City Space Architecture meets the 12th World Urban Forum in Cairo (2024)

December 3, 2024
By City Space Architecture

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The Council Board of City Space Architecture at the 12th World Urban Forum in Cairo (from left to right): Manfredo Manfredini (New Zealand), Greg Mews (Australia), Michelle Pannone (USA) and Luisa Bravo (Italy).

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The World Urban Forum (WUF) is the premier global conference on sustainable urbanisation. It was established in 2001 by the United Nations to examine one of the most pressing issues facing the world today: rapid urbanisation and its impact on communities, cities, economies, climate change and policies.

The 12th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF12) took place in Cairo on 4-8 November 2024 under the theme "It All Starts at Home: Local Actions for Sustainable Cities and Communities" and was the largest in the Forum’s history, with participants at the venue and online totaling more than 63,000 people from 182 countries, 60 ministries and 96 mayors, and more than 700 partner-led events. The Forum also marked a return to the African continent after 20 years. The opening ceremony featured four heads of state, from Yemen, Sudan, the State of Palestine, and the host country Egypt. Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of Egypt, noted that WUF12 comes at a time of crises and wars, and called for halting the destruction of settlements, supporting poor communities, and developing new projects to provide housing for all. The Forum took place between two major global events: the UN General Assembly’s adoption of the high-level Pact for the Future in September 2024, and the UN Climate Change Conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, which was expected to adopt a new collective quantified goal for climate finance. WUF12 was, therefore, an opportunity to lend momentum and solidify key global commitments for sustainable development.

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City Space Architecture actively participated as an accredited stakeholder and partner of UN-Habitat and promoted and coordinated three events selected by WUF12 Secretariat and included in the official program of the Forum:

- Training eventPublic Space Academy, for the advancement of knowledge and design of public space to present anddiscuss the importance of public space, intended not merely as a design activity related to landscape urbanism or infrastructure facilities, but rather as a key component of a complex technical and political process dealing with land use, environment, infrastructure networks, social issues, and policy-making, in response also to global trends such as massive urbanization, privatization, and gentrification. It was promoted in collaboration with the Ove Arup Foundation, UN-Habitat and the German University in Cairo (GUC) and included group sessions facilitated by City Space Architecture's senior mentors and GUC students as junior mentors, and an exercise on Cairo's public spaces in new suburban developments;

- Networking eventInclusive and Equitable Public Space, a policy framework promoted in collaboration with World Blind Union, Global Infrastructure Basel Foundation (in regard of the Safe and Sound Cities Program - S2Cities) and with Consortium from Sustainable Urbanization (CSU), this event was intended to help demonstrate levels of progress towards achieving inclusive, accessible, sustainable and resilient public spaces at the local level in line with the New Urban Agenda (NUA) and SDG 11, in regard of women, youth, older persons and persons with disabilities, ensuring accessibility, safety and equity;

- Side event at the Urban LibraryShaping the public space discourse with unheard, marginalized and young scholars promoted in collaboration with UN-Habitat and with CAPS - Centre on African Public Space, to present three thematic issues of The Journal of Public Space, that open opportunities for marginalized scholars to argue their perspectives in the academic world. The three issues are: 1) Public Space and Placemaking in African Cities, related to the African continent, developed in collaboration with CAPS - Centre on African Public Spaces; 2) Let Her Guide You, on gender perspectives, with the engagement of young scholars that have been working on the Her City programme - in collaboration with UN-Habitat; 3) Young Gamechangers, presenting young perspectives on health and well-being, as part of the Young Gamechanger initiative developed by UN-Habitat in collaboration with WHO.

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In addition, City Space Architecture was selected as an exhibitor to participate in the WUF12 Urban Expo with an exhibition on Planning Values in Cities with Affordable Housing and Public Spaces for All developed in collaboration with ISOCARP - International Society of City and Regional Planners, RTPI - Royal Town Planning Institute, UPSC - Urban Planning Society of China and APA - American Planning Association. The WUF12 Urban Expo hosted over 140 exhibitors from 51 countries. We partnered with these global planning organizations as members of GPN - Global Planners Network and we all together celebrated World Town Planning Day on 8th November focusing on the theme "Homes Start with Planning" recognizing the role of planning and planners in delivering homes that meets the needs of our communities, and in helping to create equitable, inclusive, and sustainable public spaces for all.

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City Space Architecture promotes the International Parklet Symposium

October 1, 2024
By City Space Architecture

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On 19th-20th September 2024 City Space Architecture promoted a symposium in Bologna, with proceedings to be included in a special issue of The Journal of Public Space on “Parklets, Temporary Uses and Co-creation of Public Space”. The symposium was anticipated with an online gathering on 18th September with global scholars and practitioners who are developing key contributions in the field of public space.

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CONCEPT NOTE

The modern parklet was created in San Francisco in 2009, building upon a long legacy of temporary occupation of roadway space to create tiny public spaces. Initially conceived of as a temporary expansion of the sidewalk into the vehicular right of way, parklets have evolved into their own unique space typology. The City of San Francisco Parklet Program has been imitated and adopted globally and parklet-like spaces grew steadily in cities around the world from 2009 to 2019. 2020 witnessed a radical expansion of non-conventional use of the roadway as many communities sought to use outdoor public spaces in the streets as gathering places and for commercial outdoor dining and retail. While recent years have witnessed a contraction of these pandemic-era uses of streets, many communities are continuing to grapple with some fundamental questions about these spaces; such as: Are they public or private? How to balance commercial and community uses of the curb lane? Who administers these programs and how do municipalities manage a fee structure for public and commercial uses of the public right of way? How do cities balance this explosion of user-generated uses of the public right of way while maintaining standards of accessibility, public safety, and design quality in the public realm?

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on the occasion of
European Mobility Week “Shared Public Spaces” promoted by Fondazione IU Rusconi Ghigi and Park(ing) Day

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Read the full news with the Book of Abstracts on the website of Museo Spazio Pubblico, our operational headquarters in Bologna, Italy.
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City Space Architecture meets Pratt Institute in New York City

April 3, 2024
By City Space Architecture

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Graphic design by Lorella Pierdicca, LLdesign.it.

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We are excited to announce our partnership with Pratt Institute in New York City for the organization of the international symposium "Public Space Challenges: from theory to practice to policy" on 25-27 April 2024, as part of the celebration of the 10-year anniversary of City Space Architecture. Read more about our anniversary here.

This symposium is an opportunity to present our work to an American audience and to discuss current challenges for public space, from theory to practice to policy, with high-profile experts.

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Statement from our President Dr Luisa Bravo:

Public space is a key element for sustainable urban development. Despite its broad and context-specific meaning, public space is the social glue that can contribute to advancing mutual trust, cooperation, and solidarity. However, too often public space is not listed as a primary question in the urban agendas of politicians and local governments, but rather as a collateral component, mostly intended as design activity related to landscape urbanism or infrastructure facilities. Major concerns for cities and built environments are defined through different categories and expertise related to housing, services, infrastructure, environmental issues, and technological solutions that also generate investment and provide funding opportunities While academic research on public space is well established through cross disciplinary approaches and investigation, there is a lack of interest or an unprepared expertise in defining a comprehensive urban strategy for local implementation, that is built around humans and their life in the public domain.

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Co-organizers
City Space Architecture
Pratt Institute, Urban Placemaking and Management
Read about previous collaboration here.
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Co-hosts
Luisa Bravo, Founder and President
City Space Architecture
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David Burney, Academic Director
Pratt Institute, Urban Placemaking and Management

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The event is open to the public and free of charge but registration is required.
Fill out this online form no later than April 20.

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Past Present and Future of Public Space 2024

December 24, 2023
By City Space Architecture

Welcome address by Dr Luisa Bravo at the opening of the first Past Present and Future of Public Space international conference, that took place in Bologna on 25-27 June 2014.

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PAST PRESENT AND FUTURE OF PUBLIC SPACE
International, interdisciplinary, academic conference, 25-27 June 2024
Workshop of the Public Space Academy, 28 June 2024
Bologna, Italy

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“Past Present and Future of Public Space” is an Italian project, started in 2012 as an academic postdoctoral research activity by Dr Luisa Bravo, at the Department of Architecture, University of Bologna (Italy), and currently coordinated and promoted by City Space Architecture. The project aims to explore new dimensions of the public realm and to discuss the results of research activities, through a multidisciplinary approach, on public space and related topics, comparing theories and projects, bridging knowledge to implementation and policy.
Read more about the conference series and the research group and read what happened at the first conference in 2014 in this short report.

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CHAIR

Luisa Bravo, Founder and President of City Space Architecture, Italy

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SCIENTIFIC COMMITEE

Simone Garagnani, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Italy

Manfredo Manfredini, University of Auckland, New Zealand

Gregor H. Mews, University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia

Michelle Pannone, Marywood University, United States of America

Darko Radovic, Keio University, Japan

Hendrik Tieben, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR

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TOPICS

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FULL PROGRAM OF THE CONFERENCE IS AVAILABLE HERE.

Registration is available at THIS LINK till 19 June 2024.

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IMPORTANT DATES AND DEADLINES

2 February 2024 > EXTENDED 23 February 2024 / deadline for submission of abstracts
15 March 2024 / notification of accepted abstracts
15 March 2024 / deadline for special sessions
1 April 2024 > EXTENDED 10 May 2024 / deadline for expression of interest to attend the workshop of the Public Space Academy
15 April 2024 / deadline for submission of Master and Phd theses proposals
1 June 2024 / deadline for submission of full papers to be included in the conference proceedings

SUBMISSION OF ACADEMIC ABSTRACTS
Abstract proposals should not exceed 600 words and should include up to five key words. Please indicate the topic of interest when submitting your abstract proposal.
All accepted papers will be included in the conference proceedings (with ISBN).
The best papers selected by a Scientific Committee will be included in a special issue of The Journal of Public Space (ISSN 2206-9658) to be published in 2025.
Submissions are accepted ONLY on Oxford abstracts, click here.

For any information write to: conference@cityspacearchitecture.org

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SPECIAL TRACK ON MASTER AND PhD THESES ON PUBLIC SPACE

This special track is designed to support research work on public space by Master's and PhD students. Shortlisted theses will be evaluated by a scientific committee to award a Research Prize on Public Space.
Theses must be submitted or under discussion between 2013 and 2023.
Submit a summary of your thesis of no more than 5000 words, including a 300-word abstract, up to five keywords and up to 10 images. Also include a cover letter from your supervisor. Both the summary and the letter must be in English.
In the supervisor’s letter we ask to confirm that the thesis has been completed and discussed between 2013 and 2023, and to add the link to the website with the full text of the thesis (if available). Any additional comments on the research (in terms of originality, interdisciplinarity and relevance to the current academic public space discourse) are very welcome.
Submit by 15 April 2024 to: conference@cityspacearchitecture.org highlighting in the subject of the email “Thesis for Research Award on Public Space”.

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WORKSHOP OF THE PUBLIC SPACE ACADEMY
28 June 2024 / Museo Spazio Pubblico
Max 20 participants

This one-day workshop of the Public Space Academy will offer a high-level training for Master and PhD students, for early career and senior researchers and professionals on how to implement effective public space strategies.
Read more about the Public Space Academy.
Submit an expression of interest to attend the workshop to info@publicspaceacademy.org by 10 May 2024.

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City Space Architecture celebrates 10-year anniversary!

May 13, 2023
By City Space Architecture

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City Space Architecture is 10 years today, 13 May 2023! 🥳🎂

We are very grateful for the support we have received throughout the years by so many individuals that are now part of our community and are sharing with us their enthusiasm, progressive thinking and positive energy. We warmly thank leading Universities, influential institutions and committed non-profit organizations at the global level that have partnered with us and helped us to develop  ambitious and yet very successful projects, spanning from research to advocacy to implementation. We are proud for the ongoing cooperation with UN-Habitat, the United Nations Human Settlments Programme, that started with our participation at the Habitat III conference in Ecuador in 2016, where we launched our campaign ‘Stand up for Public Space!’. Today we are a renowned and accredited stakeholder at major UN events, after our participation to several World Urban Fora (Kuala Lumpur, 2018; Abu Dhabi, 2020; Katowice, 2022) and at two high-level meetings promoted by the UN General Assembly on the implementation of the New Urban Agenda at the New York's headquarters (2017 and 2022).

Throughout the years we have been shaping a strong and very solid vision on public space, and on the occasion of this 10-year anniversary we would like to celebrate our achievements, highlighting our most important projects:
- The Journal of Public Space, the first-ever, academic, open access journal on public space: in almost 8 years we have published 20 issues, engaging 300+ authors, 500+ reviewers and editors and 50.000+ readers. Our online initiative “2020: A Year without Public Space under the COVID-19 pandemic” was followed by participants from 80+ countries;
- Public Space Academy, the first-ever, free, interdisciplinary educational program on urban complexity built around public space, that has been kicked off last month after 5 years in the making;
- Mastering Public Space, a web-magazine for dissemination of open access contents on public space from influential and reliable sources, including editorials on cutting-edge topics from relevant authors;
- Public Space Museum, our headquarters in Bologna hosting art-based and artistic practices on public space, established in 2019 and operating throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, currently hosting the exhibition “Imagining Public Space with/for Her”;
- Urban Visions, a unique international film festival dedicated to contemporary urban challenges, the first of its kind, with ongoing editions in Bologna (Italy) and Ajman (UAE).

We have estimated City Space Architecture has reached 500.000+ people in these past ten years through the different projects and initiatives we have developed, including conferences, workshops, and seminars, online and offline, engaging in particular early career researchers and professionals.

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