Tashkent’s Central Asian Urban Forum: building sustainable cities through collaboration

Why Does Uzbekistan's Tashkent Need an Urban Forum Featuring Top-100 Architects and International Urbanists?

On September 26, Tashkent will host the Central Asian Urban Forum. This platform will attract designers, architects, and urbanists from near and far abroad. Among the speakers are architects from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, those from the "100 Women Architects in Practice" list by the Royal Institute of British Architects, leading development companies, design studios, and students from specialized fields.

Why is this forum necessary?

The forum is organized by the Association of Young Architects of Uzbekistan. The idea to hold the first gathering of the young association and to make Tashkent the starting point for uniting experts around the urgent issues of urbanism has been actively discussed in expert circles for over a year. Gradually, it evolved into a plan of joint practical actions aimed at developing the industry.

Thus, the forum, which will bring together experts in architecture, design, and urbanism, has found its place on Tashkent's map, and among the event's headliners are young women architects such as Takhmina Turdialieva, Ranay Utkelbaeva, Aziza Popova, and others.

Symbolically, in addition to the main professional agenda of the forum, a significant portion of the speakers' presentations will focus on gender equality and supporting women in design and architecture.

"For us, as a young community of professionals, it is important not only to bring the industry's issues to the media and public agenda but also to become part of the urban environment, showcase the community's potential, and unite participants with similar views around the pressing problems of gender equality. The industry is still dominated by patriarchy, with many issues of discrimination, and it is important for us to change this stereotype," said Takhmina Turdialieva, head of the Young Architects Association of Uzbekistan and founder of the architectural studio TataLAB.

"We have allocated a block of speeches and panel discussions to the topic of gender equality. Moreover, the forum will feature art objects designed by architects and designers, as well as a secret segment of works by a famous artist who does not reveal their identity. I think you can guess who we collaborated with. The purpose of such a format is to reflect the problems of the community, give different sides of this issue an open microphone, and develop solutions through dialogue that will later be submitted for discussion to the local authorities and beyond Uzbekistan. Our region, Central Asia, is quite similar in its fraternal traditions and cultures, and unfortunately, in the problems of urbanism, with excessive urban development that harms air quality and trees. We will not avoid discussing important issues for cities."

How did the idea for the Urban Forum come about?

The idea of the forum emerged amid a construction boom that requires addressing issues related to technological changes and urban expansion. The results of such urbanization include labour market pressures, infrastructure degradation, and vulnerability to climate change. For instance, Astana, Almaty, Bishkek, Dushanbe, and Tashkent regularly rank among the top cities worldwide with the worst air quality. The countries in the region need investments and sustainable urban infrastructure development to ensure a decent quality of life and preserve their cultural identity.

The independent community plans to bring together government bodies, the private sector, and experts in architecture, construction, ecology, and digital technologies in an open dialogue at the forum. This collaboration aims to find the most optimal solutions to the challenges of construction and housing issues, especially in the context of climate change, and to prepare proposals for improving the regulatory framework that ensures the protection of nature and the legitimate interests of the state, business, and the population of Uzbekistan in the field of construction and private sector development, which is vital for the country's economy.

Who can participate in the Urban Forum?

In essence, anyone who cares about the city. The forum platform is open to both professionals and citizens who want to be part of the event, share their views, and listen to experts.

"For us, the practical outcomes of the forum will be two major final events. First, the admission of architects and designers from foreign countries, including those from Central Asia and the United Kingdom (represented by honorary guests), to the association. We believe in the power of joint efforts; this is a fundamentally important step for developing regional expertise. Second, the signing of an expert declaration that will outline all the practical recommendations for reforms in architecture and urbanism. This declaration will then be submitted to the relevant authorities in each Central Asian country for consideration. The Association, for its part, is ready to provide authorial supervision over the implementation of those parts of the practical plan that local authorities decide to introduce," emphasized Takhmina Turdialieva.

"We love Tashkent and want to participate in its transformations. Only by loving the city ourselves can we teach visitors to receive it as warmly," says the team of the Association of Young Architects.

The Association thanks everyone who supported the Urban Forum initiative, including colleagues from Uzbekistan, the UK, and Central Asia, for their willingness to discuss the important issues outlined above and to draw the attention of women in Uzbekistan and other Central Asian countries to new opportunities for business development and career growth in construction and architecture.

We invite everyone who truly cares about the future of our cities and communities, and who is interested in creating the necessary conditions for the life and prosperity of the citizens of our country and other Central Asian countries, to cooperate and participate in the upcoming forum.

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