1st Congress of "Merhav" - Movement for Israeli Urbanism (MIU)

[i][b]Urban Renaissance in Israel - Necessity and Tools [/b][/i] December 12-13, 2005 Beer-Sheva, Israel. The first MIU congress will focus on two issues. The first is: understanding and describing the various dimensions of the necessity for an urban renaissance in Israel, and the second is a discussion of ways to bring about this renaissance, according to the principles of Merhav? Movement for Israeli Urbanism. The Congress is directed toward all those interested and concerned with Urbanism in Israel including: Political leaders, Developers, Business leaders, Private sector, Professionals in the fields of city planning and design including city planners, architects, traffic engineers, sociologists, historians, economists, political scientists and other urban professions, Non-profit organizations and citizens who are concerned about the future of their towns and neighborhoods. Within the congress we intend to engage in two activities: an urban design charette, on important projects for Beer-Sheva's city core; a conference that will serve as an opening and theoretical background to the charrette. The congress aims to place the ideas of MIU in a wider international movement of New Urbanism, Smart Growth and Sustainable Development. It will bring to Israel keynote speakers from the forefront of this movement, to speak about their experiences of implementing and promoting these ideas in other cities of the world. It also brings together Israeli practitioners, to share their experiences, discuss recurring problems and their solutions, and draw strength from their successes. For our guests from abroad we will arrange a post-conference program which will include visits to the Unit of Desert Architecture and Planning in Sde-Boker, Jerusalem, with explanation and discussion of recent planning efforts and challenges for the city, Modiin, the flagship new town designed by Moshe Safdie and Associates, and Tel-Aviv who recently won recognition of its center as a UNESCO monument of humanity. This program will take place on December 13-16. For further information send a [url=mailto:yodan@miu.org.il]mailto:yodan@miu.org.il[/url]