involved.
In parallel, on the second stage, Cities in the Making: Design, Culture and Nature explores the forces that shape the character of a city – from architecture and creative industries, to mental health and green infrastructure.
At TILIA – Today’s Ideas and Leadership In Action, the Romanian Cities Summit, an event held between April 23-24, in Iași, over 300 participants – mayors, architects, urban planners, representatives of academia and civil society – are expected to discuss concrete solutions for the development of cities in Romania.
About TILIA – Today’s Ideas and Leadership In Action
TILIA – Today’s Ideas and Leadership In Action, the Summit of Cities in Romania, is an initiative developed by the IULIUS group, through the IULIUS Foundation, dedicated to concrete solutions for the development of cities in Romania.
TILIA is designed as an annual initiative, which brings together public administrations, investors, financial institutions, architects, academia and civil society in an implementation-oriented framework of dialogue and collaboration.
TILIA aims to become a benchmark for collaboration between actors involved in urban development in Romania.
Details: www.tilia-summit.ro
