PlacemakingX | Nourhan Bassam PHD Profile

"Cities must be reborn to make women thrive. Feminist placemaking is vital to creating cities that actively foster joy, dignity, and freedom for women."

Bio

Dr. Nourhan Bassam is "The feminist urbanist", architect, and educator with a Ph.D. in Urban Design and Placemaking. She is the visionary founder of The Gendered City, an international organization dedicated to advancing just and gender-equal cities. Her work bridges theory, practice, and activism, and she is widely recognized for pushing the boundaries of how cities can and must be reimagined through a feminist lens.

The Gendered City addresses the failures of conventional urban design to meet the needs of women and marginalized communities. she founded FEM.DES., the world’s largest feminist design network. Since its inception, FEM.DES. has grown into a global community of more than 570 experts, representing over 35 countries and 119 cities.

Location

Amsterdam

Netherlands

Organization/Title

Feminist Urbanist | CEO & Founder The Gendered City | Professor of Feminist Urbanism

PlacemakingX Role(s)

Thought Leader

Transformative Agenda Focus

Equity & Inclusion

Health & Wellbeing

Placemaking is...

designing cities with human bodies and lived experiences at the center.

First placemaking encounter

I first encountered the ideas of placemaking through the works of urbanist Jane Jacobs, "The Death and Life of Great American Cities" opened my eyes to the importance of vibrant, human-centered streets. "Cities and the Wealth of Nations (1984)" and how the economic foundations of cities, arguing that vibrant urban economies are built from local innovation.

Favorite childhood place

My favorite childhood place was Safa Park in Dubai, where I grew up. It was the one place where I felt completely free I could run endlessly, chase the wind, and feel the joy of open space. It gave me a sense of belonging to the city and taught me what it means for public space to hold freedom, play, and imagination.

Favorite Place

I haven’t yet found a place that feels completely safe and free, even my favorite green spaces in Amsterdam, where I live, still carry fear and uncertainty after dark. That’s why I do the work I do to transform public spaces so they can be truly enjoyed 24/7, where freedom and safety are guaranteed for everyone.

Fun Fact

Work

The Feminist Placemaking Program at The Gendered City. At The Gendered City, we believe cities must be designed not only to function but also to enable people to thrive. Our Feminist Placemaking Program is built on 4 main pillars.

1. Academy: Building Knowledge and Skills.

2. Policy: Shaping Institutions and Standards.

3. Projects : Transforming Spaces.

4. Advocacy: Amplifying Voices

Key messages

Cities must be built for thriving, not surviving.
Placemaking must center lived experience.
People’s bodies, stories, and daily practices are data.
The night is part of the city too.
Nighttime urbanism matters. Access, safety, and freedom after dark are fundamental rights, not luxuries.
Participation must be radical, not tokenistic.
Communities are not “consulted,” they co-create. Feminist placemaking shifts power by valuing diverse voices in decision-making.
Policy, practice, and advocacy are inseparable.
Intersectionality is non-negotiable.
Gender justice in cities means addressing race, class, ability, sexuality, and age. Placemaking must be inclusive of multiple identities and experiences.
Placemaking is a feminist act.

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