(about Sustainable cities Conference. Foundations and our urban future)
Text: Constantin Goagea
Among the first 5 in the world in the top of cities to experiment/live in, always as an example in architecture and design debates, to be found in scientific and academic references, or in the political practice, people keep on talking about the Danish model, Copenhagen and how happy its citizens are. I would add that even the mayor of Bucharest recently declared that he would like a copenhagen-ization of our city: bycicles and a smart infrastructure, a statement which we hope to happen. So, something happens again in Denmark, since this year great American and European foundations gathered here in a massive conference, to talk in Copenhagen about their role in a future of sustainable urbanization. The conference would not have explicit topics related to architecture or urban planning, being rather about funding policies and new directions in charity work, but most of the workshops, debates and publications managed to get a mix of visions in which economic growth and urban practice are correlated in a new way.
Obviously present, Gehl Architects (this is Copenhagen after all) scored a few times the way in which the public space should be considered for the quality of urban life, but they dedicated a full report to the way in which the public space could be a business catalyzer, the way in which it can bring value to companies. Although building offices at the edge of the city is an ordinary practice around the world (given the prices of land), their attraction in central areas may generate an useful interaction both for the companies, as well as for the city. Although we have internet and mobiles at hand, the most profitable means (actually irreplaceable) are direct meetings. Dense ideas and information, – the truly real fuel of economy – come from the immediate physical and direct contact with the urban space they support. By bringing together companies, education, institutions, authorities in a case of permanent and direct communication, we can very quickly create the premises for economic growth. Thus, the use of public spaces in the centre of the cities could also be a key element in creating and attracting values and profit for companies, but could also get the energy coming from their development.
Tolerance, transparencey and talent are also named in this report (the 3 T of professor Richard Florida) defining the attraction elements in a city for the creative class (a new social and organisational class – made of those working in creative industries).
Thus, the business and creative sector are actually the two major components defining the city of tomorrow.
If our real estate market will open to foreign citizens soon, as we heard of, I think that, to stimulate the investments and to speed up the construction sector in Romania, I think it is essential to offer them as well a reason to stay here. And this can be no other than that of a densely cultural and creative environment, similar to that in their countries of origin. That might convince them to stay on the long term and invest durably.
It seems complicated, but I think this is the only way.
* Thanks to Velux Romania for the support offered in participating in this conference.
* * Ilustration: Something’s green in the state of Denmark, Monday Morning & Realdania (fragment)
