Faber Day 01
City to City Dialogue
City Mobility and Public Spaces
Pedestrian cities in the Balkans
In the framework of sustainable development goals in the region we are very excited to share with you the remarks of our special guests who participated at the Forum for Active Built Environment Research (FABER) main panel City to City dialogue – 13th of October 2022 at the Tirana International Hotel in Albania.
FABER aims to promote the making of Active, healthy, and Inclusive environments in the region. The city-to-city panel more specifically is targeted to establish a dialogue about governance best practices and challenges for establishing programs to re-pedestrianize the cities in the region.
Introductory remarks
Mr. Christian Mettke, Project Manager, Sustainable Urban Transport in Tirana, GIZ.
Mr. Christian Mettke focuses his presentation on the importance of #pedestrianization in #Tirana, especially for #children and the recent improvements on this regards in #Albania. In the presentation were mentioned the projects that #GIZ Albania has implemented and supported in Tirana, especially the importance of reducing the use of cars for a better life in our cities.
Where Albania Walks - WAW
Dr. Gustavo de Siqueira, Pedestrianization Strategies for a sustainable Urban Future
Dr. Gustavo de Siqueira presented the concept of “Do it fast” and “Do it together” based on the model built in Moscat, Oman to involve citizens in the urban development of the city, a project that was also implemented in Tirana, near in the area of New Bazaar.
Mr. Erion Veliaj, Mayor of Tirana
Mr.Erion Veliaj is serving his second mandate as mayor of Tirana in times of huge urban transformation with main interventions in public spaces, such as the main square of the city now the biggest pedestrian square in the country, education infrastructure, bike lanes and playgrounds. He gave a worm welcome to all the international guests visiting Tirana for the first time and discused with community members and experts for issues regarding active mobility.
Mr. Perparim Rama - Mayor of Prishtina
Here is the remarkable experience of the Mayor of Pristina. After a 20-year experience as an architect in London, Mr. Perparim Rama returned as a candidate on the local elections where the voters trusted him with this first mandate to lead the capital of Kosovo. In these months, the inner ring of Prishtina has been transformed and also significant improvements have been made for the alternative transportation such as public transport and bicycle lanes aiming for a greener and healthier city,
Faber Day 02
2nd Active Mobility Panel
Experts on
Walking / Cycling
Active Mobility Panel
In the framework of sustainable development goals in the region we are very excited to share with you the remarks of our special guests who participated to the Forum for Active Built Environment Research (FABER) , the 2nd active mobility panel on 14th of October 2022 at the Tirana International Hotel in Albania.
The 2nd panel brought together international experts aswll as local activists and decision makers who presented mobility action plans as well as solutions aiming to more walkable, sustainable and less polluted cities.
Moderated:
Dr. Gustavo de Siqueira, WOW & WAW Team
Dr. Gustavo de Sinqueira points out two important things about making a revolution of the environment; Do it fast, so to make big changes immediately and Do it together, to have a bigger impact and see changes.
He worked on Where Oman Walks and Where Albania Walks which is a 6 stages project designed to activate the environment with the inclusion of community in a city “game”.
Through framework, field analysis, co-strategy, pilot, advocacy and dissemination, the two projects came up with their solutions and proposals and hope to have impact outside of the project and be implemented in more areas around the city and beyond.
Mr. Martin Schaefer, Transport Policy Advisor, SUTi Project – GIZ
Mr. Martin Schaefer emphasised the importance of having more #walkable and #active cities, citing the example of ‘’Skenderbeg’’ Square. Cities are more liveable when cyclists and dedicated lanes are an integral part of every city. GIZ is involved in projects for marking roads and lanes dedicated to #cyclists.
Mrs. Ray Koci, Relationship Center, Pedestrian strategies to regenerate the urban environment
Mrs. Ray Koci spakes about several projects of the #Relationship Center (Qendra #Marredhenie), such as the Tirana Streets #School Program to give children the opportunity to play. She also shared the survey results that this Center has conducted for parents and #children about spaces to play in the city. The project at the Edith Durham school to outline the paths for children to play.
Dr. Frida Pashako, Head of Urban Planning Department, Municipality of Tirana
Dr. Frida Pashako presents the general vision for Tirana 2030 focusing on the regulatory plan at the local level, green spaces, the polycentric city and the balance between nature and urban development. She also shared the survey results that this Center has conducted for parents and #children about spaces to play in the city. The project at the Edith Durham school to outline the paths for children to play.
3rd The Makers Panel
Industry and Business
The Makers Panel explores the prospects of future mobility strategies for the region. Dr. Ansar-Ul-Haque Yasar, Hasselt University Belgium discusses with Mrs. Matilda Pando, Head of the Chamber of Architects of Albania, Mr. Gjergji Simaku, VC Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, Albania, and Mr. Daniel Guce, SME Albania on how emerging technologies will contribute to achieving smart mobility and European Green Deal Goals.
Moderated:
Dr. Ansar-Ul-Haque Yasar, Hasselt University Belgium
Dr. Ansar-Ul-Haque Yasar brought to us the vision of future mobility and how to make it Sustainable, Relatable,Safe,Autonomous and Efficient. He points out that cooperation is key to the future.
Dr. Ansar brought various examples of zero emissions autonomous vehicles that hope to be achieved in the near future. During the presentation he introduced both private and public means of transportation that could potentially help the environment and make cities more friendly to both people and nature.
Mrs. Matilda Pando, Head of the Chamber of Architecture of Albania
Mrs. Matilda Pando talks about the rise of vehicle usage as one of the main problems of Tirana. She explains how Architecture is an entity on a mission to design ecosystems that integrate environment and economy. She brings examples of different cities in the European Union that use zero emission means of transportation, materials and interjections which Albania is trying to adapt to. She brings various studies that show the difference these interjections make in the environment long term.
Mr. Gjergji Simaku, VC Minister of Infrastructure and Energie, Albania
Mr. Gjergji Simaku talks about energy and how everything is going towards using green energy. He explains the latest green deals in the European Union and how Albania is trying hard to follow these examples, especially in transportation. Mr. Gjergj mentions the goal Tirana has put for 2030 to reduce Carbon emission with 15% where transport sector plays the key factor. He talks about Albania’s production of clean energy and it’s focus on fulfilling all of their needs with only renewable energy.
Mr. Daniel Guce, SME Albania
Mr. Daniel Guce talks about new industrial policies in Albania and development of small businesses in the field of new technology. He explains that small businesses are a strong factor in making a change when it comes to sustainability in Albania. Mr. Guce brings us the latest documents that forecast the future strategies the government has come up with to give small businesses a role in making a difference.
EXPO
