Tomorrow’s Citizens, Tomorrow’s Cities — by Francesca Tur
By | 2025
As urban spaces continue to grow and evolve, the question of who cities are built for — and how — becomes increasingly urgent. Looking ahead to 2050 and beyond, we must imagine cities not only shaped by data and global innovation, but also grounded in local wisdom, human diversity, and well-being.
To explore this intersection of the global and local, we speak with Francesca Tur Serra, researcher and cultural journalist at Tendencias.tv. In this conversation, she reflects on the emerging identity of tomorrow’s citizens, and how rethinking technology, health, and tradition can help shape inclusive and resilient urban futures.
#ExpertVoices | 2025 x E06
Human-centered cities of the future
— by Francesca Tur —
How will global and local dimensions shape the future of cities?
If we think of near futures, like maybe 2050, we wish and hope that cities will learn from a global point of view but also merge with local wisdom. Globalization can be understood as something accessible and open — where we all can learn from the data of big cities. But at the same time, we need to blend this with tradition and geographical differences that make us who we are.
So I think cities should be like a perfect mix — between differences, local specificities, and what is happening around the world.
What will citizens of the future be like?
If we think about citizens of future cities, I think we need to understand different attributes. First, they could be intercultural — a mix of locals, expats, and migrants living together. That brings a lot of new scenarios like co-housings, co-generations, and shared living spaces.
Then, I think we will understand citizens as non-normative, beyond fixed identities — with new ways of understanding love, family, and also work. People are seeking new lifestyles. Maybe I want to live around working people, not necessarily follow traditional work structures.
And health will be central. Not just personal health, but a 360-degree view — spiritual, physical, mental. Even if I’m okay, maybe my family is not. So we’ll see a broader understanding of well-being at the city level.
And last but not least, citizens will be augmented — we’ll use technology not as an end goal, but as a tool to help us live better. Tech must be accessible, must collect data from everyone, from all communities and neighborhoods, and then deliver real solutions to improve everyday life.
We need to understand people in order to drive the future of cities.
Where should we look to visualize what’s coming?
Maybe instead of looking at big capitals or smart city showcases, we should turn our eyes to villages, to people living remotely, to those who live outside the mainstream — people who are inventing different ways of understanding work, life, and family.
So I think it’s more interesting to look at traditional knowledge, local wisdom, and how people were doing things generations ago. There’s a lot to learn from those who are more rooted and live off the grid.
In 10 years, how would you like cities to be?
In 10 years, I’d like cities to be super open — places where many communities live together, build together, and share common spaces.
I imagine cities like the future of libraries: places where we can share time, share space, maybe borrow or rent things, and create a circular understanding of how we live with one another.
Curious for more?
Subscribe to CitiesToBe here to receive more episodes and insights in your inbox, or check out our YouTube channel for more videos.
Interview and edition by Sergio García i Rodríguez,
Head of Communication at Anteverti & CitiesToBe Executive Editor, and Martina Jané i Curtu, Comms specialist at Anteverti.
Video by Cristóbal Sarría Chitty and Alexis Rivas
About the authors
Francesca Tur Serra is a researcher, strategist, and media creator exploring contemporary culture and the future of cities through the lenses of communication, creativity, and education. Named by Forbes as one of Spain’s Top 40 Futurists, she brings a multidisciplinary approach to analyzing present trends and shaping what comes next.
She is the founder and editorial director of Tendencias.tv (www.tendencias.tv), an online platform and creative production studio she co-launched in 2006. Through it, she documents the now — from emerging lifestyles to social innovation — and helps brands and institutions better understand the evolving cultural landscape.
As a creative consultant, Francesca collaborates with companies, initiatives, and public agencies, offering strategic guidance on futures and cultural innovation. Her work often bridges industries, connecting young talent with seasoned experience to design more human-centered, inclusive, and imaginative narratives.
In academia, she co-directs the Master in Fashion Brand Creation at EsDesign and teaches in postgraduate programs at institutions such as Escola de la Dona, IED, Blanquerna-URL, and LCI Barcelona. She has contributed to numerous publications and was the trends expert on RTVE’s program TIPS.
