Institute of Urbanism’s Post

Assistant Professor Mr. Ghammaz Husnain from Razia Hassan School of Architecture (RHSA) has published two research articles in HEC recognized Y category journals. Article 1: Governance of cross-border regions & SEZ's: The case of Gwadar under CPEC Brief Description: Examining the transformative impact of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship project of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), this research investigates how CPEC fosters cross-border cooperation and regional development. The research focuses on transnational institution building and the creation of multi-scalar geographies involving diverse public and private agencies, reshaping regional, sub-regional, and local territories Publisher: CSRC Journal of Sustainable Business and Society in Emerging Economies Article 2: Revitalizing historic urban centers: the case of Lahore's walled city Brief Description: The research critically reviews the Master Conservation & Redevelopment Plan (MCRP) for the Walled City of Lahore, examining its strategies, policies, tools, and political context to understand its impact. The study highlights successes and challenges, aiming to inform future urban conservation projects while emphasizing the importance of cultural heritage and sustainable development to enhance community identity and cross-cultural dialogue. Publisher: CRPA Journal of Asian Development Studies #BNULahore #RHSABNU #Architecture #Sustainability

World Urban Forum 12 Egypt 💡Join us at the launch of "Monitoring Smart Inclusive Transition, using Global Urban Monitoring Framework" November 5th 2024, @ Dusit Thani Lakeview Cairo Achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) necessitates a radical transformation. During WUF 12, we will celebrate the launch of "Monitoring Smart-Inclusive Transition (SIT) Towards Equitable Urban Futures, using the Global Urban Monitoring Framework," showcasing the outcome of a long-standing collaboration between UN-Habitat, XJTLU Design School (UPD), and Seoul National University. The publication presents Smart-Inclusive Transition (SIT) as a key driver for equitable urban futures by using smart technology to ensure all citizens – regardless of ability, location, or socio-economic status – can access, exchange, and benefit from essential services and up-to-date information. The SIT Analysis is designed to help cities worldwide identify SIT opportunities by using urban SDGs data from the Global Urban Monitoring Framework of UN-Habitat. It envisions cities built “by” “for” and “of” all. #WUF12

We are combining the expertise of our researchers and the Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF)'s experience in poverty alleviation, to create affordable, climate-resilient homes that stand strong against extreme weather. The project will create lasting impacts on rural housing policy, housing supply, and the capacity building of key housing stakeholders. This project is more than housing—it’s hope, safety, and sustainability for the future. Amongst the research team, is one of our brilliant members - Mittul Vahanvati - a lecturer in sustainability and urban planning discipline. Mittul's work focuses on the long-term impacts of housing reconstruction projects, the theory and practice of socio-ecological systems resilience and community-led approaches. Read more about their work: https://lnkd.in/g6rKW_sw #housing #Bangladesh #Australia #Sustainability #UrbanHousing #RuralCommunity

For second-year Bachelor students of the ETH, we offer the survey course Global histories of Urban Design. This lecture series, which runs over two semesters, highlights the history of cities, their ground plan, and their development, starting with, amongst other examples, the first settlements in the Indus Valley, towards the early 2000s. The aim of the course is to provide students an overview of urban development and the role of design, especially from a global perspective and addressing, besides the familiar examples also the unfamiliar cases, such as the initial design and the development of Islamabad, the new capital of Pakistan (plan made by the office of Constantinos Doxiadis). Image Caption: Plan of one of the sectors of Islamabad, Constantinos Doxiadis, 1960.

【Sustainable Urban Land-Water Interface Design: A Context-Sensitive Landscape Framework for Deltaic Region】 Full article: https://lnkd.in/gpenmDeF (Authored by Ayasha Siddiqua and Farida Nilufar, from Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology (AUST) (Bangladesh), etc.) Natural waterbodies and land resources in delta regions are integral to hydrological management and ecological sustainability. Preservation and integration of natural water and land resources into urban areas are crucial for the long-term sustainability of a land-water relationship. This study examines key factors influencing the #land_water_interface in the Eastern Fringe of Dhaka Metropolitan Area (DMA), such as physiography, hydrology, soil characteristics and land use, aiming to provide a comprehensive framework for the sustainable integration of land and water resources in urbanized areas, with an emphasis on Bangladesh's deltaic region and similar cities. #Urban_Design_Guidelines 

This past week in #Cairo, I had the remarkable opportunity to attend the World Urban Forum 12 Egypt (#WUF12) organized by UN-Habitat (United Nations Human Settlements Programme) UN-Habitat Egypt alongside incredible people from around the world. The theme, “It All Starts at Home,” framed an ambitious vision: addressing global crises through local, community-rooted actions. Yet, this notion sparked more questions than answers about the idea of “home” as a site for global transformation. Navigating the forum felt almost like a live academic inquiry, moving through panel discussions, presentations, and workshops that shared insights into the profound, often unseen work that individuals, organizations, the private sector, United Nations agencies, cities, and governments do in their own “homes.” Each session shed light on both the potential and the inherent challenges of using local actions to confront worldwide urbanization issues. I felt fortunate to be part of such an engaged and intellectually stimulating environment. #WUF12 brought forward the nuanced intersections of localized action within a global vision, particularly highlighting the tensions of sustainable urbanization—between overarching ambitions and the granular, human aspects of policy application. I left the forum with new questions and a renewed awareness of the intellectual and ethical issues that sustainable urbanism raises: Can local action truly address global crises without being diluted by the pressures of scale and standardization? How can we preserve the authenticity of place in an era of increasingly globalized urban practices? While WUF12 didn’t answer these questions outright, it provided an invaluable space to grapple with them, offering a collaborative setting where ideas intersected with lived experiences. The four days were intense—a whirlwind of sessions, lectures, networking events, and debates centered on local actions, global visions, and the layered complexities in between. I reconnected with old friends and met inspiring individuals whose work left a lasting impression. Special thanks to Jihad Farah, Nicholas You, Mohamed Salheen, Hassan Elmouelhi, Maram Tawil, Hellen Aziz, Ashraf Abbas, and Mia Barnard for engaging conversations that went beyond the forum. #unhabitat #unhabitategypt #wuf12 #ItAllStartsAtHome, #ItAllStartsLocally Link to Entire post and review on my website: https://lnkd.in/daSNnGCy

Africa Smart Cities Forum 17-19 April 2024 - UM6P Campus Benguerir "Africa Smart City, Vector of sustainable territorial development" is the theme of the first edition of the of the Africa Smart City Forum (ASCF-2024), which will take place at the UM6P Campus in Benguerir from 17 to 19 of April 2024. This Forum is undertaken by UM6P and the emerging city of Benguerir, in the vicinity of the metropolitan region of Marrakech. It represents an experimentation ground (Test & Learn) for a nascent fast-growing green and smart city that fosters UM6P’s innovative campus. Considering this as a rising urban model, it is indeed a showcase of a new generation of smart cities in Africa. Accordingly, UM6P is launching the Africa Smart City Forum, as a vivid exchange and research platform, for African cities, where smart-human-centered urban solutions are applied in order to face current urban challenges and reach more resilient and sustainable human establishments and territories. Accordingly, this 1st edition of the ASCF-2024 at the UM6P will convene major Moroccan and African players, including experts, researchers, entrepreneurs and representatives of international institutions, NGOs and civil society, in order to share their knowledge and know-how in terms of territorial innovation and design of smart urban models, so as to boost the performance of infrastructures of African cities. The School of Architecture, Planning & Design (SAP+D) is coordinating this great event at UM6P campus at Benguerir. Join us in this event by filling this simple form: [https://shorturl.at/otFI7] #UM6P #Africasmartcityforum #smartcities #Africa #Morocco #Benguerir

Op-ed on "Sustainable Urbanization: Envisioning Dhaka as a Smart City in the upcoming century" by Md Mominur Rahman. To read full Op-ed: https://lnkd.in/ge4EMgnG

🏠🌱 #DidYouKnow our researchers are working with the Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) in #Bangladesh to build 40 #sustainable and resilient #housing solutions for vulnerable #rural communities. Researchers from RMIT University are leading an innovative project to address one of the most pressing challenges of our time: climate-resilient #housing. Partnering with communities in Bangladesh, this project combines cutting-edge research with local knowledge to create affordable, sustainable, and #disaster-resilient homes. From withstanding extreme weather to reducing environmental impact, these homes are designed to protect lives and livelihoods while contributing to a more sustainable future. This collaboration underscores the importance of research in empowering communities to adapt to climate challenges and thrive in the face of uncertainty. Discover how this project is shaping a resilient future and read the full story. Usha Iyer-Raniga | Mittul Vahanvati | RMIT School of Global, Urban and Social Studies| RMIT Centre for Urban Research | RMIT College of Design and Social Context #ClimateResilience #SustainableHousing #Research #Partnership #UrbanHousing

As the 12th World Urban Forum 12 Egypt concludes today, I am reflecting on a week filled with insightful discussions, dynamic training sessions, and vibrant exchanges. This year’s theme, #ItAllStartsatHome, highlighted the essential role that affordable housing plays in alleviating poverty and reducing inequality. One of the new aspects of WUF12’s discussion was the focus on #digitization. The integration of new policies for managing data and smart city innovations brought a fresh, forward-looking dimension to the conversations. The potential of technology to enhance housing delivery, improve urban planning, and make cities more sustainable and inclusive is inspiring. Beyond the sessions, Cairo itself provided a rich backdrop. The side events, including the tours of the city’s urban transformation and the exhibition at the Grand Egyptian Museum #GEM in Giza, offered unique insights into the blend of history and modernity shaping Egypt’s urban landscape. These experiences were a reminder that the journey to affordable housing is not just a global challenge, but one that requires local solutions, driven by both innovation and heritage. As we move forward, let’s carry the energy and ideas from WUF12. Affordable housing, powered by technology, is key to alleviating poverty and creating equitable opportunities for all. And by the way, WUF is a place to meet old and new friends from all across geographies! #WUF12 #AffordableHousing #UrbanInnovation #DigitalTransformation #SmartCities #SustainableDevelopment #EndPoverty #thousandopportunities #Cairo #HousingForAll