International conference «St. Petersburg – Barcelona: priority of balance in the sustainable city development»


Sister-city ties between St. Petersburg and Barcelona have a more than 30 years history. Both cities have experienced several stages of technological development and become the largest commercial, transport and administrative centers.
An effective strategy for sustainable and balanced growth of the modern megalopolis involves improving the quality of use of three basic strategic development resources: human, spatial and economic. The compliance of these resources with the level of international standards and getting on this basis the results that are in demand among particular groups of the main consumers – citizens and business - provides the global competitiveness of the city.
Over the past decades, Barcelona has become an experimental urban area by implementing large-scale international projects. At the same time, the implementation of such projects involves many risks. Reconstruction of urban areas entails a conflict of interests of owners and serious planning encumbrances. Also infrastructure projects require significant investment and cause a discomfort for citizens and orientation on a global tourism removes local identity.
- How the governance model of St. Petersburg is in keeping with the global trends?
- What the urban planning of Barcelona is focused on?
- What solutions of contradictions of urban planning development are exist? And how is it possible to take into account citizens interests?
- How to concern the balance between urban strategic tasks and private needs of the citizens?
- How to solve the problem of excessive tourism flow in the city?
- How does the city manage risks and coordinate communication between agencies?
- What models of management of the development of large territories are used in different cities?
- What models of project finance have existed today?
These and other questions will be discussed at the International Conference.