Much Ado About Cities (MAAC)

Much Ado About Cities is built on the belief that everyone is an urbanist — even if they don’t perceive or label themselves that way.

If you’ve ever felt frustrated by the lack of green spaces or places to hang out without having to spend money. Or you’ve complained about your long commute or the unreliable bus that never comes on time. Maybe you’ve noticed a Pret or GAIL’s appear on your high street, replacing the small family-owned business that had been there for years. Or you’ve heard about more libraries and community centres closing down due to lack of funding.

If you care about your experience in the city you live in, this is a space for you.

I believe cities should be designed around people, not projections of people. Not the idealised resident in a perfectly functioning city, but the messy, complex, and contradictory reality of how people actually live. Because cities themselves are complex systems.

MAAC exists to have better conversations about shaping harmonious cities. Conversations that are closer to the ground, reflective of real experiences, and broad enough to hold more than one truth at a time.

Meet the urbanist behind MAAC

I’m Fola Olaleye, an urban strategist and Senior Smart Cities Consultant working at the intersection of technology and urban development.

I was born in Lagos, grew up in London, and am currently living in Dubai. Three very different cities, each of which has taught me something different about how urban planning shapes our experience of cities.

I started MAAC because I wanted a space to explore cities through the lens of culture, lived experience and urban theory. A space not just for built environment professionals, but for anyone who is curious about cities and how they can work better for everyone.

Connect with me on LinkedIn.

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