Invitation to conference Contested city

Only few of us have a full understanding of the way cities and those who live in them are affected by contemporary economics and politics. For citizens, the 1989 revolution was a promise of empowerment over their right to influence the development of where they live. However, most of us remain rather helpless in this respect. The unrestrained and uncoordinated development of Prague is rarely consulted with the public, and destroys the city’s living environment, cultural values, and social cohesion. The absence of functional regulatory tools in Prague leads not only to privatization of the commons, but also impedes socially responsible business and investment.
The conference Contested City is based on the premise that ideal urban development connects the interests of citizens, developers, investors and politicians. In the Czech environment, this connection has very little tradition. The conference therefore focuses on the European experience with citizen participation in designing strategic visions of cities. In an educational rather than academic way, the conference intends to present the target groups (municipal politicians and authorities, NGOs, professionals and students of disciplines concerned with town and strategic planning) personal experience and actual approaches in participatory urban planning.

Bio OKO, Františka Křížka 460/15, 170 00 Prague 7
April 23-25, 2015

For more information visit: www.contested-city.cz/en