Last week, the Norman Foster Institute (NFI) team travelled to Melilla to begin working with the local administration on the pilot research project—as part of the NFI’s Master’s Programme on Sustainable Cities.

During their visit, David González Márquez, Secretary General of the Norman Foster Foundation; Irene Martín Luque, Head of Research of the NFI; and Juan Carlos Calanchini González Cos, Lead Researcher of the NFI met with Juan José Imbroda, President of Melilla; Miguel Marín, Vice President and Councillor for Economy, Trade, Technological Innovation, Tourism and Development; and Román Dobaño Laguna, General Director of Architecture, as well as directors from key urban and cultural departments.

Melilla, selected as one of the three pilot cities for 2025 alongside Cape Town and Freetown, will be part of a year-long study focusing on sustainable urban strategies.

Through a collaborative process between the city’s administration and the NFI team, the project will explore Melilla’s unique socio-political and geographic context, identifying challenges and opportunities to develop proposals that enhance urban sustainability and quality of life.