What we took away from MIPIM this year!

There is always a lot to take in at MIPIM 2026, but this year, there was less talk about big ideas and more focus on what is already working for people and communities. Across panels and conversations, the same point kept coming up: we need to start using the buildings we already have in a better way. In cities where housing pressure continues to grow, leaving spaces empty just does not make much sense anymore, and it is something people are starting to question more openly.

You could feel that in how people were talking about empty buildings. Instead of seeing them as something to keep secure and move on from, more people are asking what they could actually be used for, whether that is creating homes, supporting local people, or simply bringing a bit of life back into an area. When a building has people in it, it starts to feel part of the community again.

One highlight was Stuart Woolgar’s panel on alternative housing in London, covering guardianship, co-living, modular housing, and reuse. The takeaway was clear: there is no single solution, but there are real options already making a difference guardianship being one of them.

That conversation continued beyond the panel too. At its simplest, guardianship is about people living in buildings keeping them secure, reducing costs, and making them feel cared for in a way empty checks or alarms can’t.

What really stood out, though, were the in-between conversations. People felt more open to trying new approaches and working together and that’s where real change starts. Overall, it felt like a shift towards practical, human solutions and making better use of the spaces we already have.