Achieving Sustainability Through Inclusive Heritage Based Development in Asian Cities

Urbanization pressure brought Asian cities to a rapid and uncontrolled built infrastructure development. This process takes place at the expense of natural eco-systems, cultural distinctiveness and human scale which, in turn, significantly compromises poverty reduction, sustainability, resilience, social cohesion, inclusiveness and economic opportunities. This event will showcase how an integrated heritage city development helps stop these trade-offs and implement the NUA and the SDG through sharing successful methods, tools and strategies used by cities, national governments and institutions, and focus on prospective collaborations and knowledge exchange.

The event will deliberate on the paradigm shift in approach to planning and management of heritage cities - from conservation of heritage precincts in isolation to heritage responsive urban and local economic planning and development, through regional and global discourses and practices. Heritage responsive city planning is essentially about managing the conflicts between multiple stakeholders involved in urban development, heritage conservation and management. Most Asian cities face challenges related to administrative jurisdictions, multiple government, NGO and citizen needs and aspirations, which are to be addressed for heritage responsive interventions, sustainable urban development and making of future places.

To address this critical gap, ICSC and SEHER INTACH aim to bring together an international community of urban practitioners who focus on making heritage cities inclusive, sustainable and resilient harnessing on their unique cultural assets. Key city interventions to promote mixed use development, walkability, infrastructure upgrades and improve quality of life in decaying historic cores will be showcased and discussed.

The event will underline the critical importance of cultural heritage assets to make Asian cities inclusive, sustainable and economically vibrant. It will foster a dialogue amongst participants and provide a communication and joint action platform to cities and stakeholders who aspire to implement the SDG, the NUA, and create sustainable and inclusive communities through urban heritage revitalization.