The eighth edition of the International Conference on “Urban Planning and Architectural Design for Sustainable Development” was held in collaboration with the University of Florence in Italy, and took place physically and virtually from the 24th to the 26th of October, including attendees from all corners of the world.

This conference is organized as one of the important tools that help its attendees exchange knowledge and enhance the research community. IEREK invited all interested architects, environmentalists, engineers, and university students from all over the world aiming to increase awareness about the importance of sustainable development in urban cities.

The conference covered a wide array of topics that pertain to the sustainable development of cities and architectural constructs. Some of the main topics that were discussed include:

1- Urban Design Strategies for Climatic Mitigation

2- Urban Design: Development, and Management

3- Innovations in Architectural Design Methods and Technologies

4- Integrating Art and Culture in Urban and Architectural Landscapes

5-The Future of Urbanism and Sustainable Design

6-Reinventing the Built Environment: Emerging Trends and Innovations

Day 1:

Welcoming Session:

The Opening Ceremony started with online registration and welcoming speeches from the Conference Chair, Prof. Francesco Alberti, and IEREK’s founder, Dr. Mourad Amer.

Short welcoming speeches were given by the conference chair Professor Francesco Alberti, Prof. Giuseppe De Luca, Director of the Department of Architecture (DiDA), University of Florence, Italy, Prof. Ferdinando Trapani, Professor at the Urban Planning Department of Architecture, Polytechnic School University of Palermo, Italy, and A welcoming word by Dr. Mourad Amer, CEO of IEREK.

Following the speeches, a brief presentation was given that introduced IEREK as a company and its activities to the audience.

Plenary sessions:

A plenary session followed introducing the first keynote speaker Francesca Olivieri,
Associate professor at the Department of Construction and Technology in Architecture of the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, whose speech was entitled: “Measuring the benefits of nature-based metropolitan solutions. Madrid case studies.”

Following the keynote speeches, parallel sessions 1, 2, and 3 took place.

The First Session of the conference titled “Architectural Design Methods and Technologies” was moderated by Janina Sánchez Cárdenas, Architect and Landscape Architect at edit, Norway, Dr. Rosa Romano, Associate professor at the Department of Architecture (DIDA), University of Florence, Italy, Dr.  Giulia Misseri, Researcher at the Department of Architecture (DIDA), University of Florence, Italy.

The Second Session of the conference titled “Fostering Public Space and Place Identity” was moderated by Dr. Jocelyn A. Rivera-Lutap, Associate Professor / Dean, College of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Manila,
Philippines, Dr Giulio Giovannoni, Associate Professor at the Department of Architecture (DIDA), University of Florence, Italy and Eleonora Giannini, Ph.D. candidate at the Department of Architecture (DIDA), University of Florence, Italy.

The third Session of the conference titled “Urban Design: Development, and Management” was moderated by Dr. Paola Gallo, Associate professor at the Department of Architecture (DIDA), University of Florence, Italy, Jaire Cagigal, Researcher at Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador (PUCE), Quito, Ecuador and Dr. Andrea Testi, Research fellow at the University of Florence, Italy.

As the sessions went on, multiple authors presented their research in person and online, taking questions from the audience, and answering them as best they could.

After a discussion and a Questions and Answers session, the first conference day ended with a Panel session where final remarks and feedback were discussed.

Day 2:

The second day started with online registration, followed by a keynote speech by Professor Alcestis Rodi, Professor of the Department of Architecture at the University of Patras. Whose speech was entitled: “New Architecture in Historic or Sensitive Contexts: Concepts and Mutations in Urban Design.”

Following the keynote speech, parallel sessions 4 ,5,6, and 7 took place.

The fourth Session of the conference titled “Improving Urban Resilience” was moderated by Dr. Lbylou Bandala-Golla, Chairperson, Department of Environmental Planning College of Architecture, Design and Built Environment, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Dr. Maria Rita Gisotti, Associate professor at the Department of Architecture (DIDA), University of Florence, Italy, Dr. Michael Davis Maks, Senior Lecturer-Researcher of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Ecuador (PUCE), Quito, Ecuador and Dr. Giulio Hasanaj, Researcher at the Department of Architecture (DIDA), University of Florence, Italy.

The fifth Session of the conference titled “Art, Culture and Heritage” was moderated by Dr. Eleni Tracada, Senior Lecturer in Built Environment (Architecture), College of Science and Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Derby, UK, Dr. Massimo Carta, Associate professor at the Department of Architecture (DIDA), University of Florence, Italy, Dr. Elena Tarsi, Researcher at the Department of Architecture (DIDA), University of Florence, Italy and Dr. Antonella Radicchi, Researcher at the University of Siena, Italy.

Following session 4,5, a short lunch break was issued, and the final session was set to begin soon after.

The sixth Session of the conference titled “Energy and Transport” was moderated by Dr.  Francesco Alberti, Associate professor at the Department of Architecture (DIDA), University of Florence, Italy. Dr.  Giovanna Acampa, Associate professor at “Kore” University, Enna, Italy, and Dr. Cristina Piselli, Assistant professor at the Department of Architecture (DIDA), University of Florence, Italy.

The seventh Session of the conference titled “The Future of Urbanism and Sustainable Design” was moderated by Dr. Silvio Cristiano, Assistant professor at the Department of Architecture (DIDA), University of Florence, Italy, Bianca Galmarini, Ph.D. candidate at the Department of Architecture (DIDA), University of Florence, Italy, Dr. Alessandra Donato, Adjunct professor at the Department of Architecture (DIDA), University of Florence, Italy, and Dr. Maria Vittoria Arnetoli, Ph.D. candidate at the Department of Architecture (DIDA), University of Florence, Italy.

As the sessions went on, multiple authors presented their research in person and online, taking questions from the audience, and answering them as best they could.

After a discussion and a Questions and Answers session, the first conference day ended with a Panel session where final remarks and feedback were discussed.

Day 3:

On the final day of the UPADSD conference Prof. Alberti spoke about Florence's rich history at the closing of the event, The speech was entitled: “Living in a Heritage City:  Florence between Past and Present.” 

Wrapping up, final remarks, and a closing ceremony were held, Then All participants also enjoyed a walking tour through Florence's World Heritage site.

The tour includes visits to three historic complexes undergoing rehabilitation to accommodate new urban functions:

1. the former monastery of Sant'Orsola, which is set to become a cultural and crafts hub;
2. the "Granaio dell’Abbondanza” (granary of abundance), a 16th-century granary (later barracks), recently transformed into an Innovation Centre.
3.  The Murate complex, a former prison carved out of an ancient convent has become over the years a mixed-use neighborhood.