Chapman Taylor showcases Urban Regeneration expertise at WUF13 in Azerbaijan
Chapman Taylor showcases Urban Regeneration expertise at WUF13 in Azerbaijan
Last week at the World Urban Forum 13 in Baku, Chapman Taylor Group Board Directors Marcelina Zielinska and Adrian Griffiths joined global leaders, policymakers and industry experts to explore one of the most pressing challenges facing cities today: how to create urban environments that can support growth while remaining resilient, inclusive and people-focused.
Group Board Directors Marcelina Zielinsha and Adrian Griffiths
Held under the theme of sustainable urban futures, the forum brought together international organisations, government representatives, urbanists and private sector leaders to exchange ideas on the future of cities, infrastructure, regeneration and climate resilience.
19th May : “Designing Resilient Cities at Scale: Global Perspectives on the Future of Urban Living”
Throughout the week, Marcelina Zielinska contributed to a wide-ranging programme of roundtables, workshops and panel discussions hosted across the UK and Azerbaijan Pavilions. Sessions explored urban pressures, public-private partnerships, resilient urban transformation and the future of sustainable development in rapidly evolving cities.
20th May: “Innovating Urban Governance: Public-Private Partnerships for resilient Urban transformation”
Highlights of the programme included a panel session on smart cities in post-conflict reconstruction, featuring leaders from PMD Group. The discussion explored smart and sustainable masterplanning processes from both the design and investment perspectives.
21st May: “Smart cities in Post-Conflict Reconstruction: the Case of the Shusha Masterplan”
Chapman Taylor’s participation culminated in a major panel discussion at the Azerbaijan Pavilion focused on the redesign and reconstruction of the liberated territories. Marcelina Zielinska shared the stage with Emin Huseynov, Special Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Ağdam, Fuzuli and Khojavand districts and Aide to the First Vice President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, alongside Vahid Hajiyev, Special Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Jabrayil, Gubadli and Zangilan districts.
22nd May: “From Urbicide to Revival: Sustainable Reconstruction, Resettlement and Development in Azerbaijan’s Liberated Territories”
The session explored the remarkable progress being made across the Karabagh region, highlighting the sustainable strategies guiding reconstruction efforts and the speed, commitment and ambition driving the restoration of communities, infrastructure and cultural identity.
22nd May: Emin Huseynov, Vahid Hajiyev and Marcelina Zielinska
Marcelina Zielinska commented: “It was a privilege and an honour to present the remarkable journey of redesigning and rebuilding the liberated territories, and to share the stage with my two distinguished colleagues: Emin Huseynov and Vahid Hajiyev. The session highlighted the sustainable approach adopted throughout every stage of the reconstruction process, as well as the extraordinary speed, commitment and determination driving the revival of Garabagh and the restoration of its historic glory.”
Chapman Taylor has been actively involved in several major masterplanning and regeneration initiatives across Azerbaijan, including the Shusha Masterplan and the reconstruction masterplan for Jabrayil, reflecting the practice’s expertise in large-scale urban regeneration, sustainable city-making and heritage-sensitive planning.