Introduction

Landscape architecture plays a vital role in shaping modern urban environments by balancing beauty, functionality, and sustainability. In rapidly growing cities, especially in developing regions like Pakistan, thoughtful landscape design is no longer a luxury—it is a necessity. It enhances environmental health, improves social interaction, and contributes significantly to the overall quality of urban life.

From parks and public squares to residential gardens and commercial outdoor spaces, landscape architecture creates environments where people can connect with nature while enjoying well-planned, functional surroundings. It is the bridge between natural ecosystems and built infrastructure.

Understanding Landscape Architecture

Landscape architecture is the art and science of designing outdoor spaces that harmonize natural and built environments. It requires a deep understanding of ecology, urban planning, architecture, and human behavior.

Key Elements of Landscape Architecture:

🌿 Green Spaces

Green spaces include parks, botanical gardens, community gardens, and recreational areas. These spaces provide relief from urban congestion and help reduce environmental stress in cities.

🏙️ Urban Planning Integration

Landscape architecture is closely linked with urban planning. It involves designing streetscapes, public plazas, pedestrian zones, and waterfront developments that improve accessibility and livability.

🌍 Environmental Restoration

A major aspect of modern landscape architecture is restoring damaged ecosystems. This includes rehabilitating polluted land, improving soil quality, and restoring natural water flows in urban environments.

Benefits of Landscape Architecture

Landscape architecture provides multi-dimensional benefits that impact the environment, society, and economy.

🌱 Environmental Benefits

• Improves air quality by increasing vegetation cover
• Reduces urban heat island effects
• Supports biodiversity by creating habitats for wildlife
• Enhances stormwater management and reduces flooding risks

👥 Social Benefits

• Encourages outdoor recreation and physical activity
• Creates public spaces for community interaction
• Promotes mental well-being through access to nature
• Strengthens cultural identity through thoughtfully designed public areas

💰 Economic Benefits

• Increases real estate and property values
• Attracts tourism and business investments
• Reduces long-term infrastructure costs through sustainable design
• Enhances the overall appeal of cities and neighborhoods

Sheher Saaz Landscape Architecture Projects

Sheher Saaz has actively contributed to modern landscape architecture projects focused on sustainability and urban improvement.

Their approach integrates

ecological balance, functionality, and aesthetic value in every design.

Their work includes:

• Sustainable urban parks and community spaces
• Green residential landscaping solutions
• Commercial outdoor environment planning
• Eco-friendly public space redevelopment

Sheher Saaz prioritizes community-centered design, ensuring that every project enhances usability while maintaining environmental responsibility. Their projects reflect a vision of modern, livable, and green cities in Pakistan.

👉 Discover their projects: shehersaaz.com

Challenges in Pakistan

Despite growing awareness, landscape architecture in Pakistan faces several challenges:

🏗️ Urban Sprawl

Rapid urbanization has led to unplanned expansion of cities, leaving very limited space for parks and green infrastructure.

🧹 Maintenance Issues

Many public spaces suffer from poor maintenance due to limited municipal resources and lack of long-term planning strategies.

🌦️ Climate Challenges

Extreme weather conditions, water scarcity, and heat waves make it difficult to maintain sustainable landscapes without advanced planning techniques.

🏛️ Awareness Gap

There is still limited understanding among stakeholders about the long-term benefits of landscape architecture in urban development.

The Future of Landscape Architecture

The future of urban development in Pakistan depends heavily on integrating landscape architecture into mainstream planning. Smart cities will require:

• Water-efficient green infrastructure
• Climate-resilient plant systems
• Smart irrigation technologies
• Mixed-use public green zones

By adopting modern landscape design principles, cities can become more sustainable, resilient, and livable.

Conclusion

Landscape architecture is essential for creating balanced urban environments where nature and infrastructure coexist harmoniously. It enhances not only the visual appeal of cities but also their environmental sustainability and social well-being.

In Pakistan, the integration of landscape architecture into urban planning is crucial for building he

althier, greener, and more resilient cities. With visionary firms like Sheher Saaz leading the way, the future of urban landscapes is moving toward innovation, sustainability, and inclusivity.

Solar Energy

Solar is the first energy source in the world. It was in use much earlier before humans even learn how to light a fire. Many living things are dependent on solar energy from plants, aquatic life, and animals. Solar is mostly used in generating light and heat. The solar energy coming down to the planet is affected by the orbital path of the sun and its variations within the galaxy. In addition, it is affected by activity taking place in space and in the sun. It was this energy that is believed to have been responsible for the breaking of ice during the ice age, which creates the separation of lands and sea.

Solar energy is one of the alternative energy sources that is used most widely across the globe. About 70% of the sunlight gets reflected back into space and we have only 30% of sunlight to meet up our energy demands. While solar energy is used for producing solar energy, it is also used for drying clothes, used by plants during the process of photosynthesis, and also used by human beings during winter seasons to make their body temperature warm. Solar energy can be extracted either by Solar Thermal or using Photovoltaic (PV) Cells.

There are two kinds of solar energy the active solar energy and passive solar energy. Passive solar energy basically uses duration, position, and sun’s rays intensity to its advantage in heating a particular area. It also uses it to induce airflow from an area to the next. Active solar energy uses electrical technology and mechanical technology like collection panels in capturing, converting, and storing energy for future use.

Solar energy does not create any pollution and is widely used by many countries. It is a renewable source of power since the sun will continue to produce sunlight all the years. Solar panels, which are required to harness this energy can be used for a long time and require little or no maintenance. Solar energy proves to be ineffective in colder regions that don’t receive good sunlight. It cannot be used at night and not all the light from the sun can be trapped by solar panels. Solar energy advantages are much more than its disadvantages which make it a viable source of producing alternative energy.

Wind Energy

This is one of the energy sources that have been in use for a very long time and for centuries. It was used in powering sailing ships, which made it possible for explorers to sail around their trade routes in distant lands. A single windmill can power the crop irrigation, and the family energy needs, water pumping, and electric lights. However, at the present time, there are several windmills that are used to generate the required energy mostly for industrial uses. Many of the wind turbines can capture much power all at once before feeding it to the power grid. These are commonly known as wind farms and have been in use for many years all around the world. It is only the United States that is going slow in terms of accepting this alternative energy source.

Wind power is a renewable source of energy and reduces our alliance with foreign countries for the supply of oil and gas. It does not cause any air pollution and has created several jobs in the last few decades. Advancement in technologies has brought down the cost of setting up the wind power plant. Wind energy can only be used in areas that experience high winds which means that it cannot be used as a source to extract energy anywhere on earth. They sometimes create noise disturbances and cannot be used near residential areas. These disadvantages have made the use of wind energy in particular regions only.

Geothermal Energy

Geothermal energy can be found anywhere on the earth. Most countries tap this energy to generate electricity and power millions of homes. The areas which have high underground temperatures are the ones which are the ones which are prone to earthquakes and volcanoes. The United States produces more Geothermal electricity than any other country in the world. Most hot water geothermal reservoirs are located in the western states, Alaska, and Hawaii. Geothermal energy is totally renewable as the Earth will continue to produce heat as long as we are all are here. If these resources are tapped and are utilized effectively, they can provide solutions to the world’s power problems.

Geothermal energy produces no pollution, reduces our alliance on fossil fuels. It also results in significant cost savings as no fuel is required to harness energy from beneath the earth. These advantages make geothermal energy one of the best alternative energy sources. But, geothermal has its downsides too. It is suitable for a particular region and cannot be harnessed everywhere. The earth may release some harmful gases while releasing the heat which may prove adverse for mankind. Also, the areas where this energy is harnessed are prone to earthquakes and volcanoes. Apart from that, setting up geothermal power stations requires huge installation costs.

Hydroelectric Energy

Solar energy is produced by the sun and wind energy is produced by the moving of winds. The heat caused by the sun drives the wind. The movement of winds is then captured by wind turbines. Both wind and sun cause water to evaporate. The water vapor then turns into rain or snow and flows down to sea or oceans through rivers or streams. The energy of the moving water can then be captured and called hydroelectric power. Hydroelectric power stations capture the kinetic energy of moving water and give mechanical energy to turbines. The moving turbines then convert mechanical energy into electrical energy through generators. Dams around the world have been built for this purpose only. Hydropower is the largest producer of alternative energy in the world.

There are different types of hydropower plants. The selection of hydropower plants depends on many volume and flow of water. Hydropower is the renewable, constant, predictable, and controllable source of energy. They emit no greenhouse gases and are environment friendly. On the negative side, they may cause an adverse effect on aquatic life, reduce the flow of water which may affect agriculture, require huge costs to build, and may cause havoc if they get the breakdown.

Biomass Energy

This is the process by which alternative energy is generated through the conversion of biological materials and wastes into forms that can be used as energy sources for heating, power generation, and transportation. Those carbon-based substances or materials converted over a long period of time to fossil fuels are not regarded as biomass. However, in their original state, they are regarded as biomass. This is because of the separation of the carbon they previously contained from the carbon cycle. This makes them figure differently affecting carbon dioxide levels in the air.

Biomass energy has been around since ancient times when people use to burn wood or coal to heat their homes or prepare food. Wood still remains the most common source to produce biomass energy. Apart from wood, the other products that are used to create biomass energy include crops, plants, landfills, municipal and industrial waste, trees, and agricultural waste. Biomass is a renewable source of energy as we would be able to produce it as long as crops, plants, and waste exists. It does not create any greenhouse gases and can be easily extracted through the process of combustion. Another advantage of biomass is that it helps to reduce landfills. Biomass is comparatively ineffective as compared to fossil fuels. They release methane gases which can be harmful to the environment.

Ocean Energy

The earth promises many power sources. Just like the geothermal and solar energy, which have long been used in heating homes and lighting as well when harnessed. Even in the last century these forms of energy was in use. Due to massive size of oceans, this energy can be used on much wider scale than other alternative sources of energy. The waves produced by the ocean and tides that hit the sea shore has enormous potential in them. If they are harnessed with full capacity they can go a long way in reducing world’s energy problems. There are 3 ways i.e. Tidal energy, Wave energy and Ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) via which ocean energy can be harnessed.

Tidal power basically involves using kinetic energy from the incoming and outgoing tides. The difference in high tides and low tides are also important in this respect. There is a lot of energy that can be harnessed from waves for use. It is another form of hydropower. The rise and fall of ocean tides are captured by tidal energy generators which turn turbines. The movement of turbines is responsible for producing electricity. In short, tidal energy generator captures the kinetic motion of the tides and converts them into electrical energy. The main advantage of tidal energy is that it is completely renewable and are much more predictable than wave energy.

Hydrogen Energy

Hydrogen is the most abundant element available on earth but it is rarely alone. Even water contains two-third of hydrogen. It is usually available with other elements and has to separate before we can make use of it. Hydrogen has tremendous potential and can be used to power up homes, vehicles, and even space rockets. It takes a lot of energy to separate hydrogen from other elements and therefore it proves to quite expensive to extract it.

The main benefit of hydrogen energy is that it is a clean source of fuel and does not leave any waste elements behind except water. There are no harmful emissions and is environmentally friendly. It is completely renewable and can be produced over and over again on demand. Hydrogen can also be used to make bombs like the ones used by America on Hiroshima and Nagasaki which makes it highly inflammable. Dependency on fossil fuels still remains as we need them to extract hydrogen from other elements. Also, it is quite expensive to produce and store.

These are some of the alternative energy sources that can be taken into consideration when planning your energy production and usage. You can harness any of these and you will satisfy your power needs.

References:

Pakistan attracted just around two million foreign tourists in 2017. In the same duration, Turkey had a record season with 37 million foreign tourists. It is futile to compare ourselves with well-established tourist destinations like Spain (75m) and Italy (53m). China had 60 million tourists and India for the first time in its history hit the 10 million mark in 2017. Tourism has become an essential source of revenue generation. The tourism industry was responsible for 10.2% of the global GDP in 2017. In Turkey, tourism accounted for 20% of its total GDP. According to India’s tourism minister, New Delhi earned $27 billion for the year  2017 from the arrival of foreign tourists alone. According to the World Tourism and Travel Council, the direct contribution of tourism to Pakistan was only 2.7% of the GDP, which is abysmal by any standards. Terrorism and the law and order situation are the biggest impediments to the arrival of foreign tourists.

The tourism industry works on brand and repute, and It seems challenging to visit a country that has high-security risks. However, it is easy to blame the lofty law and order situation for the abysmal performance of the tourism industry in Pakistan. As we see, the rate of foreign tourists was also not as encouraging even before the 9/11 incident. The problem is multi-pronged. The government and the private sector go hand in hand in the tourism industry. The government is responsible for a broader policy that lures foreign tourists to the country while the private sector pitches in to cater to tourists on the ground. Most of the tourism-related activities in Pakistan are happening on account of local tourism. There has been a steady increase in local tourism with 38.3 million local tourists reported by the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation in the last year. However, the tourism industry has even failed to cope with the influx of these local tourists. Consider going to Murree on a public holiday to enjoy the snow. One definitely will be stuck somewhere on the way. If by chance one reaches the destination, it will be an uphill task to get a reasonable room for the night with basic amenities such as warm water, good food, and heating. The aforesaid is just one of the many aspects of our ailing tourism industry. Another impediment is to get a visa to visit, Pakistan is one of the hardest countries in terms of visa approvals. The extra checks and security clearance takes a long, but on the other hand, this has triggered adverse effects on the tourism industry. The government has tried to fix this problem by announcing visa-free entry to 30 tourist-friendly countries. This visa-friendly visa issuance policy may help increase the confidence of foreign tourists. In today’s world, most foreign tourists travel through e-visa. Next, in line, the challenge is branding. Each country brands itself extensively to the world. For India, it is ‘Incredible India’ and the Taj Mahal as its face, and for Malaysia, it is ‘Malaysia Truly Asia.’ However, Pakistan has not made any such effort. Finally, for every tourist-friendly country, the most accessible transportation is essential, starting from direct air routes to intercity as well as intra-city connectivity. It is difficult to imagine a life in London without its ‘underground trains’ or connectivity in Istanbul without its tram and metro. Pakistan needs newer modes of mass transit. In this regard, the Orange Line Train in Lahore is a step in the right direction. It has suggested that other cities will also try to bring innovation to ease massive congestion on the roads.

Factors influence the Tourism

Hospitality

Whether someone is traveling for business or pleasure, the level of customer service or Hospitality they receive on their trip will help determine whether they come back for another visit or warns their friends to avoid their trips to that country. Travelers, after all, have a ton of options when they leave home.

Environmental factors

A good climate is one of the most important features of attraction for any tourist place. A pleasant climate with warmth and ample sunshine attracts tourists who come from temperate and colder regions. For example, most of the seaside resorts in the U.S.A and the U.K are located in a warmer southeast. On the other hand, people from summer areas migrate to cooler regions to seek the pleasure of cold fresh environments. For instance, in India places like Lonavala, Mahabaleshwar near Mumbai, Kullu, and Manali, Shillong, Kashmir, so on are well-known for their cool and pleasant climate. Other countries with cooler climates that attract tropical tourists are Switzerland, Sweden, etc.

Socio Economic Factor

Accessibility: It has also assumed that all tourist centers should be easily accessible by various modes of transportation like roads, railways, air, and water. To enjoy nature’s beautiful sites seeing traveling by roads and railways is a better option. If a tourist plans to reach a remote tour-destination in the quickest possible time, then an airway is the most suitable choice. Generally, waterways are seldom selected unless a tourist decides to enjoy a luxury cruise experience in sea and interested in visiting an isolated archipelago.

Accommodation: Places of tourists’ interest must be capable enough to provide reasonable accommodation and catering facilities. The type of accommodation required by tourists depends on their lives-styles, standard of living, the capacity to spend money, nature of services expected. Classification of accommodation centers (i.e., various hotels Five star to three-star, motels, dormitories) on basic of rating like five stars and below are essential so that tourists can make a proper choice and plan their trips appropriately. Generally, tourism mostly prospers in those areas where good lodging and food facilities are available at reasonable prices. It should be sure that there is a proper balance between space available for accommodation and no of tourist visit to avoid any inconvenience for the tourists

Amenities: Growth of tourism at a particular place also influenced crucial factors like; how well the site has maintained for touring activities like skiing, roping, paragliding, rowing, fishing, surfing, safari adventure. Whether emergency facilities are available or not, so on.

Another crucial point is a different people visit Pakistan from different countries and multiple linguistic backgrounds. In order to increase their understanding level, technological aid for translations shall be available.

Ancillary services: If a tourist destination has equipped by ancillary (supplementary) services like banking and finance, the Internet and telecom connectivity, hospitals, insurance, so on, then such a place succeeds to hold (retain) more tourists for a longer time. This overall helps to boost the local economy to some extent.

Historical and cultural factors

Many tourists are attracted to places of historical significance and that which have a legacy of rich cultural heritage. People love and enjoy exploring destinations where there are famous ancient monuments, marvelous forts, castles, and palaces of earlier kings and queens. Examples of places that are famous throughout the world for their historical and cultural accounts are; Taj Mahal in India, Nazca lines and Machu Picchu in Peru, Pyramid of Giza in Egypt, Great Wall of China, and Stonehenge in England.

Religious tolerance

Religious Tolerance is a factor that also plays a vital role in tourism. People from different countries visit Pakistan. Sometimes these visitors include Jews Sikhs and Hindus. People of the host country should have enough tolerance to bear their deeds if they upset them or against their culture. It portrays a positive image in the global tourism market.

Tourist points in Pakistan

Pakistan is enriched in both natural and human-made places for tourism. Pakistan is a land blessed with enormously rich historical heritage, diverse culture, high adventure, and unmatched natural beauty. From the relics of great Civilizations of Gandhara and Indus to gigantic icy peaks, lush green valleys, meadows, and lakes of crystal clear waters, Pakistan has a unique and contrasted destination to behold the caravan of humankind across ages and precious beauties of nature, to the tourists of the world.

Recommendations to improve Tourism in Pakistan

Tourism in Pakistan has undoubtedly immense potential given our diverse culture, heritage, and natural endowment. However, for now, it is a missed opportunity owing to multiple reasons including the war-on-terror, minimal marketing, sick public, and private sector infrastructure and services

• Promote Pakistan as ‘Asia ‘s best secret kept’ in the global tourism market. To portray the image of Pakistan as a country that contains all colors of nature, culture, and other aspects.
• Develop 20 new tourist destinations in 5 years; 4 each year Implement a framework to incentive private sector investments in upgradation and development of new facilities which in particular encourage “themed” tourism such as eco-tourism and other special incentives
• Open all government guest houses to the public to accommodate the tourists.
• Undertake the uplift of our accommodation infrastructure and transport services across all, from hotels to 5-star facilities to Increase Connectivity.
• Aggressively encourage entrepreneurship, especially by SMEs, to boost economic value and job creation in the tourism industry
• Improve processes to issue tourist visas, in particular for groups and champion initiatives, which strengthen our visa on arrival program while keeping some countries on. scrutiny i.e., India and Israel.
• Eliminate NOC conditions for high potential tourist destinations (as has already happened in Malakand).
• Support TVETA curriculum and institute development to upskill human capital in hospitality to fill the supply side deficit of skilled labor.

Ranking of tourist spots should be done while keeping different of areas in consideration like Hotels, Area linkages, no of tourist visit on annually, etc. The ranking should be done to define which area or spot is more worthy of visiting.

Dear All:

Result of the Election for the PCATP Executive Committee Term 2019-2021
is attached for your information and record.

Kindly acknowledge receipt of this email.

Regards,
Registrar, PCATP

Pakistan Council of Architects and Town Planners
Office No.04, 4th Floor, 61-C, 21st Commercial Street
Phase-II Extension, D.H.A, Karachi.

Tel No: 021-35883731

ELECTION 2019-2021 RESULT

Highlighting the investment opportunities in Punjab Waseem Akhtar told that on the special instructions of Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, complete technical assistance is being provided to investors to set up new projects in the province. Members of the delegation showed keen interest to provide consultancy services in the housing and construction sector. VC OPC said that the Punjab government is offering a pro-business environment to generate foreign and domestic investment. Members of the delegation included Javed Munwar, Khuram Farid Managing Director, Mehtab Qasim Town Planner, and Maryam Batool, Community and Environmental Planner.

Now that we’ve packed up the Global Planners Network stand at Habitat III and as the New Urban Agenda is formally adopted, I have reflected on what I have learned from attending the conference and how things have moved on since the RTPI attended Habitat II some 20 years ago.

I imagine all of those delegates attending have their own perspective. Indeed, I look forward to reading some of the blogs – I persuaded some of those I met to write for us! But for the moment this is my personal perspective.

1. We are all planners now

Planning, planners, and more significantly the long-established principles of good planning appear throughout the New Urban Agenda. Nowhere did we have to defend these concepts. One issue for us is that many others are engaging in work traditionally done by planners – including IT companies – and so we need to work even harder to make the role of the professional planner valued, relevant and attractive. We promoted our Delivering Better Development report and drew heavily on our value of planning work.

2. The reality of rapid urbanization is even more dramatic in practice than in theory

We were dealing with what was happening with rapid urbanization and the consequences, I lost count of how many times we talked about our centenary Planning Horizons papers here and they flew off the GPN stand. But meeting so many people from so many cities of such varied backgrounds, all grappling with the pace and consequences really bought it home.

I have invited a couple of these people to speak at our 2017 RTPI Planning Convention. For me, Habitat III was really about shaping all places. The power of good design and quality of life ran like a seam through the conference and some of the most powerful advocates of both were community and civic groups.

3. We are dealing with twenty-first-century challenges with twentieth-century governance and legal frameworks (indeed, nineteenth-century sometimes)

This issue came up time and again. Leadership at all political levels is therefore going to be key.

4. ‘Smart cities’ is a contested concept

If I was being provocative I would say that smart cities are like love, in that it is in the eye of the beholder. There were multiple, well-attended sessions on this theme. In fact, I spoke at one of them and it was the most heated and fascinating discussion about the challenge of being technology-led as opposed to enabled, raised the question of smart cities versus sustainable cities, the importance of using data wisely, its potential to empower, and nervousness around who is driving what, tinged with excitement about the potential. (I made a note to re-read Sir Peter Head’s centenary article in Planning Theory and Practice and to follow this debate closely).

5. Genuinely affordable housing is challenging for everyone – but the challenge varies greatly

It may be the sheer quantum of housing need, land prices, intensification, communities adapting to being rehoused, informal settlements, the role of place-making, or the link to employment (or many other issues). Just when I felt over-awed by the scale of the challenge I would then hear a solution-based presentation to inspire. Jose Morales (pictured to the right of Phil Williams), the Director of Human Settlements at the Ministry of Housing and Human Development in Ecuador agreed to write a piece for us on their approach to housing which was interesting, so watch out for that soon.

6. Land and infrastructure are critical

You cannot ignore the land issue. Land ownership, tenures, markets, and equity were constant subjects of discussion. Also, the importance of infrastructure and its role in shaping and connecting places and in delivering jobs and homes are increasingly understood. It is no longer a stand-alone activity or subject.

7. Climate change is increasingly linked to the quality of life and resilience

In debates, air quality (which we successfully argued should be included in the draft New Urban Agenda) also arose repeatedly. It was a key strand in all the discussions around resilience.

8. You cannot ignore finance and economic models and tools

There were sessions on every aspect of how the economic and financial models will help or hinder the delivery of the New Urban Agenda. We spent some time on the Infonavit stand hearing about their approach to solving the Mexican housing challenge, where the government, financial institutions, unions, and housing associations have set-up a body to deliver homes. I was particularly interested in this as my niece and her Mexican husband are self-building under this scheme.

9. Diversity matters

When you spend six days where every panel you sit on or session you attend is genuinely diverse in all senses, including in approach and perspective, it brings home to you how often the only diversity on a panel back home is you as the lone woman! There seemed to be as many young attendees as older participants. It was always great just to chat with the person next door to you. The gender question and how we engage women fully in shaping the city and ensure basics such as that they feel safe was writ large (I attended part of the Women’s Assembly on the first day). I did not come across any reference to LGBT issues, but colleagues did.

10. It matters that we engage with the humanitarian sector on supporting humanitarian action

Our launch of the UKBEAG raised the question about where the gaps and opportunities are. We were humbled when listening to Carolina Proano, an Ecuadorian planner, speak at our session on her work post-earthquake planning. We were glad of the support we received from the British Embassy, DFID, and the Red Cross.

11. The cumulative UK presence was effective

The small UK Government delegation led by Rubina Kurruna did sterling work, and we lost count of the number of events they spoke at or attended on behalf of the Government but there was no ministerial presence and no UK stand. The UK Government missed an opportunity for a bigger presence. UK academics and universities were engaged in thought leadership as well as some great how-to sessions. The collaboration between RIBA, RTPI, and IstructE meant the some of our activity was greater than the sum of its parts. The Vice President International of RIBA, Peter Oborn, and our own President Phil Williams made a very powerful double act on multiple occasions.

12. International planning organizations can get their act together

The time we invested in working collaboratively before the event, on submitting proposals for side events hosting a multi-organization stand, and speaking and supporting each other at events was critical to our impact.

RTPI spoke at six events on planning and community engagement, planning and post-conflict cities, place-shaping, smart cities, and of course our own event on the role of the built environment professionals in supporting the humanitarian sector.

South African RTPI member Christine Platt (pictured) gave a powerful keynote at the Professionals round table. Honorary member Eugenie Birch chaired both the World Urban Campaign meeting and the General Assembly of Partners. We lobbied to ensure Northern Ireland member Diana Fitzsimons MRTPI was elected Vice President of the Habitat Professionals Forum. We also discussed how we engage in the conversation and deliver discussions collectively in the future, and the continued need to make the case for planning.

13. The future starts now and it is about all of us

Making it happen was the real question of the week. I would like to think of the New Urban Agenda as the “planning brief” for governments. They have backed it, mayors were a big presence, municipal leadership was seen as a key driver, and the role of local and community planning and activism were visible. The business community was more fully engaged and present. Civil society was vocal. There were of course debates about what was missing or the relative profile of some issues, but the shared agenda has got to be a cause of hope – to this eternal optimist at least.

Trudi Elliott

Chief Executive, RTPI

1- Graphisoft’s BIMx app. (iOS and Android)

On the top of our list comes BIMx,  which is the ideal app for architects using the ArchiCAD program to present or share designs with clients and contractors. The app integrates 2D and 3D for BIM models, see the floor plans, helping you to better understand the designs. BIMx models can be shared in real-time — so clients can access individual BIMx Hyper-models (including 2D and 3D content) on any of their devices after their architect shares it with them. This app can be the most useful tool in the construction process.

Price: Free (iOS/Android), BIMx PRO: 49.99$

2- Autodesk Format (iOS and Android)

You can now create models on your phones or tablets. You can create conceptual models quickly anywhere and anytime, or even you can create and edit BIM models on your mobile device.  Added to this the application was recently updated with the real-world site information and the location-aware Shadow Study tool with which you just shouldn’t feel afraid to explore. You can even import the site image from the satellite. If you are not satisfied with the quality of your models made on a mobile device, you can export them later and edit them on your computer to improve them. And how can I forget you can back it up on the cloud and share it with others just with a tap.
Price: Free (iOS, Android)

3- Paper (iOS only)

Having won Apple’s App of the Year and been given the 2012 Apple Design Award, the Paper app by FiftyThree, Inc. makes it easy to capture your ideas as sketches, diagrams, illustrations, or notes and share them on the internet. It’s a simple and intuitive app built specifically for the iPad’s display. The company recently announced the introduction of a ‘pencil’ stylus that connects to the iPad via Bluetooth.
Price: Free (iOS)

4- Autocad 360

Developed by Autodesk, Autocad 360is an extremely fundamental app that needs to be installed on your phone or tablet so that you have access to all the drawings when you are on the go. Autocad 360 enables you to view, create or edit any drawings. It will help you to access drawings anytime and anywhere you need to, and you can also share them using your web browser.
Price: Free (IOS, Android)

5- MagicPlan

This is a very interesting and useful app. It uses the device’s cameras to draw the floor plans of real spaces. You just have to stand in a certain place and point your device, and the app will draw the floor plan. When it is done, you can export the floor plan as a PDF, DXF, or a JPG.
Price: Free (IOS, Android)

6- iRhino 3D (iOS only)

This app will provide you the opportunity to view any Rhino 3DM file on your mobile device. It is useful to showcase your models when you do not have your laptop easy-to-hand.
Price: 3.99$ (iOS)

7- SketchBook (iOS, Android)

It is an application owned by Autodesk. This application is very helpful to draw sketches. You can also draw a picture to see the way your designs would look. And finally, if it is difficult for you to draw in perspective, this app gives you guides to do it well. We architecture students and architects can be inspired anywhere anytime by anything. Literally! The epiphany might descend upon us in the most crucial areas. In situations like these, instead of scavenging for paper and a pencil, at this time, you might even miss the opportunity, this application comes in handy. This application is perfect for digital sketching.
 Price: Free (iOS, Android, Amazon, Windows)

8- Morpholio Trace (iOS) 

The more you draw the better it is. I personally love working in layers! The more layers you have the more refined the design turns out to be. This application is perfect for this, you keep sketching over your sketches. Adding layers over layers just like one places tracing paper. It’s truly the perfect application for an architect.
 Price: Free (iOS)

9- CADTOUCH (iOS, Android) 

Last-minute editing is what we all do to our work. There is some tiny little fault that we find in our drawings and we need to edit them. It is a PRO CAD editor and viewer that helps you completely reinvent the on-site drawings and gives the user the power and ability to edit, measure, annotate, draw and view their work on-site. It also helps you to calculate the area of any space, design and draw floor plans and make a diagram. When you finished your work, you can email the archive immediately, so this app is very useful when you are not in your office.
Price: Free (iOS, Android)

10- Architect Envi Deluxe (iOS)

When bored a little bit of historical and current information seems to be the most entertaining time-pass. It’s like having all the maestros and the legends in your pocket at all times. The app is also perfect for architecture students. It will provide you information about the great architectural works in all-history and the most important architects. You can browse across every century and find the most famous buildings of each one. It’s sorted out according to the time-period with pictures of works of over 100+ architects. It also provides you information of the great architectural works in all-history. You can browse across every century and find the most famous buildings of each one. Apart from the pictures this also gives one access to ‘in-depth’ information about the architects. It lets you add and save photos and add even more images of your own to the collection.
 Price: 3.99$ (iOS)

Following attended the meeting:

• Mr. Aslam Mughal, Former President IPP
• Mr. Ghulam Sarwar Sandhu, President of IPP (Capital Development Authority)
• Mr. Khurram Farid Bargatt, Secretary-General IPP (Sheher Saaz Pvt Ltd)
• Mr. Salman Mehfooz Secretary Finance IPP (Lahore Development Authority)
• Mr. Muhammad Shoaib, Joint Secretary IPP (Surbana Juroung Pvt Ltd)
• Mr. Rizwan-Ur-Reham   Executive Member IPP (Consultant Housing Department)
• Dr. Fariha Tariq, Executive Member IPP (University of Management and Technology)
• Dr. Asghar Naeem Malik, Executive Member IPP (NUST Islamabad)
• Mr. Afraz Akhtar, Executive Member IPP (Lahore Development Authority)
• Mr. Muhammad Zubair, Executive Member IPP (Defense Housing Authority)
• Dr. Muhammad Asim Executive Member IPP (University of Engineering & Technology)
• Ms. Nida Batool Executive Executive Member IPP (University of Management & Technology)
• Dr. Obaid Ullah Nadeem, Member IPP (University of Engineering and Technolgy)
• Ms. Sadaf Saeed, Member IPP (Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology)
• Ms. Ayesha Butt Member IPP (Sheher Saaz Pvt Ltd)
• Mr. Mehtab Qasim  Member IPP (Sheher Saaz Pvt Ltd)

An illuminated crosswalk designed to help drivers see pedestrians better.Photo via Lighted Zebra Crossing

From Mondrian’s colorful, pared-down compositions to a bike- and weed-friendly culture, there’s a lot the Netherlands is known for. And recently, these cultural footings —as well as universal headaches like potholes and road safety—have inspired a number of innovative urban interventions around the country. We’ve gathered a handful below for inspiration—and pure amusement.

1. A bike traffic system that helps cyclists get all green lights

A new bike traffic light system from Dutch company Springlab wants to make every urban cyclist’s dream come true. Flo uses sensors to detect riders’ speeds about 120 meters (or 400 feet) before a street traffic light and then displays symbols indicating whether they need to speed up (a hare), maintain the pace (a thumbs up), or slow down (a turtle) to make the next light. One Flo kiosk has been deployed in Utrecht, and there are plans to roll out a couple of more in the coming months.

2. Emoji as an architectural ornament

Photos via Attika Architekten

Goodbye gargoyles, hello smileys? Over in the Dutch city of Amersfoort, a brick mixed-use building now sports 22 emojis cast in white concrete on its facade. Love it or hate it, this is one architectural trick that perfectly encapsulates the current era.

3. “Self-healing” roads that fix their own potholes

Shutterstock

Modern cities are plagued by potholes. One Dutch materials scientist, Erik Schlangen at Delft University, thinks he may be able to defeat them. His team is currently developing “self-healing” asphalt—that is, asphalt embedded with tiny steel fibers so that when you run an electrical current over it with a huge magnet, the fibers heat up and fill in any small cracks that may be forming. According to his research, this type of asphalt would cost 25 percent more than traditional asphalt but last twice as long. It’s already being tested on a dozen different public roads around the country.

4. Building bridges out of cannabis hemp

Eindhoven University of Technology

It’s not the prettiest bridge out there, but it’s probably the world’s first and only one made entirely from biocomposite materials, namely cannabis hemp. Designed and built by a team of researchers and students in Eindhoven, the structure is made of hemp and flax fibers embedded in resin and covering a bio-based polymer core. The team, which has put 28 sensors in the bridge, will monitor the structure over the next year, studying its bounce and structural integrity.

5. Glowing crosswalks

Dutch company Lighted Zebra Crossing has a simple, effective way to help drivers see pedestrians better. Their glowing crosswalks replace the typical light-reflecting paint with illuminated lightboxes. The system is directly connected to the city’s streetlight system or solar panels and can be embedded right in the asphalt or pavers.

6. Turning city hall into a giant piece of art

For the centennial of the Dutch art movement Di Stijl this year, the Hague commissioned artists Madje Vollaers and Pascal Zwart of Rotterdam-based Studio VZ to create a massive piece of artwork inspired by De Stijl’s most famous artist, Piet Mondrian, right on the facade of city hall. The 1995-built Richard Meier creation sure looks more ready to party with some color.

7. LED traffic lights for texting pedestrians

Confronted with the reality of smartphone-obsessed pedestrians, the Dutch town of Bodegraven recently began a pilot project testing thin, colored LED light strips positioned at the end of sidewalks. Depending on their glow—red or green—the lights should be visible even to pedestrians with their heads down.

8. An endless circular runway?!

Now, this is an idea that may never take off, but just entertain it for a second. According to Dutch scientist Henk Hesselink, who is working with the Netherlands Aerospace Centre, an “endless runway” with a 360-degree landing strip means planes can approach and takeoff from any direction without fighting against crosswinds. It would take up about a third of land typically reserved for airports and create more distributed flight paths (and more tolerable plane noise for residents in the area.)

The Androon Shehar (Walled City) of Lahore has spelt security and prosperity to the indigenous population of South Asia even before 2000 BCE. Hailing as one of the oldest city, which still exists today, the wide expanse of Lahore has rendered Androon Shehar as another gated community but probably the mother of all gated communities. Even though the fortified walls cease to exist, the 12 gates of Lahore stand resolute declaring “here stands Lahore which is alive even today!”

Those gates, 13 in total, are among those which had always awed me the most. Especially their names! For example one of them is Bhatti gate and with the mere mention of the name I can see my friend Bhatti standing there, then there is Lohari where I imagine the blacksmiths used to work, Yakki gate where… (I don’t want to imagine what people did there) and the Mochi gate where everyone would have been like “Cobbler Cobbler mend my shoe!”

From my point of view, securing the city with a boundary wall had been a very good practice of bundling the people together and prevents the cities from expanding. A practice which, sadly, has ceased to exist!  Now Lahore is expanding like wildfire and Mother Nature is crying as people keep eating it away just to provide the rich with an opportunity to invest! So what can we do to make our Mother happy?

Courtesy: Architect Imtiaz Alam