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Launch of the Public Space Academy at the 11th World Urban Forum in Katowice, coordinated by our Founder and President Dr Luisa Bravo (on the right) with (from left to right) Hendrik Tieben (CUHK), Jose Chong (UN-Habitat) and Setha Low (CUNY, the Graduate Center).

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During the 11th World Urban Forum in Katowice, City Space Architecture launched the Public Space Academy, the first, free, interdisciplinary educational program entirely dedicated to public space knowledge for the design and implementation of effective solutions with community impact. The Academy is developed in cooperation with the Ove Arup Foundation, with the generous contribution of UN-Habitat. It will start in 2023 as an online and open initiative and will provide introductory and advanced training on public space, engaging the best and most influential scholars, professionals, and urban innovators, from different backgrounds and expertise. It will be developed as a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) and all contents will be available for free on a customized OpenEdX platform. Online contents will be complemented with several face-to-face activities, such as talks, public dialogues, meetings, workshops, and exhibitions, in different cities worldwide, engaging Universities, cultural institutions and NGOs affiliated to City Space Architecture’s global network.

The Public Space Academy is aimed at inspiring and empowering a new generation of urban thinkers and doers who are willing to become agents of change in their own cities and communities.

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Visit the website of the Public Space Academy

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The training event at WUF11 titled Public Space Academy: a transformative learning experience for a new approach to urban complexity built around public space was a preview of the contents that will be included in the online training of the Public Space Academy, such as:

- introduction to public space complexity and the need for mature and interdisciplinary analytical skills for academic research and for effective design

- definition a comprehensive urban strategy for local implementation, that is built around humans and their life in the public domain, putting public space as a priority in the regional and local urban agenda.

The training event, attended by more than 50 participants, was divided in three parts, all moderated by our Founder and President Luisa Bravo.

The city of Katowice hosting the 11th World Urban Forum. More info here.

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City Space Architecture has been selected to be part as an exhibitor of the 11th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF11), taking place on 26-30 June 2022 in Katowice, Poland, convened by UN-Habitat, the United Nations Human Settlements Programme. City Space Architecture is the only Italian exhibitor participating at the WUF11 with over 90 exhibitors from 43 countries.  The exhibition will be developed under the theme PUBLIC SPACES FOR ALL for a Just, Resilient and Flourishing Urban Future, in cooperation with the Global Platform for the Right to the City (Brazil), Healthbridge (Canada), Inhabit Place (Australia), the Public Space Research Group (USA), KDI (Kenya), Sustasis Foundation (USA), World Blind Union (Canada), CAPS - Centre on African Public Spaces (South Africa), the School of Architecture at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (Hong Kong), PlacemakingX (USA) and the Global Public Space Program at UN-Habitat and it is intended to celebrate 10 years of activities of the program.

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Main panel for the exhibition held by City Space Architecture at the 11th World Urban Forum, developed in cooperation with UN-Habitat, with the impact of public space activities from 11 affiliated partners.

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United Nation General Assembly Hall at the New York City headquarters.

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City Space Architecture has been accredited as a stakeholder to attend the High-Level Meeting of the General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York City on 28 April 2022, to review progress on the implementation of the New Urban Agenda six-years after its adoption at the Habitat III Conference in Quito, Ecuador. The accreditation has been granted to our Founder and President Dr Luisa Bravo by the UN office in New York.

The General Assembly is one of the six main organs of the United Nations, the only one in which all Member States have equal representation: one nation, one vote. All 193 Member States of the United Nations are represented in this unique forum to discuss and work together on a wide array of international issues covered by the UN Charter.

The High-Level Meeting on the implementation of the New Urban Agenda will be action oriented. Member States, local and regional governments, and other constituencies of the New Urban Agenda such as professional associations, grassroots organizations, and business leaders will utilize the platform to highlight policy directions and programmatic initiatives they have been engaged in, and to put forward concrete commitments for the next two years.

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In 2022 City Space Architecture started a cooperation with Ajman Municipality and Planning Department (UAE) for the development of the Ajman Film Biennale "URBAN VISIONS. Architecture and the Future of Cities", an international short film festival showcasing outstanding submissions from around the world, the first of its kind in the Gulf and surrounding Arab region.

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The Municipality and Planning Department of Ajman in the United Arab Emirates was established in 1968 under the sublime directives of the late Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid bin Abdulaziz Al Nuaimi, and under the supervision of the government administration of Ajman represented by the emirate’s Executive Council. 

The municipality is located in the heart of Ajman city. Its scope of work includes the city of Ajman, city of Masfoot (located 110 km to the southeast of the emirate) and the city of Manama (located 73 km to the east of the emirate). The Municipality and Planning Department also has two main service centres situated in both Musfoot and Manama.

The Emirate of Ajman was able to identify its path to achieve the objective of Ajman Vision 2021, through establishing sectorIal and strategic goals, focused on creating a happy society while also contributing to the development of a green economy, motivated by a government that is driven by the spirit of the Union which is based on four pillars: a) happy society; b) green economy; c) distinctive government; and d) the spirit of the union.

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The first edition of the Ajman Film Biennale took place on 14-16 March 2022, in Dubai, Ajman and online, with an opening ceremony at the Expo 2020 Dubai.

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Visit the website of the Ajman Film Biennale
"URBAN VISIONS. Architecture and the Future of Cities"

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In 2022 City Space Architecture signed a cooperation agreement with BIDs Belgium and Global Utmaning to partner with the BIDs Belgium initiative of "Empowering Women, Public Space and Climate Change", in collaboration with UN-Habitat's Her City initiative and supported by the New European Bauhaus, with a series of sessions curated by our Founder and President Luisa Bravo and BIDs Belgium's Founder and Director Rozina Spinnoy.

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"In order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, the participation and leadership of women in public life is essential. We know also that women are underrepresented in decision making at all levels in both public entities and the private sphere, via evidence of the data and statistics. There is much work to do in terms of Gender parity. There is much data to show that approximately worldwide there are less than 10% of female Mayors and 10% worldwide that are city councilors. There are further breakdowns showing the statistics of Women in executive government positions via UN Women.

Over recent times, projects and initiatives are underway at a local to global level to tackle the gender inequities in the urban environment, from UN Women and linking to Climate Change ‘Her City Tools’ to the initiatives of UN Habitat. Creating further awareness, research and projects on female led initiatives and gathering experts from a variety of sectors with a focus on empowering diverse women around the world. Engaging in inspiring debates and discussions, taking an inclusive approach to highlight women working in the field. Leveraging the importance of gender equality for more sustainable cities as an efficient tool for the fight against climate change."

In addition, we have over recent years, across the world, become aware of the increasing urbanization and the link to climate change. Although it has received more awareness than before, the link between women and climate change requires more dialogue and attention. Good governance and well-designed urban policies can help tackling the gender (social and racial inequalities) and climate change issues that are prevalent across urban (and rural) areas."
- Empowering, Women, Public Space & Climate Change

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"Empowering Women, Public Space and Climate Change" includes a series of talks and participation at major global events such as the Innovate4Cities Conference co-organized by the Global Covenant for Mayors for Climate Change and UN Habitat with sponsors of the IPCC - The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (2021).

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