The Mayor of Kazan: «It's a kind of a spacewalk, meeting with the future»

The first plenary session of the Kazanysh International Architectural and Construction Forum «Strong Cities: The Unity of Diversity» took place in the newly built Kamal Theatre. The event was attended by Mayor Ilsur Metshin. He shared that forum's agenda will focus on such issues as inclusion, sustainable development, and cities of the future.

«This forum is a unique opportunity to meet and hear from the best experts in the architecture and urban planning over a period of three days, and it's all completely free. This scale and diversity of expertise cannot be found elsewhere», – the Mayor noted. He added that participants have the opportunity to share practical experience, knowledge, and opinions at the forum, as well as learn about the latest developments in city planning. Representatives from Kazan will share their best practices, such as the concept of «City on Water».

«The future of our cities depends on decisions made today. Therefore, it is crucial that professionals from different countries unite efforts, share their expertise, and find the best solutions to create cities that can meet new challenges», – the Mayor emphasized.

The Mayor noted that the future of cities relies on human interaction as well. «International architectural competitions have become a common practice in Kazan. It’s a kind of spacewalk, meeting with the future».

The architectural event is taking place in the new building of the Kamal Theater. This project has become a common cause in international cooperation. «The unique project was created by a consortium of architects from Japan and Russia. It is symbolic that the architectural forum has become one of the first large-scale international events to take place within its walls», – said Rustam Minnikhanov, the Rais (Head) of Tatarstan.

Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, Marat Khusnullin, stressed that the forum provides a platform for the exchange of best practices and the formation of partnerships.

Sergey Kuznetsov, the chief architect of Moscow, noted the values promoted in Kazan that align with those of all successful cities, emphasizing human-centrism and attention to environmental issues. He stressed that the city developes on the right track.

The Mayor of Bishkek, Aybek Dzhunushaliyev, the deputy secretary general of Istanbul Municipality, Gürkan Akgun, the vice mayor of Tehran and the chief architect, Hamidreza Saremi, as well as the chief architect from Footprints EARTH, Yatin Pandya, praised the high level of organization of the event. They also appreciated the architecture of the new Kamal Theater.