Search by tag «Urban studies» 28 results
What It Means to Be an Architect in 21st Century
The concept of public spaces is still somewhat underdeveloped in Russia, but it is already hard to imagine cities where projects such as the New Holland island renovation in St. Petersburg or the Wi-Fi enabled playgrounds in Kemerovo aren’t being implemented. Good public spaces are ones that the people love and keep coming back to. Urban studies are a new thing to Russia, but architects and planners are already adapting to new standards. Architect Daria Paramonova gave a talk as part of the Strelka Institute Week in St. Petersburg. Among the topics of discussion were: the role of architects in large-scale urban renovations and the intricacies of project planning – from historical research and pedestrian and transit route analysis to in-depth interviews with locals.
10.10.2017
Spatial Development Forum: How Citizens Create Smart Cities
According to IESE’s Cities in Motion Index, St. Petersburg is rated 103rd among the world’s “smartest” cities. The city’s Governor believes that the city has potential to be among the top 50. How can that goal be achieved, however? Through the integration of information technologies in the city’s management systems. It is also important that the citizens take on a more active role in the city’s life. At the III International Spatial Development Forum (ISDF), a plenary discussion on the future of “smart” urban technologies was held. This year, the forum’s main theme is “Re.Urban – Re.Evolution — rethinking of cities’ essence and evolutional ways of their development”. The event is co-organized by ITMO University and the Government of St. Petersburg.
29.09.2017
The Evolution and Future of Public Lighting
Three centuries ago, Peter the Great had decreed that St. Petersburg’s streets were to be lit with oil lanterns. Thus, the country’s new capital became the first Russian city to have public lighting. Today, St. Petersburg remains one of the country’s best examples of urban light environment. But each year, new approaches to lighting design, architecture and smart-city engineering appear all over the world. This field itself is becoming a platform not only for lighting designers, architects and artists, but for scientists, researchers and IT specialists as well. Participants of the roundtable discussion “Light in the City: design or programming. New technological developments and tools for modern urban analysis” discussed the future, why modern cities require more than a safe light environment, and how to use new technologies to change the approach to street lighting.
22.09.2017
Lawns vs. Paths: Why Urban Planners Can’t Please Everybody
Traffic jams, a lack of green areas or infrastructure, overpopulation, crowded public transportation – these issues are all too familiar to the citizens of major cities. The solutions to these problems can seem strange: closing roads, sharing cars with strangers or laying down paths only after the people have moved into the neighborhood. But research shows that it is such seemingly uncomfortable solutions that make for a comfortable urban environment. Michael Lees, co-head of International Laboratory “Urban Informatics” and Assistant Professor at University of Amsterdam, spoke to ITMO.NEWS about how urban studies save cities, which paradoxes of urban planning scientists encounter and why “smart” technologies take so long to be adopted by major cities.
20.06.2017
SPIEF: ITMO Showcases First Russian Computer Simulation for Urban Development
Staff of ITMO University’s eScience Research Institute have developed Russia’s first-ever dynamic urban development simulation. This computer simulation represents the process of a city’s construction and its social life. This allows researchers to predict various scenarios of the city’s development and detect possible issues before they occur, which helps improve the urban environment and better integrate “smart city” systems. The model was showcased at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum and was presented to Nikolay Nikiforov, Minister of Communications and Mass Media and Georgy Poltavchenko, Governor of St. Petersburg.
06.06.2017
Clean Slate: How to Fight Illegal Ads Through Blogging and Make Graffiti a Form of Fine Art
The case-tournament LeaderCup Legal Ads took place at the “Boiling Point” creative space organized by Russian Agency for Strategic Initiatives. It was dedicated to fighting unauthorized advertisements and illegal graffiti in St. Petersburg. 10 teams made up of 150 local students proposed more than 50 various solutions to solve the issues related to maintaining the Northern Capital’s refined image. ITMO University’s students who took part in the tournament have secured the second place. ITMO.NEWS spoke with their members and found out more about how everyone can help against illegal advertising and graffiti.
31.05.2017
Campus Festival: How to Learn About Science at a Bar
How to discover a platinum field, why scientists can’t replicate more than half of their experiments and what is hidden behind the petroglyphs of North Europe and the treasures of the Hermitage? Last Friday, seven bars of St. Petersburg turned into an educational space for just one night. All in all, 12 lectures were given throughout the city. Vladimir Borisov, postgraduate student at ITMO University’s Department of Photonics and Optical Information Technologies, explained the construction of a laser and the concepts of holographic memory and supercontinuum, while Varvara Lymar, research fellow at ITMO University’s Institute of Design and Urban Studies, gave her thoughts on what could be done with St. Petersburg’s industrial areas. ITMO.NEWS paid a visit to the young scientists’ lectures and found out what a scientific gathering at a bar looks like and why this format is becoming ever more popular.
29.05.2017
Sustainable Development Trends: What Will St. Petersburg Look Like?
Built-up area vs. parks, private vs. public transport and many other dilemmas faced by specialists were discussed at the International Innovation Forum.
08.10.2016