On Tuesday, 24th September 2013, Kuala Lumpur will once again host the ‘5th International Conference on World Class Sustainable Cities 2013’ (WCSC 2013). This year’s conference will feature an all international line-up, comprising three distinguished world class speakers from Australia and the United Kingdom, globally renowned for their works and vast knowledge in the areas of urban change that enable cities to be self-sustaining and to future proof themselves.
Co-organized by the Real Estate & Housing Developers’ Association Wilayah Persekutuan (Kuala Lumpur) (REHDA KL), the Malaysian Institute of Planners (MIP), and the Malaysian Institute of Architects (PAM), WCSC 2013 will be held at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, and expects to attract about 600 participants this year.
The WCSC series is organized to bring together ideas and best practices on what make cities liveable and sustainable places to live in, as well as to increase the awareness of our city dwellers, on the potentials of a great city life. The conference is unique as it brings together all stakeholders of the city. Besides developers, planners and architects, through Kuala Lumpur City Hall’s (DBKL) endorsement and support, city authority officials and representatives from Residents’ Associations throughout Kuala Lumpur will also attend as participants in the conference.
While WCSC’s from past years have focused on various topics, including the transformation of Cheongyecheon River in Seoul, Korea, the city transportation solutions for Curitiba, Brazil, and the metamorphosis of Kaohsiung, Taiwan from an industrial polluter to an ecological tourist hub, this year’s WCSC 2013 will address the challenges and concerns in providing housing for all income groups, providing clean, healthy and safe cities, and to touch on the economic gains for creative, liveable, green cities.
Mr. Charles Landry, Founder of Comedia in United Kingdom, an international authority on the use of imagination and creativity in helping cities identify and make the most of their resources and reach their potential, will share his expertise via his paper “Creative Cities are World Class Successful Cities”.
Mr. Peter Cuming, Founder and Managing Director of Sustainable Futures Australia, an award-winning practice that specializes in sustainability planning, design and education, will present the paper “Creative Engagement of the Community in Making Liveable Cities”, sharing with the people of Kuala Lumpur his over 20 years’ experience in his field.
Mr. John Byrne, Adviser in Urban Planning, Design, Policy & Housing of Byrne Urban Design and Adjunct Professor in Urban Design & Architecture at the Queensland University of Technology, and a figure with central involvement in award-winning programs of national significance in his native Australia, will be speaking on the subject of “Creativity in Integrating Affordable Housing into the Inner City Fabric of the City.”
In previous years, WCSC conference speakers have had an influential impact in shifting public perceptions to the Kuala Lumpur projects that followed. The Cheongyecheon river restoration was a great prelude to the KL River of Life project, the Curitiba experience, in transforming the city’s buses and MRT, and pedestrianization projects that include the covered walkway systems to make cities for the people.
In conjunction with WCSC 2013, a Photography Competition and Essay Competition were launched at the press conference, entitled “Liveable Cities are Creative & Competitive Cities”. The previous years’ Photography and Essay Competitions with various themes had attracted a lot of attention and once again, we look forward to getting views from the eyes of the public, what our cities should be like, and to encourage the young in their aspirations for the cities that they call home.
Attractive cash prizes will be given for winners of both competitions and the photos will be featured during the WCSC 2013 conference itself. The essays will eventually be published in a book together with the photos, to further disseminate and promote ideas on cities for people.
WCSC 2013 will continue to engage people in shaping cities for the future, and the event organizers would encourage all city dwellers in KL and other cities in Malaysia to join us, listen to best practices around the world, and share their views during the panel discussions and question time.
This year’s conference flyer and registration form, including the competitions information can be downloaded at www.rehda.com, or call Mr. Soon Teck Giap (WCSC 2013 Conference Secretariat) at Tel: +603-7803 2978 or e-mail at stg@rehda.com / kul@rehda.com
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