DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT THE CONFERENCE:

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60th International Making Cities Livable (IMCL)
“Making Cities Livable: Research into Communication and ACTION”
April 26-28, 2024 * Newport, RI USA

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THEME: As humanity confronts multiple historic challenges, our settlements and their characteristics are set to play a central role – especially so in a time of historic rapid urbanization.  Our cities, towns and suburbs are where we interact, move about, consume resources, develop and deploy our technologies, and create most of the impacts we are having on Planet Earth. In that sense, our settlements are major contributors to our challenges – but they also offer an important platform for joining up key issues of emissions and contamination, resource use and depletion, and ecological destruction, as well as opportunities for equitable human development, health, and well-being.

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Following our highly successful 2023 conference in the UK, the Lennard Institute for Livable Cities, and its International Making Cities Livable (IMCL) conference series, invited proposers to present and share their work, meet and discuss with others, and join in this collaborative platform for “research into communication and ACTION.”  We gathered policy leaders, practitioners, community leaders and top scholars, to share lessons and discuss potential collaborations.  We gathered key partners from a number of countries to share their knowledge and collaboration. A major aim of the conference was to serve as a “springboard” toward new research, new collaborative action, and new ways of communicating and driving the necessary changes for the urban transition ahead.

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Our venue for the conference was the beautiful Bois Dore estate in Newport, Rhode Island, USA, made available through the generosity of Fairfax and Sammons Architects. This facility has ample space for plenaries of up to 100 attendees, as well as breakout spaces and areas for networking, book sales, and exhibition materials. Newport is centrally located on the US East Coast between Boston and New York, with bus and train service as well as flights into nearby Providence. The venue provides an opportunity for collaboration and partnership with a number of universities in Boston, New York and beyond.  

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Partners in the conference included the Congress for the New Urbanism, UN-Habitat, The King's Foundation (formerly The Prince's Foundation), INTBAU, The Seaside Institute, the Urban Guild, and affiliates and sponsors including Rhode Island Department of Health, Bike Newport, HealthBridge Canada, the Public Space Research Group at City University of New York, Roger Williams University, PlacemakingX, Better Block Foundation, and Sustasis Foundation.   

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TOPICS:

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•    Cities (and Regions) on Foot: The Power of Urban Walkability and Public Transportation

•    Zoning Reform for Diversity, Affordability, and Success 

•    The Ecology of Place: Concepts, Metrics, Practices
•    Why Public Space Matters for ALL
•    The Place of Beauty: Neuroscience, Health and Sustainability

•    The Edges of Public Space: Why the Character of Buildings Matters (and so do user preferences)
•    The Power of Diversity, Equity, and Web Networks
•    The Power of Patterns, and Timeless Ways of Building
•    The Power of Nature’s Harmony and Symmetry
•    The Dangers of Overspecialization: Overcoming Roadblocks to Reform of the “Operating System for Growth”
•    Implementing Ecologies of Place: Technologies, Practices, Finance
•    New Approaches to Public Space Creation and Improvement for All
•    Rapid Urbanization: Implementing the New Urban Agenda
•    Political Organization and “Polycentric Governance”
•    Climate Change and Urban Form: Mitigation, Adaptation, Resilience
•    Financial Tools and Externality Feedbacks: Making It Pay
•    Getting It Built: Sharing Case Lessons in Who, Why and How
•    Sustainable Infrastructure: Complete Streets, Regenerative Utilities, and Public Transit
•    Access For Everyone: Bringing the Benefits of Livable Cites to ALL

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PROGRAM AT-A-GLANCE:

 

Friday, April 26

   2PM Optional Newport Bike Tour

            (Consult tour page for information)

   5PM  Welcome Reception

   6:30 PM End

 

Saturday, April 27

   8AM Registration

   9AM-5:30PM  Conference

   5:30PM Reception (with hors'd'oeuvres) 

   6PM Evening Plenary

   7PM End

 

Sunday, April 28

   8AM Registration

   9AM-5:30PM  Conference

   5:30 PM Closing Party

   7PM End

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Monday, April 29

   10AM Optional Providence downtown walking tour

   (Consult tour page for information)