Iris Gleichmann’s talk will be about three important aspects of urban development: integration, participation and context. She will discuss these issues with reference to examples of her work in Ukraine, Germany and India.
The world has become more complex – more interconnected and interrelated. Simple hierarchies and individualized logics do not work anymore. To some, this might be regrettable, but to others, it presents opportunities to become directly involved in making better and more encompassing ways of life through processes of inclusion.
But political, economical and technical forces are sometimes reluctant to take into account aspects beyond narrow self-concerns. In urban situations, this often leads to projects that disregard their impacts on existing physical, cultural and social contexts. To counter such tendencies, it is necessary to encourage cross-sector engagement, inter-departmental and inter-discipline coordination, and the active participation of all who live, work and play in cities.
This approach is far from theoretical. There are numerous tried and tested practical measures that can help cities preserve their heritage and at the same time ensure their viability as places not only to live but thrive.
Iris studied Architecture and Urban Planning in Stuttgart and London, worked at offices in Germany, Great Britain and Japan. From 2002 to 2009, she has been working as a director, later managing partner of the environment and city planning department (BUS), founded in Dresden. From 2009-2015, Director of the Ukrainian-German cooperation Project “Municipal Development and Rehabilitation of the Old City of Lviv” for the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH in Lviv. Since 2016, Gleichmann Urban Management Office in Dresden. Working as consultant to cities, ministries and GIZ in Urban Management and Local Self Governance, currently amongst others in Albania, India and Ukraine.
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