What an inspiring first day at the Smart City World Expo! We are still taking in the many impressions, ideas and encounters β and will certainly need some more time to fully absorb them all.
A big thank you to all members of the Build4People delegation trip prepared by UniversitΓ€t Hildesheim (Michael Waibel) for making this visit so valuable.
We would also like to extend our sincere appreciation to H.E. Dr Ly Rasmey, Secretary of State at the Cambodian Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction (MLMUPC), and Dr Tep Makathy, Director General of the Cambodian Institute for Urban Studies (CIUS), for their active participation and keen interest in the programme.
π€ A particular highlight was the panel discussion βWhat Does a Resilient City Look Like in 2050?β, featuring Dr. Christine Lemaitre, CEO of the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB).
As a Build4People partner, DGNB supports our ambition to introduce the first sustainability assessment and certification of urban neighbourhoods in Cambodia. This work builds on the Build4People Neighbourhood Evaluation Criteria, co-developed by Dr. Stephan Anders, founder of the sustainability consultancy andersplus and by Rolf Messerschmidt, CEO of Eble Messerschmidt Partner.
One of the key messages from the panel was that urban resilience cannot be achieved through technological innovation or robust infrastructure alone. It requires an integrated, adaptive and people-centred approach that brings together the built environment, public services, data, governance, economic considerations and β above all β the needs of local communities.
The panellists highlighted the importance of liveable neighbourhoods, accessible public spaces and attractive outdoor environments.
Their vision of more decentralised, people-oriented cities in 2050, where neighbourhoods foster everyday interaction and social connections, resonates strongly with the vision and objectives of Build4People.
π€ We are looking forward to the coming days, with more inspiring presentations, promising encounters and opportunities to explore state-of-the-art approaches to smart and sustainable urban development!