‘A Tomorrow For Cities’ – London is to host an International Centenary Congress For Housing And Planning
Early Bird Discount Now Available For The IFHP’s Centenary Congress In London This Summer
This June will see London host over 800 built environment professionals and politicians from across the UK and the world to mark the centenary congress of the International Federation of Housing and Planning (IFHP).[1]
This group of experts will be celebrating one hundred years of promoting good planning practice aimed at improving peoples’ quality of life and will provide a unique opportunity to debate new thinking about the present and future development of our towns and cities.
Registration is now open and delegates can visit the new IFHP congress website for early bird discounts to attend ‘A tomorrow for cities”[2], the pivotal conference in a series of celebratory events over the course of 2013. And there is an additional 20% discount for all TCPA members.
Diane Smith, European and Corporate Affairs Manager of the Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA) [3] and Co-Chair of the Centenary Congress Committee said:
“The TCPA is delighted to be working with the IFHP to celebrate their centenary year. London is a fantastic city in which to host the congress and offers numerous opportunities for exciting study visits, not least the 2012 Olympic site. This event is especially significant for the UK as we face the urgent challenge of delivering our homes and communities that are prosperous, resilient to climate change and have social justice at their core.”
Delegates will hear from world renowned urbanist, Mitchell Silver[4], President of the American Planning Association (APA), who will give the keynote address on planning and economic development. Alongside Silver, a panel of high profile speakers involved in policy making and academia from around the world will cover the top planning issues for our towns and cities. This will be an unmissable opportunity for planning and built environment professionals across the UK to network and share experiences.
At a time when the UK is dealing with the global challenges of the economic downturn and planning for climate change, this congress offers an inimitable forum for UK planners to contribute to the high level debate about how to tackle the issues facing where we live now and where will live in the future. With the UK as the birthplace of the world renowned Garden City model, this congress will reflect on lessons learnt from the past as well as the best from current practice, and ask: what practical solutions do we need to ensure a stable transition to the sustainable communities of tomorrow?
Kate Henderson, TCPA Chief Executive said:
“The IFHP and TCPA share a common heritage through our founder, Ebenezer Howard, who also established the Garden Cities movement. The garden city model married the ideals of a better way of living for ordinary working people with practical solutions. As our Association continues to campaign for a new generation of garden cities this event provides a unique opportunity for those in the planning and built environment profession to learn from the experiences of other cities around the world.”
The 100th IFHP congress website can be found at http://london2013.ifhp.org/ and provides further detail on all the events that will be taking place as part of the IFHP’s centenary celebrations in London this year[5] as well as the main congress. It will be regularly updated in the run-up to the Congress with details of speakers and study visits.
1. The IFHP centenary congress will take place in London 8th and 11th June 2013, for more information please see http://london2013.ifhp.org/ The IFHP was founded by Ebenezer Howard in 1913. Howard also founded the TCPA, then known as the Garden Cities Association, in 1899.
2. The International Federation of Housing and Planning (IFHP) is an international organisation focused on urban development issues. The organisation was founded in 1913 by the architect Ewart Culpin under the presidency of Ebenezer Howard, who is known for his publication “Garden Cities of Tomorrow” (1898). This publication became the basis for the Garden City movement period in city planning. The IFHP is currently based in The Hague, The Netherlands. Its current President is Flemming Borreskov, CEO of Realdania in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Since its very beginning, the IFHP’s driving force has been rooted in the desire to improve the physical conditions in which people live. It continues to do this by promoting good planning practices that are orientated towards an improving quality of life.
3. The Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA) is an independent campaigning charity calling for more integrated planning based on the principles of accessibility, sustainability, diversity, and community cohesion. The TCPA puts social justice and the environment at the heart of the debate about planning policy, housing and energy supply. We inspire government, industry and campaigners to take a fresh perspective on major issues including climate change and regeneration. www.tcpa.org.uk
4. Mitchell Silver is president of the American Planning Association (APA). Mr. Silver is also the Chief Planning & Development Officer and Planning Director for Raleigh, North Carolina. Mr. Silver is an award-winning planner with over 27 years of experience in the public and private sectors in New York City, Washington, D.C and Raleigh, NC. He is internationally recognized for his leadership in the planning profession and his contributions to contemporary planning issues.
Known by his colleagues as a creative thinker, problem-solver and visionary leader, Mitchell has been at the centre of many cutting edge trends, innovative solutions and visionary plans. As planning director in Raleigh, he led the comprehensive plan update process to create a vibrant 21st century city with a modern transit system, great streets, great places and great neighbourhoods. He is now overseeing a rewrite of the City’s Development Code.
Mr. Silver is a contributing editor and author of ICMA’s “Local Planning: Contemporary Principles and Practice.” Mr. Silver’s work and commentary has been featured in Time Magazine, the New York Times, Huffington Post, Atlantic Cities, Planning Magazine, the Triangle Business Journal, the Urban Times, Crain’s Business Journal, BBC World News and National Public Radio (NPR).
5. Building on London’s 2012 Olympic success, the congress will showcase east London’s inspirational regeneration. Study tours will include the Olympic park, the Siemens’ flagship Urban Sustainability Centre, ‘The Crystal’, and an experience on cable car across the River Thames. The congress will also offer study tours outside of the city to Letchworth and Welwyn Garden Cities.
More information about the study tours and how to register can be found on the new congress website as well as the TCPA website.
