Critical Design Futures - Reimagining Urban Spaces and legacies through Critical Design and transnational practices

Join us for an event exploring sustainable urbanism and community-led design. Hear from experts and participate in discussions on topics like climate resilience, social equity, and innovative design solutions.

Sherif Goubran

Facilitator

November 6, 2024 | 15:00 - 16:30

Voices from Cities - room C

American university in Cairo

Egypt

English

Reference:

VC-C 9

WUF12

Voices from Cities

Summary

The "Future Places" event is a collaborative exchange of visions between two pioneering institutions in sustainable urbanism and community-led placemaking: The American University in Cairo, Salford University, and Queen’s University Belfast and Placemaking Mexico Foundation. Hosted by the American University in Cairo at the WUF (World Urban Forum), this event brings together thought leaders, practitioners, students, and community stakeholders to explore how urban spaces can serve as platforms for collective action, inclusivity, and resilience.

This event will host presentations from the institutes, followed by a joint panel discussion.

Presentations
Participants will experience a series of dynamic presentations that showcase the latest interdisciplinary research and hands-on projects. These will cover diverse themes, from the American University in Cairo, Salford University, and Queen’s University Belfast including experimental and pedagogical research on sustainable design at various scales to Placemaking Mexico’s methodologies for community engagement in public space revitalization across Mexico. Insights will delve into balancing qualitative and quantitative dimensions in urban planning, emphasizing the complex interactions between local-global, technological-human, and urban-rural concerns.

Panel discussions
A moderated panel will bring together experts from both ESF and Placemaking Mexico to discuss the challenges and potential of sustainable futures in the built environment. Topics will include safety, equity, and health in public spaces, strategies for fostering climate resilience, and the transformative power of civic participation in the development of community spaces.
Event Goal
Attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of innovative, sustainable approaches to urbanism that value both data-driven analysis and community-led creativity, creating a global platform for change in the built environment.

Objectives

1. Explore the role of design in creating zero-carbon future heritage landscapes. This involves examining how design can be used to reduce the carbon footprint of buildings and landscapes, while also preserving cultural heritage.
2. Re-evaluate decarbonization strategies across scales, cultures, and climates. The project aims to identify decarbonization strategies that can be effective in different contexts, taking into account factors such as climate, culture, and building scale.
3. Showcase the power of transnational design studios. The project brings together scholars and students from Egypt, England, and Northern Ireland to collaborate on design projects. This format is seen as a valuable tool for exploring complex issues and developing innovative solutions.
4. showcase how Placemaking Mexico's collaborative approach empowers communities through public space improvements.
5. Share learnings and insights with a broader audience. The project team hopes to share their findings with other practitioners and educators in the field of built environment design. This will help to accelerate the development of new approaches to decarbonization and heritage preservation.