Dear Students, Academics, and Staff,

 The Architecture Department at Al-Nahrain University is pleased to invite you to an online seminar by Professor Matthew Carmona, Professor of Planning & Urban Design at The Bartlett, UCL.

Date: Tuesday, 25th March 2025 Time: 11:50 AM – 1:00 PM (Iraq Time)

Venue: Dijlah Hall, College of Engineering, Al-Nahrain University

Platform: Google Meet (for remote access)

Meeting Link: meet.google.com/fqu-nvqa-who

Topic: Urban Design Governance in Europe (and the Softest of Soft Powers)

 Professor Carmona’s research explores urban design governance, public space design, and the impact of policies on shaping cities. His talk will provide valuable insights into how governance frameworks and informal mechanisms function as soft power tools in urban development, based on his latest book Urban Design Governance (UCL Press, 2023).

 We strongly encourage all students, academics, and staff to attend in person at Dijlah Hall to engage in this important discussion. Don’t miss the opportunity to gain insights from one of the leading voices in urban design governance! We look forward to your participation.

This unique experiment is the first of its kind at the level of architectural departments in Iraq, and this is due to the distinguished academic stature of Professor Matthew. He is a professor at UCL (University College London) in the UK, which ranks ninth globally and competes with top universities such as Oxford and MIT in the United States. In addition to being a faculty member at this prestigious university, Professor Matthew is a pioneer in spatial quality and urban design management on a global level. Not only that, but Professor Matthew Carmona also holds the position of consultant for various local governments around the world, most notably in the United States, China, the Netherlands, and Portugal. Moreover, he has advanced expertise and practical experience in providing consultancy for more than 12 urban projects across the European continent.