An INTA delegation - composed of INTA's President Budiarsa Sastrawinata, the Secretary General, Michel Sudarskis and INTA's Regional Commissioner for Asia, Agussurja Widjaja - has visited several countries in Asia. This tour is an outcome of the strategic objectives developed by INTA’s President and underlined by an INTA Board meeting that took place February 8-9. This strategy aims to put INTA’s members at the heart of all efforts and activities; it seeks to fortify the position of the association where it is already present, and to pursue several opportunities such as developing a stronger presence in Asia, where most of the world urban growth and dynamics are currently taking place. The tour consisted of several high-level visits in Japan, Taiwan, Singapore and Indonesia and succeeded in recruiting new members and developing new partnerships, as well as identifying and securing new activities. Read full report and view pictures here

In co-operation with the Urban Age Institute, an international conference will be organised in Palo Alto (California) on June 6, that will share some of the lessons learned in the US on Science Parks and Poles of Competitiveness with representatives from several South East Asian Countries. Scientific Knowledge and information are key resources in the production process, along with physical capital, labor, natural resources, and other factors in determining economic growth. The use of knowledge to innovate is not only a determinant of wealth, it is also the basis of competitive advantage. Science & Technology Parks, where innovations transform into successful businesses, foster knowledge-based development (KBD) by bringing together scientific research, business and policy making organisations. Read more...

Maurice Charrier, Vice-President of INTA and in charge of European Affaires, has been re-elected as Mayor of Vaulx-en-Velin, a position that he has held since 1985. In name of INTA's President and the other Board Member, INTA congratulates Mr Charrier with his electoral success. With 50.56% of the votes, Charrier secured his re-election in the first round, leaving the Socialist Party (PS) and UMP of President Sarkozy far behind. In a first reaction, Mr Charrier said he was both surprised and satisfied with the result. " I felt that we would do good, but not this good. I am particularly happy with this result and see it as an encouragement to continue with the projects that we have initiated".

This year, as part of its programme as European Capital of Culture 2008, celebrating 800 years of history, Liverpool is hosting the IFHP Annual International Conference at its modern new Arena & Convention Centre.As “a city with a strong reputation for effective regeneration”, Liverpool will be promoting discussion and the exchange of best practices in planning and regeneration among international experts. Planning and Regeneration are helping to shape a unique European City by blending a stunning collection of heritage buildings with exciting modern developments. The accolade of European Capital of Culture for 2008 has accelerated development and will
provide an exciting legacy. The designation of parts of Liverpool City Centre and the whole waterfront as a World Heritage Site provide a clear demonstration of Liverpool’s unique Maritime character and cultural diversity.

The Department of Architecture and Analysis of the Mediterranean City (DAACM) is holding the IV International Forum on the “Mediterranean City" and will take place at the Università Mediterranea, Reggio Calabria, Italy. A call for papers is being launched and contributions can be submitted for the following sessions.

• The city and the water
• The historical city as dwelling place
• The plural city as a synthesis of civilisation

More information and a leaflet on the Forum is available in English, Italian and French here.

INTA is giving its support to Urban Regeneration 2008 Conference, titled "People and Places" that will take place in the city of Prague on 3 - 4 April 2008. This international conference brings together politicians, municipalities, government departments, entrepreneurs, developers, designers, architects, urban planners and financial institutions to look at the real challenges facing towns, regions, cities and communities today. Attracting a worldwide audience, delegates can hear how these challenges are being successfully addressed from various parts of the world including London, Prague, Vienna, Malmö, Rotterdam and Sheffield.

A tool to help planners assess capacity for housing, clean water, sanitation and basic services, has been unveiled today by the Global Planners Network (GPN).The RTPI and Commonwealth Association of Planners (CAP) have developed the tool to help assess urban growth challenges. It is tailored for planners working in public, private or voluntary sectors, and all organisations and institutions with responsibility for planning and managing where people live. CAP president Christine Platt, said: “This initiative is a crucial step in ensuring that planning and the planning profession can adequately deal with the challenges that we shall face throughout the 21st century." Read more...

 

Dalkia, Veolia Energie, wins energy contract for London Green Buildings programme.The Mayor of London has announced that Dalkia, the leading energy services company, has won a contract to make a number of the Greater London Authority Group's buildings more energy efficient. Dalkia was selected for its ability to meet the strict criteria for energy and project management as well as the implementation of energy measures over a range of services. Dalkia is the first energy services company to provide a wide ranging and fully integrated approach to carbon management, embodied in Dalkia CarbonCare, launched in the UK in 2007. The service enables organisations to work towards carbon neutrality by implementing a concept to completion approach to energy management. Read more...

BDP Lighting won the special projects category and had a further entry shortlisted in the workplace category in this year’s Lighting Design Awards. The awards were presented at a glittering ceremony at the London Hilton on Park Lane on Thursday 6 March 2008.BDP’s Guerilla Lighting events in London and Manchester won in the special projects category and Westminster Academy, London was short-listed in the workplace category.The concept of Guerrilla Lighting was created by Martin Lupton, director of BDP’s lighting group, to promote lighting design and create a platform to discuss key issues such as professional design, waste and sustainability. The power behind the exercise was the participation and collabaoration, which was what particularly impressed the judges. Read more...