The sixth edition of the International Conference on “Urban Planning & Architectural Design for Sustainable Development (UPADSD)” and the first edition of the International Conference on “Circular Economy for Sustainable Development (CESD)” were held together in collaboration with the University of Florence, in Italy, and took place virtually from the 14th to the 16th of September 2021, due to the travel restrictions caused by the pandemic.
The conferences addressed all the aspects of the sustainable development including the planning of infrastructures such as transportation, communications, and distribution networks. Moreover, concerns over climate change, clean air and water, renewable energy and land use, continue to draw attention to sustainability, sustainable urban planning and the developmental strategies, practices and models that ensure habitable, self-sustaining communities. It also sheds light on the role of cities and regions as promoters, facilitators and enablers of a circular economy has become clearer and of great significance in tackling challenges of natural resource depletion, waste management and more.
Among the main topics discussed in the conference:
1- City Planning: Urbanization and Development
2- Past and Future: City's Image and Preservation
3- Compact Cities Context at Low and High Densities
4- Evolving Architecture and Rethinking Cities
5- Art and Defining the City
Day 1:
Welcoming Session:
The Opening Ceremony started with the online registration and welcoming speeches from the conferences Chairs.
Short welcoming speeches were given by the conference chair Professor Francesco Alberti UPADSD Conference Chair & Professor at the Department of Architecture (DiDA), University of Florence, Italy, and the conference chair Professor Fabio Pollice CESD Conference Chair & Full Professor of Economic-Political Geography & Rector of the University of Salento, Italy, followed with speeches Professor Ferdinando Trapani, IEREK advisor and Professor in Urban Planning, Polytechnics School at the University of Palermo, Italy.
Following the welcoming speeches, Toka Amer, IEREK representative and Operations Manager at IEREK, Egypt, delivered a presentation about IEREK introducing the company and its activities to the audience.
Plenary session:
A plenary session followed introducing the first keynote speaker, Prof. Alessandro Melis, Endowed Chair Professor, New York Institute of Technology, whose speech was entitled: “Resilient Communities.” and the second keynote speaker Professor Alcestis P. Rodi Associate Professor of Urban Design and Planning, Department of Architecture, University of Patras, whose speech was entitled: “"After the Pandemic: The Rise of the Post-Generic City”
After the keynotes speech was the First Session of the conference entitled “Past and Future: City's Image and Preservation” The session was moderated by Dr. Elena Tarsi, , University of Florence, Italy, and Prof. Maria Rita Gisotti, University of Florence, Italy. The session had four presentations before a short break.
Following the short break, the first session continued. And nine presentations were discussed, then concluded the first day of the conference.
Day 2:
The second day of the conference started with the speech of the third keynote speaker, Arch. Valerio Barberis, Deputy Mayor for urban planning, environment and circular economy of the municipality of Prato. Professor of Architectural, Design at the Department of Architectural Design at the University of Florence, with a speech entitled: "Prato Green Deal"
After the keynote speech, the second Session started entitled: “City Planning: Urbanization and Development” which was moderated by Professor Massimo Carta, University of Florence, Italy, and Dr. Antonella Radicchi, TU Berlin, Institute of Urban and Regional Planning. The second session discussed eight presentations before a short break.
Following the short break was the fourth Keynote Speaker Professor Francesco Alberti, Professor at the Department of Architecture (DiDA), University of Florence, Italy, with a speech entitled: "Making cities accessible to all. A shared approach promoted by the Italian National Institute of Urban planning".
Following the keynote speech, the second session continued. And five presentations were discussed, then concluded the second Session of the conference.
Next was the third Session of the conference entitled: “Circular Economy: A Sustainable Solution for a Sustainable Future” and was moderated by Dr. Michele Anzalone, Ph.D. in City, Regional and Landscape Planning and Advisor of Regional Authority of Sicily. And six presentations were discussed, then concluded the second day of the conference.
Day 3:
The Third day of the conference started with the fourth Session entitled: “Reimaging Cities, Territories and Landscapes” which was moderated by Professor Antonella Trombadore, University of Florence, Italy, and Dr. Antonella Valentini, University of Florence, Italy. The Fourth session discussed eight presentations before a short break.
Following the short break was the sixth Keynote Speaker Professor Maria Goula, Associate professor, Landscape Architecture Department, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), Cornell University, US, with a speech entitled: "From waterfronts to waterscapes:a new coastal ontology".
After the keynote speech, the fifth Session started entitled: “Innovative approaches to Urban and Architectural Design towards Sustainabilit” which was moderated by Professor Antonella Trombadore, University of Florence, Italy, and Professor Rosa Romano, University of Florence, Italy. The fifth session discussed six presentations.
A discussion and a Questions and Answers session followed, and the Conference was concluded by a Panel session where final remarks and feedback were discussed.
