Umair Khan’s Post

The 2025 World’s Best Cities list highlights urban centers excelling in sustainability, livability, and innovative mobility. From London’s green spaces to Tokyo’s tech-integrated designs, these cities redefine urban living. https://lnkd.in/gnqjyJ7g #SustainableCities #UrbanInnovation #LivableCities #SmartMobility #FutureUrbanLiving

Our laziness has opened the way to a new trend 😏 It’s called the 15 minutes city! Imagine living in a city where everything you need—work, school, grocery stores, parks, and healthcare—is just a 15-minute walk or bike ride away. That’s the idea behind the “15-minute city” concept, and it’s starting to shape how we think about urban planning. 🚶♂️🚴♀️ This trend is picking up speed globally, especially in cities like Paris and Melbourne. The benefits are huge: 1️⃣ Less Commuting, More Living: Say goodbye to long, stressful commutes and hello to more time doing what you love. 2️⃣ Greener Living: With fewer car trips, we’re looking at lower carbon emissions and a step toward a more sustainable future. 🌱 3️⃣ Healthier, Happier Communities: Easy access to everything means more walking, biking, and overall better well-being. As #urbanplanners, #architects, and #developers, this shift could redefine how we design future spaces. It’s not just about building; it’s about building smarter and more sustainably. Whats your opinion on the 15-minute city? #UrbanPlanning #15MinuteCity #SustainableLiving #RealEstateTrends #CityDesign #FutureOfCities #Architecture #GreenLiving

What makes a good city? We believe that cities are good for us, at least they can and they should be. Cities have the potential to foster community, creativity, innovation, and economic activity. However too often, around the world, cities fail to live up to this potential. While they may vary in size, function, culture and geography, all cities are seeking to overcome the same key issues. The Good City aims to address some of the most pressing urban challenges facing today’s cities such as energy use, low carbon transport and buildings, and optimising technology and data. Through harnessing our collective expertise, we have set out a vision on how to create better cities for all. Explore The Good City: https://loom.ly/8DW0C1M #TheGoodCity #Design #Urbanism

The five-minute city: the future of sustainable urban communities 🌿 In Denmark, a groundbreaking neighborhood model is redefining how we experience urban living: the five-minute city. This revolutionary urban planning concept ensures that everything you need—schools, work, services, shops, and parks—is just five minutes away by foot or bike. 🚴♀️ Why does it matter? - fewer cars, more green spaces. - stronger community connections. - greater well-being for people and the environment. A tangible example of how urban design can enhance quality of life by prioritizing sustainability, inclusivity, and innovation. 🚶♂️🚲 At izilab, we believe in an urban future designed around people and their needs. Learn more and join us in shaping the cities of tomorrow.  https://lnkd.in/gVaSZR_G

Exciting news! Today we launched our EPIC Lab, an ambitious research arm to combat urbanization and climate change challenges. Our new ambitious research arm, EPIC Lab (Environmental Planning and Innovation Cities Lab), is aimed at tackling the critical challenges of urbanization and climate change with groundbreaking solutions. This new think tank is set to challenge and reshape the paradigms of urban development, emphasizing radical innovations that promote sustainability and resilience at every level of city living. Baharash Bagherian, CEO of URB, shares the vision behind the company’s new research arm: "With EPIC Lab, we are not merely adapting to a new reality; we are actively creating it. Our goal is to transform the fabric of urban life globally, positioning cities at the forefront of the battle against climate change." The EPIC Lab is dedicated to reshaping urban centers so that they not only survive but thrive amidst the challenges of the 21st century. It focuses on implementing advanced, sustainable urban strategies that enhance the ecological health of cities while boosting their economic viability and livability. "This lab is our answer to the global imperative for sustainable urban development. Here, we develop the blueprints and methodologies that will define the future of urban living," says Bagherian. URB’s new lab will explore a range of dynamic approaches, from revitalizing urban ecosystems to pioneering new standards in energy efficiency and waste reduction. These efforts aim to establish models of urban development that are environmentally sound and economically sustainable, providing a blueprint for cities worldwide. The lab’s efforts will not be confined to theoretical research; it aims to implement tangible changes, setting a global example for how cities can evolve to become more sustainable and livable. It will function as a collaborative hub, engaging with international experts, local stakeholders, and policymakers to ensure that its research translates into real-world impact. It will also provide education and workshops to teach future generations about innovative techniques in urban planning, equipping them with the skills necessary to design and sustain smarter, more resilient cities. The lab's presence in Dubai not only leverages the city's dynamic environment to test and refine cutting-edge urban practices but also contributes significantly to Dubai's goals of enhancing urban quality of life and sustainability. In doing so, the lab plays a crucial role in transforming Dubai into a model for future cities worldwide, where sustainability and livability go hand in hand. For further details on EPIC Lab and to participate in its mission, please visit https://www.urb.ae/epiclab #Urbanplanning #Urbandesign #Sustainability #Smartcities #Innovation

New book alert: Glad to share our latest book, Urban Slums and Circular Economy Synergies in the Global South: Theoretical and Policy Imperatives for Sustainable Communities (Springer Singapore). This book reimagines just transitions in global south urbanism by taking theoretical and empirical distance from urban slums/informal settlements as a threat to environmental sustainability and recast them as places where environmentally rehabilitative and circular practices occur—drawing on the theoretical lens of the circular economy (CE). Drawing on case studies and policy reviews from Africa, Latin America, and South Asian cities, this book fronts that in inequitable urban transitions, a nuanced understanding of the synergies between urban slums and the circular economy is not only theoretically relevant for reconceptualizing the slum in urban sustainability discourses but also exert policy and practice ramifications to decidedly figure out how the urban slum phenomenon can foster the sustainable and inclusive development of marginal areas through contextual and people-centered initiatives. It includes a dozen insightful case studies, more than 20 scholar-practitioner contributors, and a pioneering model to guide future research and practice. It is a must-read for all interested in taking the agency of the poor seriously and contesting the pathological view of the urban south and its everyday practices. with Matthew Abunyewah (PhD) Michael Odei Erdiaw-Kwasie Festival Godwin Boateng. Special thanks to my mentee extraordinaire, Stephen Leonard Mensah, for invaluable support in putting this together.

Thank you so much Urban Land Institute ULI Mexico EMA Electro Movilidad Asociación México Carlos Levy Eugenio Grandio Eugenio Fernandez Leal VEMO Gentor Ibarra del Paso Gallego 👍 #electromobility #projects #urbanism #ULI #Investments #BusinessLaw #sustainability #EVs #Deals #RealEstateInvestments #InfrastructureProjects #sustainabledevelopment #RealEstate

Part of Vesterbrogade, one of the busiest roads in the Copenhagen, is being closed to traffic to create a temporary urban park. This bold experiment, happening in the heart of the city, and speaks directly to the future I envision in my article on "how to reimagine mobility in a world obsessed with cars". Check out part 2 here: https://lnkd.in/eXb_3Fhd If you didn't catch part 1 👉 https://lnkd.in/dgxkJz8A And, if you're curious about the Copenhagen road-closure / temporary park experiment 👉https://lnkd.in/er7rdhKK #design #designit #mobility #sustainability

🌍 Electromobility and Sustainable Urbanism: Transforming Mexico’s Future 🚗⚡ On November 8th, in collaboration with our partners at the ULI Mexico (Urban Land Institute), we hosted an exceptional panel on Electromobility and Sustainable Urbanism, as part of ULI’s ongoing series of discussions to foster innovation and dialogue around key industry topics. This event brought together prominent industry leaders to explore the challenges and opportunities of electromobility in Mexico, a topic directly impacting critical sectors such as real estate, energy, automotive, and infrastructure. We were honored to have the participation of: • Carlos Levy, Head of Real Estate & Public Charging Network at VEMO • Eugenio Fernandez Leal, VP of Strategic Alliances and Relations at Gentor • Eugenio Grandio, President of EMA Electro Movilidad Asociación México The panel was moderated by our Partner and Co-Leader of the Real Estate Practice, Carlos Ibarra, who guided the discussion toward critical topics, including: 🔹 The importance of integrating charging infrastructure into real estate developments during the planning phase. 🔹 The need for collaboration between public and private sectors to accelerate the transition. 🔹 How electromobility can transform urban planning and improve quality of life. 💡 This panel highlighted current advancements and outlined a roadmap toward a more sustainable future for Mexico. 📄 English version: https://bit.ly/4fkCAQr 📄 Spanish version: https://bit.ly/4hKzXJ5 Stay updated on relevant legal industry news in our News section at: https://bit.ly/4aJQoSw. #SustainableMobility #ElectromobilityMexico #UrbanInnovation #PublicPrivateCollaboration #GreenInfrastructure