- Glasgow
Urban Lab designated United Nations Charter Centre of Excellence
- The
GSA will now collaborate internationally on activities to promote UN policies
for sustainable Housing and Urban Development in the 21st century
 |
| Professor Brian Evan signs the Memorandum of Understanding between UNECE and Glasgow Urban Lab |
 |
| Ivonne Higuero, Director of Forest, Land and Housing Division, UNECE and Professor Brian Evan mark the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between UNECE and Glasgow Urban Lab |
“The
GSA’s innovation skills and research capability will be a great asset
GSA’s innovation skills and research capability will be a great asset
to the UNECE network going forward.”
Dr Elena Szolgayová,
Chair of the UNECE Committee on
Housing and Land Management
Chair of the UNECE Committee on
Housing and Land Management
The
UNECE, which comprises over 50 nations from North America though Europe to
Central Asia, has today designated the Glasgow Urban Lab, a partnership between
The Glasgow School of Art and Glasgow City Council, a UN Charter Centre of
Excellence.
UNECE, which comprises over 50 nations from North America though Europe to
Central Asia, has today designated the Glasgow Urban Lab, a partnership between
The Glasgow School of Art and Glasgow City Council, a UN Charter Centre of
Excellence.
Through the Centre, the GSA will become a key
international player in the implementation of UN policies on Sustainable Development
and on the Geneva UN Charter for Sustainable Housing.
international player in the implementation of UN policies on Sustainable Development
and on the Geneva UN Charter for Sustainable Housing.
The
appointment comes on the back of a major piece of work on sustainable housing
and urban development in the 21st century led by Brian Evans, Professor
of Urbanism at the GSA and Director of the Glasgow Urban Lab, for UN Habitat
and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe in preparation for Habitat
III (a UN conference which takes place every 20 years).
appointment comes on the back of a major piece of work on sustainable housing
and urban development in the 21st century led by Brian Evans, Professor
of Urbanism at the GSA and Director of the Glasgow Urban Lab, for UN Habitat
and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe in preparation for Habitat
III (a UN conference which takes place every 20 years).
Prof Evans and Dr Elena
Szolgayová the Chair of the UNECE Committee on Housing and Land
Management at the United Nations formalised the Memorandum
of Understanding in Geneva this morning, 8 November 2017. Tomorrow
Professor Evans will give a keynote address on an updated version of his Habitat
III report to the prestigious Council of Ministers.
Szolgayová the Chair of the UNECE Committee on Housing and Land
Management at the United Nations formalised the Memorandum
of Understanding in Geneva this morning, 8 November 2017. Tomorrow
Professor Evans will give a keynote address on an updated version of his Habitat
III report to the prestigious Council of Ministers.
 |
| Dr Elena Szolgayová, Chair of the UNECE Committee on Housing and Land Management, Gulnara Roll, Secretary to CHLM, UNECE and Professor Brian Evans |
Dr Elena Szolgayová, Chair of the UNECE Committee on
Housing and Land Management (and Director General of Housing Policy and Urban Development
in the Slovak government) said: “I am very pleased that one
of the first UN Charter Centres in the UNECE will be based at the Glasgow Urban
Lab at The Glasgow School of Art. Their innovation skills and research
capability will be a great asset to the UNECE network going forward as it has
been in preparing for Habitat III last year.”
Housing and Land Management (and Director General of Housing Policy and Urban Development
in the Slovak government) said: “I am very pleased that one
of the first UN Charter Centres in the UNECE will be based at the Glasgow Urban
Lab at The Glasgow School of Art. Their innovation skills and research
capability will be a great asset to the UNECE network going forward as it has
been in preparing for Habitat III last year.”
Professor Brian Evans, Head of Urbanism at the GSA and
director of the Glasgow Urban Lab added:
“We have been collaborating with the UNECE in their contribution to the New
Urban Agenda. The establishment of the Centre now provides a structured way for
the Urban Lab at the GSA to collaborate with international partners across the
UNECE in supporting the implementation of the UN’s Strategic Development Goals
and the New Urban Agenda.”
director of the Glasgow Urban Lab added:
“We have been collaborating with the UNECE in their contribution to the New
Urban Agenda. The establishment of the Centre now provides a structured way for
the Urban Lab at the GSA to collaborate with international partners across the
UNECE in supporting the implementation of the UN’s Strategic Development Goals
and the New Urban Agenda.”
Cathy Johnston, Group Manager, Development and
Regeneration Services at Glasgow City Council and Board Member of the Glasgow
Urban Lab said: “Glasgow is delighted to
support this UN initiative with the Glasgow Urban Lab in recognition of the Lab’s
innovation, research and leadership in urbanism in Scotland, the UK and
internationally.
Regeneration Services at Glasgow City Council and Board Member of the Glasgow
Urban Lab said: “Glasgow is delighted to
support this UN initiative with the Glasgow Urban Lab in recognition of the Lab’s
innovation, research and leadership in urbanism in Scotland, the UK and
internationally.
Ends
For further information, images and interviews contact:
Lesley Booth,
0779 941 4474
press@gsa.ac.uk
@GSofAMedia
Notes for Editors
The United Nations Economic Commission for
Europe
Europe
The United Nations
Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) was set up in 1947. It is one of five
regional commissions of the United Nations. The others are:
Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) was set up in 1947. It is one of five
regional commissions of the United Nations. The others are:
The UNECE’s major aim
is to promote pan-European economic integration. UNECE includes 56 member States
in Europe, North America and Asia. Over 70 international professional
organizations and other non-governmental organizations take part in UNECE
activities.
is to promote pan-European economic integration. UNECE includes 56 member States
in Europe, North America and Asia. Over 70 international professional
organizations and other non-governmental organizations take part in UNECE
activities.
UNECE helps countries
to convene and cooperate on norms, standards and conventions in support of
the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
to convene and cooperate on norms, standards and conventions in support of
the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
UNECE helps implement
the Sustainable Development Goals by translating the global goals into norms,
standards and conventions, developing statistical recommendations and capacity,
undertaking performance reviews and studies, building capacity and engaging in
partnerships with the private sector and civil society.
the Sustainable Development Goals by translating the global goals into norms,
standards and conventions, developing statistical recommendations and capacity,
undertaking performance reviews and studies, building capacity and engaging in
partnerships with the private sector and civil society.
“UNECE’s achievements
have made it a go-to source for improving global public goods and services,
with more than 100 countries beyond the UNECE region benefiting from its
work”.
have made it a go-to source for improving global public goods and services,
with more than 100 countries beyond the UNECE region benefiting from its
work”.
former UN
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
The Glasgow School of Art
The Glasgow School of Art is internationally
recognised as one of Europe’s leading university-level institutions for the
visual and creative disciplines. The studio-based approach to research
and teaching, brings disciplines together to explore problems in new ways to
find new innovative solutions. The studio creates an environment for
inter-disciplinarity, peer learning, critical enquiry, experimentation and
prototyping, helping to address many of the essential challenges confronting
society and business today.
recognised as one of Europe’s leading university-level institutions for the
visual and creative disciplines. The studio-based approach to research
and teaching, brings disciplines together to explore problems in new ways to
find new innovative solutions. The studio creates an environment for
inter-disciplinarity, peer learning, critical enquiry, experimentation and
prototyping, helping to address many of the essential challenges confronting
society and business today.
Professor Brian Mark Evans
BSc Hons DipURP MSc
PhD MRTPI FCSD FRGS MIoD AoU
PhD MRTPI FCSD FRGS MIoD AoU
Brian Mark Evans is
Professor of Urbanism & Landscape at the Mackintosh School of Architecture,
the Glasgow School of Art and Director of the Glasgow Urban Laboratory. He was formerly
Artistic Professor of Urban Design & Planning at Chalmers University School
of Architecture, Gothenburg.
Professor of Urbanism & Landscape at the Mackintosh School of Architecture,
the Glasgow School of Art and Director of the Glasgow Urban Laboratory. He was formerly
Artistic Professor of Urban Design & Planning at Chalmers University School
of Architecture, Gothenburg.
In practice from
1990-2015, he was a partner with Gillespies LLP, an international design firm
based in the UK where he led projects in 20 countries on 3 continents resulting
in over 50 national and international awards for professional and design
excellence.
1990-2015, he was a partner with Gillespies LLP, an international design firm
based in the UK where he led projects in 20 countries on 3 continents resulting
in over 50 national and international awards for professional and design
excellence.
From 2005 until 2010
he was Deputy Chair of Architecture & Design Scotland, the national agency
responsible for architecture and the built environment in Scotland and before
that was an Enabler with the UK Government Commission for Architecture and the
Built Environment in London. He is a founding Director and Academician of the
Academy of Urbanism, London, UK.
he was Deputy Chair of Architecture & Design Scotland, the national agency
responsible for architecture and the built environment in Scotland and before
that was an Enabler with the UK Government Commission for Architecture and the
Built Environment in London. He is a founding Director and Academician of the
Academy of Urbanism, London, UK.
Since 2015 he has
worked in collaboration with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
and UN-Habitat. He was lead writer for the Habitat III Regional Report on
Housing and Urban Development for the UNECE Region: Towards a city-focused, people-centred and integrated approach to the
New Urban Agenda.
worked in collaboration with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
and UN-Habitat. He was lead writer for the Habitat III Regional Report on
Housing and Urban Development for the UNECE Region: Towards a city-focused, people-centred and integrated approach to the
New Urban Agenda.
Dr Evans is author,
editor and contributor to 20 books and over 80 articles on design, landscape
planning and urbanism published in English, German, Swedish, Russian, Dutch,
Spanish and French. He has presented papers and chaired over 100 national and
international conferences in Scotland, the UK, Europe, Scandinavia, Russia and
China. He is a Chartered Town Planner,
Chartered Designer and practices, researches, teaches and speaks widely on the
contemporary and future city, urbanism, urban design and landscape planning.
editor and contributor to 20 books and over 80 articles on design, landscape
planning and urbanism published in English, German, Swedish, Russian, Dutch,
Spanish and French. He has presented papers and chaired over 100 national and
international conferences in Scotland, the UK, Europe, Scandinavia, Russia and
China. He is a Chartered Town Planner,
Chartered Designer and practices, researches, teaches and speaks widely on the
contemporary and future city, urbanism, urban design and landscape planning.
The Glasgow Urban Laboratory
The Glasgow Urban Laboratory (GUL) is a partnership between the
Glasgow School of Art and Glasgow City Council and is based in the Mackintosh
School of Architecture. The Urban Laboratory seeks to support Glasgow’s role as
an international leader in urbanism, design and creative practice and inform
local and national priorities and actions for environmental, economic, social
and cultural development through place-making. Research themes include ‘the
contemporary and future city’; ‘investigation of comparative urbanism for
economically, socially and environmentally sustainable and healthy futures’ and
‘designing from context in landscape, town, neighbourhood and city’.
Glasgow School of Art and Glasgow City Council and is based in the Mackintosh
School of Architecture. The Urban Laboratory seeks to support Glasgow’s role as
an international leader in urbanism, design and creative practice and inform
local and national priorities and actions for environmental, economic, social
and cultural development through place-making. Research themes include ‘the
contemporary and future city’; ‘investigation of comparative urbanism for
economically, socially and environmentally sustainable and healthy futures’ and
‘designing from context in landscape, town, neighbourhood and city’.