On June 27th, 2006, the 1st Zhejiang University International Forum of Urban-rural Development was held in Zijingang Campus with the topic of “opening communities and small-sized streets & discussion among deans of architectural planning discipline.” Ren Shaobo, the vice president of Zhejiang University attended the forum, made a welcoming speech and issued the offer of “Quishi Chair Professor” and the offer of “Honorary Chairman of Zhejiang University Architectural Planning Discipline Professor Committee” to Professor Peter G. Rowe from Harvard University, and issued the consultant certificates of “Zhejiang University Architectural Planning Discipline Development Committee” to Professor Peter G. Rowe, Academician Wang Jianguo, Professor Zhuang Weimin, Professor Li Zhenyu and Professor Zhang Qi.
Professor Peter G. Rowe, the former dean of School of Design, Harvard University, Academician Wang Jianguo, the former dean of School of Architecture, Southeast University and chairman of Higher Education Teaching Steering Committee of Architecture Discipline , Professor Zhuang Weimin, the former dean of School of Architecture, Tsinghua University, Professor Li Zhenyu, the dean of College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tongji University, Associate Professor Xu Zhen, the vice dean of School of Architecture, Tianjin University, Professor Peter Ruge from the Anhalt University of Applied Sciences, Mr. Lorenzo Barrionuvo, the famous Spanish architect, Professor Dong Danshen, the president of Zhejiang University Design and Research Institute, Professor Wu Yue, the director of International Center for Architecture & Urban Development Studies, Zhejiang University and head of Department of Architecture, and other first-class experts and scholars of architecture and urban development from home and abroad attended the forum to discuss the urban and rural development of China with their cutting-edge intellectual resources.
The forum began with the keynote speech by Professor Peter G. Rowe on the analysis of the historical evolution of the Chinese street pattern. Professor Rowe compared different cities from China and the west in modern times and put forward the concept and mode of balance between street pattern and street structure. Then other experts made masterly speeches, followed by the exciting “Salon of Deans of Architectural Planning Disciplines” in which experts discussed the future education on architecture and architecture disciplines. On the basis of the current development and evaluation of schools of architecture, Academician Wang Jianguo started his speech with the development of Chinese education system and pointed out that the diversified education on architectural planning is necessary to meet the changing social demand in the future.
During the break of the forum in the noon, when experts and scholars from home and abroad visited the exhibition of national-level reformed course projects, they highly appreciated the innovative curriculum model and the diversified and quality projects of students.
The forum is hosted by International Center for Architecture & Urban Development Studies, Zhejiang University (ICAUS) and co-organized by Architectural Programming Committee of ASC (APA), Zhejiang University Architectural Planning Industry-University-Research Institute Alliance (ZAP), College of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Zhejiang University and Zhejiang University Design and Research Institute. The forum was also supported by key news media and magazines from home and abroad. It attracted over 200 experts in this field from all over the world and received positive feedbacks from experts and audience due to its penetrating theme, high-level speeches and quality salon discussion.
The success of the 1st Zhejiang University International Forum of Urban-ruralDevelopment shows the strong determination of International Center for Architecture & Urban Development Studies, Zhejiang University (ICAUS) to solve the problems occurring in the development of urban and rural areas. ICAUS has the ability to hold the high-end and competitive series of forums in the posture of unique think tank. Since the next year will be the 120th anniversary of Zhejiang University, taking this opportunity, ICAUS will hold the 2nd forum with more international influence. Please stay tuned!
