Downtown and Placemaking Action for Sustainable Urban Development

Inclusive and resilient urban spaces pose unique challenges for city centers and marginalized historical public spaces. This event explores strategies for generating inclusive and resilient urban spaces aligned with key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), mainly SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy). The event will address two main approaches to inclusive and resilient urban spaces: 1) downtown action and 2) placemaking strategies.

Presenters in the first approach will address building deterioration, land use optimization, and infrastructure management while preserving cultural heritage as a reflection from Downtown Cairo, In addition to learning from successful cases from historical Boston and Wisconsin (USA) for making cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. In the second approach, presenters will address placemaking as a practical tool for building inclusive and resilient communities showcasing projects from Jordan, Egypt, and Tunisia.

The event presents different case study applications from two governmental partners, two international partners, and two networks focused on revitalization of the Heritage areas and resilient urban spaces. The first is the project of Revitalization of Downtown Cairo, which includes the architecture and urban conservation in a 120-year heritage area called Khedivial Cairo in Egypt. The second, PR GPS Taziz, involves seven Arab countries and Technical University Berlin, funded by DAAD, to explore public space participation in Arab nations. It features projects in Tunisia and Jordan. Third, the AMAKEN Placemaking Network, a non-profit in Egypt, promotes public space upgrades while preserving local identity. It showcases the "Rehabilitation of Qurqumas & Inal Complex" in Cairo, aiming to transform the area into a cultural hub in the Mamluk Desert region.
The proposed event agenda is as follows:
1. Introduction to the event and the panelists by the moderator, 10 minutes.
2. Revitalization of Downtown Cairo – by Heidi Shalaby
3- Management plan for the Heritage Downtown of Cairo- Ministry of Housing and Utilities in Egypt, Un-habitat office in Cairo.
4. Best Practices for Sustainable Downtown Renewal - by Wafaa Al-Daly.
5. Presentation of Rehabilitation of Qurqumas & Inal project in Egypt, by Arch. Mohammad Abousamra & Amal Salah.
6. Presentation of As-Salt placemaking project in Jordan, by Ahmed Tawaheiya,
7. Open discussion with the panelists, community representatives, and the participants, 15 minutes
8. Call for contributions and synergies by the moderator, 5 minutes.