URBAN FUTURE GLOBAL CONFERENCE GRAZ 2014

RUZAN ALAVERDYAN

DEPUTY MINISTER OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA

The growth of urban population of the globe

1800 - about 3%,

1860 - 6.4%,

1900 - 19.6%,

1990 - 43%

Nowadays - more than 50% of the population are urban residents, and the process of urbanization continues intensively.

According to the expert analysis it is estimated that - 2/3 of the world's population will live in cities by 2050.

Urgent demand - the modernization of urban development means and and instruments.

The concept of "Green" economy and the necessity of its implementation.

Cities - as generators of ideas, culture, science, economic and social development of society.

Rapid urbanization - as a contributing factor of increased anthropogenic pressure on natural landscapes and thereby the worsening of living conditions of citizens.

Cities are faced with the problem of combining competitiveness and sustainability of urban development simultaneously.

Is there a possibility of a smart compromise?

Cities - as generators of ideas, culture, science, economic and social development of

society.

"If you don't know which port you're sailing to,

no wind is favorable.”

Hippocrates

A strong will to move the transformation of urban development processes and working together with all

participants of those processes for a common purpose – “THE FUTURE WE WANT”.

Global processes on international level

RIO+20

FUTURE WE WANT

… through integrated planning and management approaches cities can promote economically, socially and environmentally sustainable societies...

… the need for a holistic approach to urban development and human settlements that provides for affordable housing and infrastructure…

…improving the quality of human settlements, including the living and working conditions …

…the need for conservation of the natural and cultural heritage of human settlements…

… the revitalization of historic districts and the rehabilitation of city centres...

(Outcome document

Sustainable cities and human settlements )

UN-HABITAT

FOR A BETTER URBAN FUTURE

…new challenges, emerging trends and a prospective vision for sustainable human settlements and urban development, as a basis for the formulation of a “New Urban Agenda”…

…to developing societies that make efficient use of resources within the carrying capacity of ecosystems and by providing all people, in particular those belonging to vulnerable and disadvantaged groups, with equal opportunities for a healthy, safe, and productive life in harmony with nature and their cultural heritage and spiritual and cultural values, and a life which ensures economic and social development and environmental protection, thereby contributing to the achievement of national sustainable development…

(Habitat Agenda).

«GREEN» CITY

«LIVABLE» CITY

«RESILIENT» CITY

«SUSTAINABLE» CITY

«SMART» CITY

Different definitions - the comon destination-

-arrange NATURE FRIENDLY SUSTAINABLE URBAN ENVIRONMENT

-increase COMFORT OF LIVING CONDITIONS

Innovative conceps:

- the project on smart urban solutions in transition and developing countries.

UNECE in cooperation with the Organization for International Economic Cooperation (OiER), Environmental Agency Austria (EAA), UN-Habitat, and other organizations -

..........WHY GORIS???

Spatial development challenges and the location of Goris in Armenia settling system

Unbalanced allocation of urban and rural population

Population of Armenia

urban 64%

rural 36%

YEREVAN

EXTENSIVE

INTENSIVE

NOT FAVOURABLE FOR SETELING (up 2200m)

POLITICAL-ECONOMIC UTILIZATION

89.6 % OF THE CITIES IN THE INTENCIVELY UTILIZED ZONES-

10.4 % OF THE CITIES IN THE EXTENCIVELY UTILYZED ZONES

GORIS

The seismically coefficient

SEYSMIC CONDITIONS

GEODYNAMIC PROCESSES

MUDSLIDE LANDFALL ROCKFALL KARST

Polycentric urban framework of the territory of

Region (marz) population Region (marz) urban population Number of rural settlements Number of urban settlements Region (marz) area Settled area

the Republic of Armenia

Sevlich (Black lake)

Goris

Shikahogh

NATURAL RESERVES AND LOCATION OF

GORIS CITY

SPATIAL PLANNING contribute to:

optimizing the population density of urban settlements,

promoting innovation and improved connectivity,

better integrated and harmless cities.

SPATIAL PLANNING emphasizes cultural values and promotes endogenous development.

Balanced development of the city - the driving force towards an intelligent world.

SPATIAL PLANNING ON LOCAL LEVEL is the BASE INTEGRATING MAIN FEATURES CHARACTERIZING SMARTENING THE CITIES

More than ever before, we understand the power of well-planned urbanization for development. But that is the key: planning – good, strong planning.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (statement on 17 September 2014)

The target- GORIS “SMART CITY”

The role of Goris in Armenia settling system

GORIS

Integrated settling system of the region and rural settlements relations with the regional

center-city of GORIS

Tatev monastry

Goris 12.0 km

19.5km Halidzor

Nowadays trends

“Tatev (Wings of Tatev)- world longest (5.7 km) aerial tramway ropeway” 5.7 km

Construction was finished on 2010

Night view of Goris caves

Aerial tramway location

GORIS VIEWS

Views on landscapes from the railway

view on landscapes

view on the 9th-century Tatev monastery

Location-Syuniq province, valley of Vararakn river, on the intersection of highways Yerevan-Meghri-Iran

altitude from sea level-1398 m,

distance from Yerevan-250 km

population-25.46 thous. people

the ammount of architectural-historical monuments in the region-503

the ammount of architectural-historical monuments in the community-20

availability of rezerves in the region-Blach Lake 12 km Norther direction , Shikahogh rezerve -southern location

availability of mineral waters in the region-Tatev group -7 km from the city

availability of spring waters in the region-501.8 thous m 3/day

Main characteristics of the community

About the need to be a Smart city

There is main road getting divided in Goris to a 3-way passage.

There is a need of a place that Goris could be interfused with it.

This should be space that creates an atmosphere where local people and passengers could relate to each other activities.

Goris has got scientific traditions from ancient times.

Some of the most important Armenian medieval universities and cultural centers have been located near Goris.

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Goris as a center for polycentric settleing system for the surrounding rural settlements

Goris

Khndzoresk

Halidzor

Tatev

LANDSCAPES OF GORIS CITY

Traditional masonry constructions

THE PEOPLE

is the most valuable resourse of GORIS

High activity and high level of public participation to the decision

making and governance process

GORIS IS JUST THE RIGHT CITY TO BECOME SMART!!!

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