“The economic role of cities” – new publication by UN Habitat
UN Habitat has just published a new rapport about the economic role of cities. This study draws attention to the important role played by cities in reducing of poverty, generating positive diversity and influencing the national economic development. It explains also how cities become more productive when they are agglomerated and clustered. The rapport presents the situation both for cities and city regions. The publication is a part of a Global Urban Economic dialogues series witch contains also rapports about microfinance, fiscal decentralization, global financial crisis and infrastructure of poverty.
“Non City” Next City? – 11.01.2012 at the European Parliament
Today the URBAN Intergroup organised jointly with the European Forum for Architectural Policies a conference: “NonCity”…NextCity? How architecture and urbanism can strengthen Europe.
The conference brought together directors of architecture from the European member states along with architects, representatives of EU institutions and European organisations to discuss how architectural policies can take a more active part in the development and the implementation of the European Union’s aims set out in the EU 2020 Strategy. Jan Olbrycht, President of the URBAN Intergroup, underlined while chairing the meeting, that indeed, the issue is not “if” but “how” architectural policies are very important for the development and the implementation of the European Union’s objectives. “Architects should anticipate the future needs of society and not only respond to the present ones. They can design a vision on the future and inspire the public and decision makers.” – he added. The highlight of the conference was a tour through Europe by Winy Maas who presented examples of innovative urban development.
