Between October and November, the fourth edition of the international forum “Shaping the City” returns, organized by ECC – European Cultural Centre.
Shaping the City is a forum organized by ECC – European Cultural Centre as part of the program of in-depth discussion and actions stemming from the themes and participants of the architecture exhibition Time Space Existence, currently taking place at Palazzo Bembo, Palazzo Mora, and Giardini della Marinaressa in Venice, and occurring every two years in conjunction with the International Architecture Exhibition. The forum, now in its fourth edition, has had two editions in Venice, held in 2018 and 2021, and one in Chicago, organized in 2021 as part of the Chicago Architecture Biennale.
Shaping the City addresses contemporary urbanization and key issues of the city, presented and discussed through the perspectives of academics, urban planners and designers, architects, politicians, and scholars. Through various presentations and roundtable discussions, the forum tackles fundamental themes related to city formation worldwide. The primary mission of the forum is to share diverse knowledge and improvement practices designed for our threatened cities and communities. Additionally, the goal is to stimulate new collaborations and international actions.
This year’s edition consists of two different international sections: the first on October 5th and 6th in New Orleans at the AIA, Center for Design, and the F. Taylor Library, Ogden Museum; the second on November 24th and 25th in Venice at Palazzo Mora and Palazzo Bembo.
The two-day event in New orleans focuses specifically on Design for Climate Emergency, offering the opportunity for international leaders and industry professionals to share their work and introduce new approaches to sustainable design and planning. Building systemic and equitable resilience to growing climate threats indeed requires innovative solutions and international collaboration. Climate change is one of the most significant challenges that major cities worldwide must confront. From floods to hurricanes, fires to desertification, extreme climate circumstances are increasing in number and impact. These threats are amplified in coastal cities like Venice and New Orleans, whose geography makes them particularly vulnerable to sea-level rise and extreme weather events. As cities with unique histories, geographies, and urban fabrics, New Orleans provides a rich and complex framework for examining the relationship between cultural heritage and sustainable urban development through the lens of environmental justice.
