50 Years of ISOCARP and Regional Planners (ISOCARP) Was Founded in 1965, the Population of Western Cities Was Increasing Rapidly

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When the International Society of City 50 years of ISOCARP and Regional Planners (ISOCARP) was founded in 1965, the population of western cities was increasing rapidly. It was also Planning becoming clear that town and regional planners had tasks beyond housing and that good planning was important to without stimulate economic development, manage social change and tackle environmental challenges. The inaugural congress was held borders in the Netherlands. In 2015 the congress will come home, exactly 50 years later. In the past five decades, ISOCARP has grown into a worldwide platform where planning professionals from all corners of the world and all ages and backgrounds share their knowledge, experience and passion for the planning profession.

By Harry Harsema

ISOCARP was founded in Amsterdam (The Netherland) in 1965. 20 PROFILE ISOCARP 21

The first ten ISOCARP congresses were quests is resented as an always farther increasing restric- ning, but also (and from our point of view this is Urban planner and designer prof. for what urban and regional planning in the tion and narrowing of freedom, as a regimenta- the most important side) of those who are actively Sam van Embden (1904-2000) second half of the twentieth century was all about, tion of life, as the end of all adventure? And would involved in the planning-work. For all of them the founded the International So- how it related to cultural heritage, transport plan- not the impact of this experience on the mind of main objective should be to find out how to plan ciety of City and Regional Plan- ning and economic planning and how planning men be much stronger than the somewhat poor freedom. In my opinion this means: to learn how ners (ISOCARP) in 1965 with 40 education should be organized. In his State of the qualities of their daily environments?’ to plan as if we were not planning. This is more a other planning professionals. Van Profession in 1969, Sam van Embden, founder question of mental attitude than of method, more Embden was the first President of and first president of ISOCARP from 1965-1975, ‘Here we are on the horns of a dilemma,’ van of wisdom than of knowledge. To this, just as to the Society (1965-1975). ISOCARP sketched a paradox that raised, what he called, a Embden continued, ‘for there is no doubt what- every other really fundamental problem, there has a strong record and reputation warning voice in his conscience. ‘I have pointed ever that we simply cannot stop, or even slow is no real and lasting answer. Each new genera- for a number of regular activities all the time at gaps in our planning system, gaps down, planning and organizing without imme- tion will meet it under another appearance, each including the annual congress, to be filled. I have pointed out the necessity to diately endangering the existence of the three, generation will have to find its own solution. We a strong series of publications, improve and complete that system, to introduce soon six billion inhabitants of this planet. But the should search for ours.’ Today, Van Embden’s awards for best practices, train- corrections and add extensions. However, it might more these planning-systems extend and tend to words are as topical as 45 years ago. ing programmes, workshops for be asked (though in reality we have long known organise their lives, the more each separate indi- young planning professionals, and the answer) whether the prevailing uncomfortable vidual will feel exasperated and the stronger it will The Urban millennium urban planning advisory teams feeling about planning-results among the general oppose the restrictions laid upon it in the name ISOCARP was founded to study and discuss for professional support in urban public really originated in the first place from the of the Community. The only answer I would the process of urbanisation that was perceived planning. ISOCARP is also a society quality of the plans, or whether there are much know to this dilemma for the moment refers to to be proceeding inexorably in the 1960s. Today, where individual members meet, deeper roots for this general discussion. Is it not a renewal of our mental disposition. In the first more than 50% of the world population is living exchange ideas and work together so that planning itself, omnipresent, inescapable, place it concerns those who have to accept plan- in cities and this percentage is increasing. ‘The regularly. The membership, wich is motto of ISOCARP, “Knowledge for Better Cities”, evenly divided between academics, describes exactly what we as a society of plan- planning professionals who work ning professionals stand for,’ says Milica Bajic- for local and regional planning Brkovic, professor of urban planning and design organisations and designers and at the University of Belgrade and now the 15th consultants from the private sector, President of ISOCARP. ‘The active involvement provides a network of around 800 of our members in the preparation and participa- members who are active in more tion of our congress, publications and workshops than 80 countries. ISOCARP is is our greatest strength.’ Milica Bajic-Brkovic is recognized as a non-governmental refering to the annual congresses in the past organization by the United Nations five years (2009-2013) in Porto, Nairobi, Wuhan, (UN), the United Nations Human Perm and Brisbane, all of wich tackled topics like Settlements Programme (UNHCS/ low-carbon cities, planning in a hyper dynamic UN-HABITAT), and the Council age and changing frontiers of planning, ahead of Europe. The Society also has a of the mainstream discussions in the planning formal consultative status with the profession. Parallel to the congresses ISOCARP United Nations Education, Societal has published a wide variety of essays and articles and Cultural Organisation (UN- on these topics in their annual Review. Bajic- ESCO). The Secretariat of ISOCARP Brkovic: ‘The ISOCARP congresses have brought has its office in The Hague. Mem- our members in contact with many other plan- bership is open to all planning ning professionals and organizations that find professionals. planning important. One of our highlights was our congress on sustainable development in the developing world in Nairobi, attended by over a thousand participants and partially held in the headquarters of UN-HABITAT. Since that congress we have close working relation with UN-HABITAT.’

Jeffrey Featherstone, director and professor at Young Planning Professionals on a field trip the Center for Sustainable Communities, Temple in Kibera, prior to the ISOCARP Congress in Sam van Embden. Nairobi, Kenya. 22 PROFILE ISOCARP 23

University in Philadelphia, was the General quate planning. Water-related issues like drinking Rapporteur for the ISOCARP congress in Brisbane water, food, safety, trade, nomadic lifestyle and in 2013. His conclusion: contemporary urbaniza- other issues may have been some of the most tion is totally different from past city development. important aspects that shaped planning, societies, Featherstone: ‘Above all else we have now entered cultures and the environment.’ He reminds us that the urban millennium in which cities and city over time, and in different continents, countries, planning are critical to the majority of the world’s climates, civilizations and cultures, the role of now urbanized population. In this sense we have water in planning has changed. Brandeis: ‘Today, entered a “new world” that maybe can be com- water related issues, and their role in urban and pared with the first years of ISOCARP. The scale regional planning, set a wide array of different and speed of change challenge the traditional major challenges, from providing cities in arid plans of governments in rapidly changing urban areas with access to drinking water to protecting regions. The drivers of urbanization may still be cities in river deltas from flooding. These chal- what they have always been – agglomeration lenges need to be addressed in almost any plan advantages, economic opportunity, more exiting or project worldwide, and influence and enhance lifestyles, and intensified interactions – but their “Urban Transformations” in many ways.’ impacts are now multiplied many times over.’ The congress team and the authors of almost The theme Urban Transformations – Cities and 200 papers asked themselves what effective plan- Water is topical and reflects one of the current ning practice is at the global frontiers: whether priorities in planning in Poland. In the past few it is planning for the local community, mature years, cities in Poland have suffered from flood- metro, mega-city, or vast urbanizing region. ing. Unusual heavy and continuous rainfall in Featherstone: ‘We learned about the critical Central Europe combined with the extension importance for cities to become more resilient to and intensification of urban areas has shown Excisting situating in Poznan, Poland. ings. The urban transformations and the regional planning congress of ISOCARP change and uncertainty. And we became aware that the catchment areas of the rivers are in need Unusual heavy and continuous rainfall relationship between cities and water is that will take place 23-26 September of the necessity to bridge theory and practice by of extension as well. ‘Some affected cities, like the main theme of the next urban and in Central Europe led to heavy flood- 2014 in Poland. implementing experimental learning and involv- Poznan, reacted immediately and hired leading multiple stakeholders. This is important ing experts from the Netherlands who advised because we need to define or redefine the plan- reopening former riverbeds so they could be ning discipline, especially for the education of the used again for water catchment’ says Slawomir next generation of planners.’ Ledwon, adjunct professor at the Department of Urban Design and Regional Planning, Gdansk Urban Transformation University of Technology and Vice President of Urban transformation and the relationship ISOCARP Congresses and Events. ‘Apart from that, between cities and water are the main themes of the issues of new development and public spaces the next urban and regional planning congress near water are also much debated. For example of ISOCARP that will take place 23-26 September Gdynia - the congress city - is redeveloping its 2014 in Gdynia, Poland. ‘Water is everywhere and port areas for new uses. The theme of the confer- water-related issues are significant in planning ence opens up the opportunity to touch on all of any type and scale,’ explains Amos Brandeis, aspects of urbanity and the inherent relationships director of one of the leading offices for urban between urban planning and water issues, from and regional planning in Israel and General all angles, in all disciplines, and at various scales. Rapporteur for the congress in Gdynia. ‘Nearly all The broad picture will hopefully provide every one cities around the world were built along water- of us with awareness, knowledge, knowhow, tools, ways, or along the coast of an ocean, sea or lake. sensitivity, and passion to face these challenges You would think that with this history, cities in our daily professional life and in the training of and city planners and are very well aware of the the present and upcoming planners.’ The Dutch office Kuipercompagnogs delicate relationship between urban settlements advised to reopen and reuse former and water.’ Brandeis comes to a different conclu- Cities can save the world riverbeds of the river Warta for water sion: ‘We can read almost daily in our newspapers In 2014 and 2015 ISOCARP celebrates its 50th catchment. The illustrations show low and high water level. about severe drought and flooding due to human congress in Poland and its 50th anniversary in interventions, climate change and lack of ade- the Netherlands with international seminars and 24 PROFILE ISOCARP 25

workshops, publications and an invitation to Reinvent planning even get jobs because of their active involvement the planners of the world to reinvent planning. ‘Planning is no longer confined to a closed in our activities. All we have to do, as ISOCARP, is ‘Urbanization used to be seen as a threat. Today category of professionals;’ says Albert van Hattum, to establish a worldwide network of ambitious and it’s increasingly recognized as a positive force,’ chair of the Netherlands local committee that is talented young planners, stimulate them to learn says Andries Geerse, principal of We Love the City organizing the congress that celebrates the 50th from the mistakes of previous generations of based in Rotterdam and one of the initiators of anniversary of ISOCARP in the Netherlands in planners, and to think independently like we did the 2015 congress. ‘The innovative and energetic 2015. He promises that this event will be different when we came into the profession ourselves.’ character of urban life means that cities act as the from any other event organized by ISOCARP. Van engines of national economies, driving wealth Hattum: ‘Planning is being redefined as any- Past, present and future creation, social development and employment. one who is committed to the city and to the key With just over more than 50 members at pre- You can say that cities are of vital importance and components of a planning approach: integration, sent, China is becoming an increasing presence can save the world. The urban environment acts a connection between the short and long term in ISOCARP. The megacities of Dalian and Wuhan as the primary locus for industrial and techno- and a drive to overcome the conflicts between hosted the ISOCARP congresses in 2008 and 2011. logical progress, entrepreneurship and creativity.’ different interests. Those who have understood Additionally, Wuhan, Shantou and Nanjing invited Geerse focuses on the perspective of sustainabil- this well will make up the next generation of city Urban Planning Advisory Teams from ISOCARP ity and states that urban areas do more with less builders and will develop the solutions for our to contribute strategic advice in large-scale urban compared with suburban or rural areas. ‘Large cit- urban challenges.’ planning projects. ‘Chinese cities are compet- ies tend to be the greenest places, because people For the 2015 congress ISOCARP already has the ing with each other and are actively looking for in denser habitats typically have smaller energy commitment and cooperation of about ten cities inspiring examples and best planning practices in footprints, require less infrastructure and con- and regions in the Netherlands and in neighbour- cities in other continents,’ says Shi Nan, secretary sume fewer resources per capita. Despite these ing countries. These cities and regions will all host general of the Urban Planning Society of China advantages, urbanization presents challenges that pre-events in which local issues and challenges and Vice President of ISOCARP Publications. differ throughout the world. The challenge for us will be discussed. Van Hattum: ‘The diversity of ‘ISOCARP brings us in direct and personal contact planners is to use the innovative power of cities participating cities from the Netherlands, Belgium with planning officials, universities, consultants to create new forms of sustainable and inclusive and Nordrhein-Westfalen demonstrate the wide and urban design studios in cities all over the growth that save our economy.’ range of situations. Even within a growing eco- world. The history, the status and the high profile nomic agglomeration, there are different speeds of ISOCARP, combined with the personal relations Geerse is not unaware of the critical view now- of growth, including some shrinking regions. This with individual members are important and open adays of planning in many western countries. But inspires participants to identify the specific situa- doors in China that otherwise remain shut.’ he points at the many voices that are calling for a tion and strength of their cities, wherever they are On a regular basis, urban planning institutes of ‘planning’ approach – the practitioners who are in the world.’ Chinese cities invite foreign experts to help them looking for solutions to complex problems with ‘In order to reinvent planning we need to in, or to access, their city planning and urban both long and short-term dimensions. actively involve the next generation of plan- design. Shi Nan: ‘Especially expertise on themes Geerse: ‘The mayors of Paris and Amsterdam ners, wether they are master students, doctorate like water management, tourism, cultural heritage have developed a partnership aimed at exchang- students or in the first years of their career, that and integral planning is in demand. On the other ing ideas on issues ranging from regional plan- doesn’t matter,’ explains Piotr Lorens, professor hand we notice that Chinese planners – our soci- ning to cultural heritage to airport planning. That and head of the Department of Urban Design ety has about 20,000 members – are increasingly mayors of major cities actively show interest in and Regional Planning, Gdansk University of active outside China. They export our experiences planning opens a window of opportunities. In Technology and Vice President of ISOCARP with large scale and fast urban development to China, Africa and many other emerging coun- Young Planning Professionals. ‘What we need to other parts of Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe.’ tries, leaders from a variety of sectors are increas- address is that theories and practices of planning ingly asking planners for solutions to urban change every decade or so and that there are big ‘I noticed in the recent UPAT workshops that problems, from the global level to the local.’ And differences between countries and regions. The Chinese cities and regions are growing so incred- Geerse brings in another important player in the sooner they get in contact with students and ibly fast that Chinese planners have difficulties field of planning: the World Bank that for decades young and more experienced planning profes- in staying and working well ahead of current favoured a sectoral approach over an integrated sionals in other countries, the better. We organize developments,’ adds Martin Dubbeling, urban ‘planning’ approach. Geerse: ‘Recently the organi- the international young planning professionals’ planner and designer at Connecting Cities and zation made an about-face, turning to planners to workshops once or twice a year and involving of Downtown Shantou. Existing situation Vice President of ISOCARP Urban Planning implement its ambitious new urban strategy that young planning professionals with paper presen- and sketches for development. After the Advisory Teams. He has led several advisory focuses on harnessing the potential of urbaniza- tations at our annual congresses offers them wide ISOCARP congresses in 2008 and 2011 teams, including one that last year with a team the Chinese cities of Wuhan, Shantou and tion to deliver equitable and inclusive growth and open doors to the planning profession. It makes of senior experts of the Urban Planning Society Nanjing invited Urban Planning Advisory poverty reduction.’ them smarter, they acquire internships and some Teams to contribute strategic advice in of China, jointly helped and advised the Nanjing large-scale urban planning projects. 26 PROFILE ISOCARP 27

YPP AND UPAT WORKSHOPS The workshops for Young Planning Professionals (YPP) and the Urban Planning Advisory Teams (UPATs) are amongst the key activities of ISOCARP. Both workshops bring planning professionals together from all around the world for four to six intensive days for devising creative solutions, strategic advice or both. Recent ISOCARP YPP and UPAT workshops in past few years in countries like Rus- sia, China, Australia, Mexico and Kenya show that there is demand for expertise from international teams of planning professionals. The results of these workshops are presented and discussed with the client

In the second half of 2013, a combined from the Chinese central government Architect and urbanist Dhiri Thadani was on the last day of the work- Urban Planning Advisory Team of ISO- to plan and develop the Jiangbei New one of the members of the Urban Plan- shop and with the members CARP and the UPSC visited Nanjing three District. ning Advisory Team. at the annual congresses. The times and assisted the Nanjing Urban Martin Dubbeling (in the middle) and his results are also published on Planning Bureau with its assignment team working on one of the maps. the ISOCARP website (www. isocarp.org). ISOCARP YPP and UPAT workshops are organized on demand for cities and Urban Planning Bureau with their assignment region that show past developments, the present of the Jiangbei New District. Dubbeling: ‘We regions all over the world. from the Chinese central government to plan situation and short and long-term developments. presented these joint ISOCARP & UPSC planning Where YPP workshops with and develop Jiangbei New District. This district For our Chinese colleagues it seemed that past, principles in a special session to the Nanjing City up to 24 young participants is destined to be one of the motors of economic present and future are not to be separated.’ Council. The principles vary from developing a and one or two experienced development in Jiangsu Province in the next spatial vision for the Jiangbei New District on coordinators or coaches vouch decade. For this area of roughly 2000 km2 situated Planning principles a regional scale, to enhancing transit oriented for unbridled creativity and north of the Yangtze River, strategic plans are in ‘Instead of connecting the present and new development and developing blue-green and open-minded visions from the making for new industries, new CBDs, uni- airports with the networks of metro lines and the blue-red strategies on every possible scale. We the new generation of plan- versity campuses, residential areas for 4 million national high-speed railway network,’ Dubbeling also made clear that these principles require on- ners, UPAT workshops provide people and two new airports. Dubbeling: ‘During continues, ‘the most important question that going investments in training and capacity build- added value in complicated our site visits we learned that the new area was really bothered our colleagues in Nanjing was ing, in cooperation with other organizations and situations and environments situated in the floodplains of the Yangtze River, “do we need 15 bridges and tunnels to connect other planning institutes and in communication where seniority and experi- that there already were 1.5 million people living the new area with Nanjing or are 12 enough?” with present and future inhabitants.’ ence are required. The Urban there and that the region was scattered with heavy After long discussions and a hands-on workshop Dubbeling is glad that his colleagues from Planning Advisory Teams gen- and polluting industries. We also learned that in in which we analysed the water and transport Nanjing intend to be active participants in the erally consist of a team leader, the planning area metro lines were planned and systems of the planning area, we succeeded in 2014 ISOCARP congress in Poland on cities and a team rapporteur, two senior under construction by the Nanjing Transport getting their attention and focus back on basic water. ‘We are happy to help them, in the spirit planners and two young plan- Planning Authority without direct involvement of planning issues that are of the essence and that of Sam van Embden, to find their own solutions ning professionals who have the Nanjing Urban Planning Bureau. And finally really matter.’ As a result of the work of the two to their challenges in planning the Jiangbei New participated in one or more we learned that our Chinese colleagues had teams an agreement was reached on eight basic District.’ YPP workshops. difficulties in providing a series of maps of the planning principles for the future development Harry Harsema is co-editor in chief of ‘scape Magazine