During the events of the All India Institute of Local Self-Government and the BRICS+ Association of Cities and Municipalities, a meeting of the Committee on Architecture and Urban Development was held. As part of the «Architectural Dialogue,» participants from Russia, India, and Brazil discussed key directions for the development of the urban environment.
The meeting was moderated by Ms. Irina Korobyina, Member of the International Academy of Architecture and the National Academy of Design (Moscow, Russia).
Ms. Ilsiyar Tukhvatullina, Chief Architect of Kazan (Russia), took part in the meeting. She presented Kazan’s experience in preserving historical heritage and implementing modern urban planning solutions, noting the importance of a balance between traditions and innovations in shaping a comfortable urban environment.
Mr. Dmitry Selivokhin, an urbanist and General Director of the Institute for Strategic Development «Sever» (Russia), proposed the creation of a working group to develop national architectural codes of identity. In his opinion, modern architecture often loses the symbolic language necessary for intercultural dialogue and needs principles that unite rather than divide.
Ms. Natalia Klimova, Head of the Organizing Committee of the Council of Chief Architects of the Russian Regions and Municipalities named after A.V.Kuzmin (Russia), presented the experience of Russian regions, emphasizing that there are no universal solutions in urban planning, but the exchange of practices helps to effectively solve similar problems.
Mr. Emil Sirazetdinov, Chief Architect of Nizhnekamsk (Russia), demonstrated a project for the transformation of a single-industry town through the creation of a unified system of public spaces, bicycle and pedestrian routes, connecting industrial, natural, and residential zones.
Brazilian architect, Professor at Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais, Brazil, Mr. Pedro Morais presented a roadmap for the development of the committee until 2030. He proposed improving communication procedures, establishing clear operating rules, and transitioning to a model of regular professional meetings. The first major event will be the FICA.BH forum in Belo Horizonte (Brazil) in October 2026.
India’s experience was presented by Mr. Sudhir Krishna, Former Secretary of the Ministry of Urban Development and Chairman of the Smart Cities Sectional Committee (India). He noted the scale of national programs: the «100 Smart Cities» mission, the expansion of the metro to more than 20 cities, water supply and waste processing projects. The FOSTER model he proposed sets criteria for sustainable urban development: financial viability, openness and safety, social accessibility, technological intelligence, environmental sustainability, and robust management.
Mr. Alexander Shavliashvili, Director of the Committee for Tourism Development of Kazan (Russia), also took part in the meeting. As part of the «Architectural Dialogue,» he delivered a report on the relationship between the architectural environment and the tourist attractiveness of the city, as well as presented Kazan’s experience as a driver of tourist flow.
Mr. Ilfak Vildanov, Vice-Rector for Educational Activities of Kazan State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering (Russia), spoke about the system of training specialists, combining academic education, scientific research, and real project activities. The university actively participates in international competitions and is engaged in the development of city plans.
The committee meeting was one of the key events of the program of the BRICS+ Association of Cities and Municipalities in India. The participants agreed on further steps to develop professional cooperation, exchange experience, and implement joint projects in the field of architecture and urban planning.
