The Architecture of Place: Health and Urbanisation: What is a Healthy City?

with Shipra Narang Suri and David Howard

The ICAA, INTBAU, and the Prince’s Foundation are pleased to announce a collaborative series of high-level online talks on ‘The Architecture of Place’.

Perhaps now more than ever before, we are all aware of the built environment that surrounds us, and of the impacts it has on the health of individuals, communities, and the planet. The Architecture of Place series brings together the established and emerging voices working to create a better built future. You can find more information on the full series here.

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The second event in the 'Architecture of Place' series was held on October 26, 2020, and featured a lecture from Dr. Shipra Narang Suri and Dr. David Howard.

Our urban areas are expected to grow one and a half times by 2045, to over six billion city dwellers - with developed land projected to triple. This rapid growth and urbanization is also set against the backdrop of natural resource depletion and climate change. In order to plan sustainable cities and communities within this context it is important to take an interdisciplinary approach – understanding that the way in which we design and build our cities impacts our public health, economy, environment, and our mental and physical wellbeing. This talk explores the intersection between health and urbanisation, and what it means for how we plan and manage our cities. David Howard presents his research in urban design and health infrastructure, and Shipra Narang Suri presents on planning services and the role they play in creating healthy living environments. Their presentations are followed by a moderated panel discussion.

Sponsors

The ICAA would like to thank The Benton Family Foundation for its generous support of this lecture series, along with series sponsor McCrery Architects.

Additional thanks to INTBAU's supporters for this series, Fairfax & Sammons, ADAM Architecture, and Size Group.

Additional thanks to The Prince's Foundation's supporter, Mr. Paul Beirne.

About the Speakers

Dr. Shipra Narang Suri is an urban planner with a Ph.D. in Post-War Recovery Studies from the University of York, UK. She leads UN-Habitat’s Urban Practices Branch, which is the hub for UN-Habitat’s normative work and the home of its portfolio of global programmes. The work of the Branch covers all major areas of UN-Habitat’s work such as national urban policies; legislation and governance; urban planning and design; planning and health; public space; urban regeneration; land, housing and shelter; urban economy and finance; urban basic services; safer cities; human rights and social inclusion. Shipra is also the senior advisor within UN-Habitat for local governments and their networks.

Shipra has extensive experience in advising national and local governments, as well as private sector organisations and networks, on issues of urban planning and management, good urban governance and indicators, livability and sustainability of cities, urban safety, women and cities, as well as post-conflict/ post-disaster recovery. She has worked with the United Nations, specifically, UN-HABITAT, UNDP, and UNESCO, as well as international NGOs such as World Vision, and private sector organisations, for over two decades. She is a regular public speaker at national and international fora, and has several publications to her credit.

Dr. David Howard is an Associate Professor in Sustainable Urban Development at the University of Oxford, and a Fellow of Kellogg College, Oxford. He is Director of Studies for the Sustainable Urban Development Programme at the University of Oxford, which promotes lifelong learning for those with professional and personal interests in urban development. David is also Co-Director of the Global Centre on Healthcare and Urbanisation at Kellogg College. The Centre hosts public debates and promotes research on key urban issues affecting society today, with the aim to provoke discussion and constructive action, linking current best practice in related areas of research.

Tags: classicism at home, architecture of place, recorded event