Galway Charter for Sustainable Urbanism

Recognised as one of Europe’s greenest cities Freiburg has an important story to tell about regeneration and challenging convention with creative initiatives in neighbourhood and housing, planning, transport and energy whilst maintaining its trajectory to become an extremely liveable city which effectively combines modernity with tradition.

Awarded the title European City of the Year 2010 by the Academy of Urbanism, Freiburg celebrated the recognition by hosting a study tour for Academicians, culminating in the production of a Charter which advocated best practice in sustainable urbanism.

The Charter comprised twelve high-level principles, distilled from experience, for reflection and adaptation to suit different geographical circumstances and local administrative structures. The Academy championed the Charter as a catalyst for progressive dialogue and in the twelve years since its inception it has helped to raise aspirations and improve practice among our growing network of cities, towns and people.

In August 2022, as the enduring impacts of Covid on work and commuting patterns crystallise and as the challenge of climate change moves from esoteric theory to hard edged existential threat in a context exacerbated by an energy crisis which threatens global stability, the moment seems opportune to contemplate a New Charter for a New Challenge.Galway is a city which is looking to remodel itself for the emerging new age and is starting on the long-term conversations required to facilitate a significant transformation using work carried out by the Irish Cities group as jumping off point.

In support of the process and in pursuit of the mission to foster and promote best practise in urbanism generally the Academy, in association with the RIAI, is organising a conference in Galway in Spring 2023.

In advance of the conference and as part of the Architecture at the Edge Festival, a full day Workshop will be held on Friday 07th October 2022, at the Mick Lally Theatre, Druid Ln, Galway.

The workshop will engage a wide spectrum of interested parties and will explore the issues, challenges and exciting opportunities which lie in wait for an Atlantic Edge City looking to recreate itself and provide leadership for other urban centres in the decade ahead.