Liveability in the Urban Planner’s Matrix: Challenging Perceptions, Altering Realities

Cities must be pleasant places to live and work in for its constituents. This liveability quotient of a city is dependent on several variables such as urban form, transport systems, economic vibrancy, good governance, social inclusion, environmental quality, and availability of social and cultural infrastructure. The zero sum game of pitting functionality against aesthetics, rather than a focus on liveability, has given rise to ugly developments, contradictory policies, neglected public spaces, civic apathy, and increased stress levels, lower productivity rates as well as a compromise on public health in the modern Indian city. This session focuses on the importance of viewing the city as an interactive, organic and integrated space which must negotiate conflicting demands of its constituents. Speakers will offer an alternative to the way cities are currently being planned.

Confirmed Speakers

• K T Ravindran, President, Institute of Urban Designers, India
• Manit Rastogi, Director, Morphogenesis
• Shyam Khandekar, Director, BDP
• Partha Mukhopadhyay, Senior Fellow, Centre for Policy Research