[URBANTH-L]ANN: Eco-cities - Between Vision and Reality (London)

[Angela Jancius]

University of Westminster Symposium: Governance and Sustainability 
programme/ Centre for the Study of Democracy

Eco-Cities - Between Vision and Reality


Friday, 13 November 2009, 2 - 6 pm
The Pavilion, University of Westminster
115 Cavendish Street, London W1W 6UW

Presentation of global eco-city survey
Prof Simon Joss, Prof Robert Kargon, Dr Arthur Molella

Round-table discussion
Dr John Barry, Queen's University Belfast
Anders Franzén, Head of Planning, City of Växjö
Peter Head OBE, Director, Arup, London
Guillermo Reynes, Director, GRAS Arquitectos, Madrid
Professor Yvonne Rydin, University College London

The debate about global climate change and advances in technological 
innovation have given rise to a new, rapidly growing international 
phenomenon: eco-cities. From Malmö to Johannesburg, and from Portland to 
Dongtan, diverse eco-city initiatives are in the process of being designed, 
piloted and put into practice. Whether completely new developments or 
so-called 'retro-fits', eco-cities represent fascinating 'urban laboratories', 
combining visionary ideas with technological innovations for more 
sustainable living.

This symposium - which brings together academics, architects, engineers, 
planners and practitioners - aims to explore this new global phenomenon by 
discussing what exactly we mean by 'eco-cities'; how they are different from 
'normal' cities; why they have suddenly become so fashionable among 
politicians, policy-makers and planners; whether they deliver on their 
promise to be more sustainable; and who decides where, when and how they are 
built.

The event is hosted by the University of Westminster's Governance & 
Sustainability Research Programme. Convenors: Simon Joss (University of 
Westminster), Robert Kargon (Johns Hopkins University), Arthur Molella 
(Smithsonian Institution). For more information visit 
www.wmin.ac.uk/governance+sustainability

RSVP Charlotte Regan. Email: charlotte.regan at my.westminster.ac.uk


The University of Westminster is a charity and a company limited by 
guarantee. Registration number: 977818 England. Registered Office: 309 
Regent Street, London W1B 2UW.