RIAI and the Academy of Urbanism, together with Galway City Council, launch Reimagining the Irish City and Town

World leading urbanists gather in Galway to discuss the future of city design and planning in Ireland

Reimagining the Irish City and Town, a joint initiative of the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI), the Academy of Urbanism and Galway City Council, begins today in Galway. The conference is aimed at exploring innovative solutions for the challenges facing Irish cities and towns envisioning a more sustainable future. This event brings together architects, urban designers, planners, community leaders, policymakers, and other stakeholders to discuss innovative solutions.

The two-day conference will run from 26 - 27 April and will review the urban design principles articulated in the Freiburg Charter, which sets out a framework of a viable, sustainable urban planning policy, while considering how they can be updated for application in an Irish context, using the Irish Cities Galway 2070 Plan for context.

Freiburg, a city with more cyclists than drivers, is recognised as one of Europe’s most sustainable cities, and is continuing to challenge convention with creative initiatives in its approach to housing, planning, transport, and energy. Wulf Daseking, former Chief Planning Officer for the City of Freiburg, will be delivering an address at Reimagining the Irish City and Town on what can be learned from the city of Freiburg.

Through a variety of keynote speeches from national and international experts, workshops and guided tours of Galway, attendees will engage in discussions and explore ways to address urban challenges while envisioning a more sustainable future for Irish cities.

Charlotte Sheridan, President of the RIAI, said: "We are excited to be in Galway to launch Reimagining the Irish City and Town with the Academy of Urbanism and Galway City Council. This year’s conference provides us with the opportunity to explore innovative solutions for issues facing Ireland’s cities and towns. Architects play a critical role in developing the built environment and creating liveable, healthy, and sustainable communities. The RIAI is committed to encouraging sustainable and inclusive design practices and supporting the development of dynamic, healthy, and resilient communities."

Brendan McGrath, Chief Executive of Galway City Council, said: “Galway City Council is delighted to co-host this innovative conference, which will consider approaches to how we plan our cities –across Ireland, where cities and towns face common challenges as we move towards more compact growth, active travel and climate action. Compact growth will be key to the continued success of our cities and towns in future and achieving this will require some new ways of thinking and working together. Galway City Council welcomes delegates and speakers to our city we look forward to your engagement and input on this important topic”.

Andreas Markides, Vice-Chair of Academy of Urbanism, said: “Cities throughout the world are undergoing significant transformations. Each in its own special way (Utrecht places emphasis on people’s health, Tirana is striving to become a city for children, Mechelen is an inclusive city etc) is striving to create better places for its citizens and a more sustainable way of life.

The Academy of Urbanism is fortunate in having established dozens of friends amongst all these cities. This has enabled the accumulation of knowledge which the Academy is sharing with its members and friends. The Academy is very happy to join Galway City Council and the RIAI in co-hosting this major conference which has already attracted significant interest not only from across Ireland but from many European cities as well. It promises to be a hugely important occasion which should help to trigger a new way of designing and developing sustainable and thriving communities in Ireland.”

Conference programme available here.

Uirbithe cáiliúla atá ar thús cadhnaíochta sa domhan ag bailiú le chéile i nGaillimh chun dearadh agus pleanáil cathrach in Éirinn amach anseo a phlé

Tá tús á chur le Reimagining the Irish City and Town, tionscnamh comhpháirteach de chuid Institiúid Ríoga Ailtirí na hÉireann (RIAI), an Acadaimh Uirbeachais agus Chomhairle Cathrach na Gaillimhe, i nGaillimh inniu. Is é atá mar aidhm leis an gcomhdháil scrúdú a dhéanamh ar réitigh nuálacha ar na dúshláin atá le sárú ag cathracha agus bailte Éireannacha atá ag iarraidh todhchaí níos inbhuanaithe a chinntiú. Páirteach san imeacht seo beidh ailtirí, dearthóirí uirbeacha, pleanálaithe, ceannairí pobail, lucht déanta beartas agus páirtithe leasmhara eile a bhfuil sé beartaithe acu réitigh nuálacha a phlé.

Reáchtálfar an chomhdháil dhá lá ar an 26 agus 27 Aibreán agus déanfar athbhreithniú ar na prionsabail dearaidh uirbigh atá luaite i gCairt Freiburg, ina sonraítear creat de bheartas pleanála uirbí inmharthana, inbhuanaithe, agus breithneofar conas is féidir é iad a nuashonrú chun na prionsabail a chur i bhfeidhm i gcomhthéacs na hÉireann, trí úsáid a bhaint as Plean Cathracha Éireannacha na Gaillimhe 2070 mar chúlra comhthéacsúil.

Is cathair é Freiburg ina bhfuil níos mó rothaithe ná tiománaithe, ceann de na cathracha is inbhuanaithe san Eoraip, atá ag leanúint le dúshlán na ngnáthnósanna a thabhairt trí thairbhe a bhaint as tionscnaimh chruthaitheacha ina chur chuige maidir le tithíocht, pleanáil, iompar agus fuinneamh. Beidh Wulf Daseking, Iar-Phríomhoifigeach Pleanála Chathair Freiburg, i mbun aithisc ag Reimagining the Irish City and Town maidir le céard is féidir a fhoghlaim ó chathair Freiburg.

Trí phríomhóráidí éagsúla a bheidh á dtabhairt ag saineolaithe náisiúnta agus idirnáisiúnta, ceardlanna agus turais treoraithe mórthimpeall na Gaillimhe, tabharfar deis don lucht freastail páirt a ghlacadh sa phlé agus scrúdú a dhéanamh ar bhealaí chun déileáil le dúshláin uirbeacha le linn dóibh todhchaí níos inbhuanaithe do chathracha Éireannacha a shamhlú.

Bhí an méid seo a leanas le rá ag Charlotte Sheridan, Uachtarán RIAI: "Cúis áthais dúinn a bheith i nGaillimh chun Reimagining the Irish City and Town a sheoladh leis an Acadamh Uirbeachais agus le Comhairle Cathrach na Gaillimhe. Is deis atá i gcomhdháil na bliana seo scrúdú a dhéanamh ar réitigh nuálacha chun díriú ar na saincheisteanna a mbeidh ar chathracha agus bailte Éireannacha déileáil leo. Tá ról lárnach ag ailtirí sa timpeallacht thógtha a fhorbairt agus i bpobail inchónaithe, shláintiúla agus inbhuanaithe a fhorbairt. Tá RIAI tiomanta do chleachtais dearaidh inbhuanaithe agus ionchuimsitheacha a spreagadh agus tacú le pobail dhinimiciúla, shláintiúla agus acmhainneacha a fhorbairt."

Bhí an méid seo a leanas le rá ag Brendan McGrath, Príomhfheidhmeannach Chomhairle Cathrach na Gaillimhe: “Cúis áthais do Chomhairle Cathrach na Gaillimhe an chomhdháil nuálach seo a chomh-óstáil, deis machnamh a dhéanamh ar conas atá ár gcathracha á bpleanáil againn –ar fud na hÉireann, áit a bhfuil dúshláin den chineál céanna le sárú ag cathracha agus ag bailte de réir mar atá níos mó béime á leagan ar dhlúthfhás, taisteal gníomhach agus gníomhú ar son na haeráide. Beidh ról lárnach ag dlúthfhás sa rath a bheidh ar ár gcathracha agus bailte amach anseo agus beidh gá le roinnt bealaí nua smaointeoireachta agus roinnt bealaí nua chun oibriú le chéile. Is mian le Comhairle Cathrach na Gaillimhe fáilte chroíúil a chur roimh na toscairí agus cainteoirí chuig an gcathair agus táimid ag súil le cúrsaí a phlé libh agus le bhur dtuairimí maidir leis an gceist thábhachtach seo a chloisteáil”.

Bhí an méid seo a leanas le rá ag Andreas Markides, Leaschathaoirleach an Acadaimh Uirbeachais:“Tá athruithe suntasacha á ndéanamh i gcathracha ar fud an domhain. Tá iarracht á déanamh ag gach cathair, ina bealach speisialta féin, (tá béim á leagan ag Utrecht ar shláinte daoine, tá iarracht á déanamh ag Tiorána feidhmiú mar chathair atá oiriúnach do leanaí, is cathair ionchuimsitheach í Mechelen etc.) áiteanna níos fearr a chruthú dá saoránaigh agus saol níos inbhuanaithe a chruthú.

Tá an t-ádh ar an Acadamh Uirbeachais go bhfuil neart cairde aige sna cathracha seo ar fad. Chiallaigh sé sin go bhfuil neart eolais bailithe atá á roinnt ag an Acadamh lena bhaill agus lena chairde. Cúis áthais don Acadamh an chomhdháil shuntasach seo a eagrú le Comhairle Cathrach na Gaillimhe agus le RIAI, comhdháil a bhfuil neart spéise léirithe ag daoine in Éirinn inti agus daoine i roinnt mhaith cathracha Eorpacha freisin. Táimid ag súil gur ócáid thábhachtach a bheidh inti a spreagfaidh bealach nua chun pobail inbhuanaithe agus bhríomhara a dhearadh agus a fhorbairt in Éirinn.”