First Urban Design International Congress will take place at the capital city of Iran, between  04 - 07 September of 2006. Foreigner lecturers will participate inside iranian lecturers to the Congress. The deadline for receipt of full length papers and posters is 25 July 2006.

Reza Pourvaziry, President of IAARA
Urban design merits important attention and consideration as a response to human needs, not only in terms of spatial planning, but also from social and cultural points of view. Close collaboration between urban residents, experts, and municipal authorities is essential and can be developed in several new and different new ways. It is thus in this spirit that I hope and believe that the 2006 Urban Design International Congress will constitute fruitful and productive progress towards our shared goal of improving the quality of urban life.

Rahman Eghbali, Congress Secretary General
The first Urban Design International Congress (UDIC1) represents an important opportunity to explore outstanding theories and practices of urban design in a global context. The exchange and discussion of ideas and experiences from different points of view and diverse multi- and inter-disciplinary approaches to the pivotal themes of the Congress will surely help us to discover new responses and challenges to urban design.

In order to understand and enhance the current status of urban design in both theoretical and practical terms, IAARA is planning to organize an international congress on urban design, to be held in the historic city of Isfahan from 4- 7 September 2006.

The UDIC1 Steering Committee has approved the general theme of the Congress – Urban Design from Theory to Implementation - which reflects the wide scope of the congress.

On behalf of the Steering Committee, I am pleased to invite urban planners, architects, engineers, environmental designers, sociologists, economists, developers, and urban authorities active in the fields of research, academia, and the planning and architectural professions to participate in this international event. Iraj Etessam, Chairman of UDIC1 Steering Committee.

Steering Committee
- Mostafa Abbaszadegan, Ph.D. in Urban Design - Assistant Professor and Head of Urban Planning and Design Department, Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran- Iran.

- Nader Ardalan, M. Arch., Visiting Professor at a number of Iran, USA and Middle East Universities and Senior Vice President, KEO International, Kuwait City-Kuwait.

- Farrokh Derakhshani, M. Arch. - Director of Award Procedures, the Aga Khan Award for Architecture, Geneva-Switzerland.

- Darab Diba, Doctorate in Architecture, Professor of Architecture at University of Tehran, Tehran-Iran.

- Iraj Etessam, Doctorate in Architecture, professor of Architecture and Urban Design, University of Tehran and Principal Architect, Etessam Associates Consulting Architects & Planners, San Jose, California-USA.

- Rahman Eghbali, Ph.D. in Architecture - Assistant Professor of Architecture and Director of Post Graduate Programs, Imam Khomeini International University, Qazvin-Iran.

- Nasser Golzari, Dip. Arch. ARB - Principal in GOLZARI (NG) Architects, Architecture Leader University of Arts London, Senior lecturer University of Westminster London-UK.

- Mohsen Habibi, Ph.D. in Urban Planning - Professor of Urbanism and Rector of University College of Fine Arts, University of Tehran, Tehran-Iranç.

- Ali Madanipour, Ph.D. in Urban Design - Professor of Urban Design, School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape, University of Newcastle, UK.

- Hamid Majedi, Ph.D. in Urban Planning - Director, Ph.D. Program in Urban Planning, Azad Islamic University of Tehran and Chairman of the Board, Iranian Society of Urban Planners, Tehran-Iran.

- Reza Pourvaziry, M.Arch. - President of International Art and Architecture Research Association (IAARA), Tehran-Iran and Secretary General of World Olympiad for Urban Design (WOUD 2008) under supervision of UN-HABITAT.

Introduction
UDIC1 (1st Urban Design International Congress, Competition & Celebration) is a multi section program with the ultimate goal of urban life quality promotion through both theoretical and practical approaches to “Cities” in a wide meaning spectrum of “Urban Design”. UDIC1 is a program planned and initiated by IAARA. It was started in January 2004 and presently is in progress in line with the planned time table. As the final stage of the program, in addition to award ceremonies of two other sectors of UDIC1 (competition and celebration), the 1st Urban Design International Congress will be held in Isfahan 4-7 September 2006. The following organizations/institutes are collaborating with the program: 

- "Academy of Art - I.R.Iran" 
- "Art University of Isfahan – Isfahan, Iran"
- "Azad Islamic University - Iran" 
- "British Council- Tehran, Iran" 
- "Center for Architecture and Urban Studies and Research – Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, I.R.Iran" 
- "Center for Urban and Rural Research - Ministry of Interior, I.R.Iran" 
- "Iranian Organization of Construction Engineering" 
- "Iranian National Commission for UNESCO" 
- "Information & Communication Technology Association (ICTA) – Tehran, Iran" 
- "Iran University of Science and Technology"
- "Iranian Society of Urban Planners" 
- "London metropolitan University, UK" 
- "High Council of Architecture and Urban Planning of Iran" 
- "Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) – London, UK" 
- "University of Westminster – London, UK"

UDIC1 is also supported by the following sponsors: 
- "Bank Maskan (Housing Bank), Iran" 
- "Municipality of Ardakan" 
- "Municipality of Birjand"
- "Municipality of Isfahan" 
- "Municipality of Khomein" 
- "Municipality of Masjid Soleyman" 
- "Municipality of Sari" 
- "Municipality of Varamin" 
- "Municipality of Yasooj" 
- "Tourism & Cultural Heritage Organization of Qazvin"

IAARA
IAARA (International Art and Architecture Research Association) is a non-profit and non-governmental organization established in May 2003. Presently it has 35 staff members and collaborates with a number of national and international organizations such as universities, research institutes, professional firms, mayors and city managers as well as individual scholars and practitioners.

Research, training and counsellorship in art, architecture and urban design form the main core of activities in the Association.

IAARA has been recognized as the Iranian partner and representative of “Best Practices & Local Leadership Program” by UN-HABITAT in Nairobi, Kenya.

IAARA is currently involved in organizing the first “World Olympiad for Urban Design” to take place in 2008 (WOUD 2008).

IAARA has its headquarter in Tehran, Iran and a head office in London. U.K.

The Congress Location: Isfahan
Steeped in its mythic beginnings, this legendary city has been recorded for the last 2500 years since the Achaemenian period. Later in the Sassanian epoch it was known as Jay and contained one of the significant sacred fire temples of the Zoroastrian faith. By the early Islamic period and during the 10thc. Seljik period, it was already known as Isfahan (or Ispahan), but came into its greatest prominence during the reign of Shah Abbas II in the 16th century when it was made the capital of the entire Persian Empire that stretched from Georgia to Afghanistan.

Shah Abbas sketched the outlines of a colossal plan that grew to over 600,000 population. A new city, approached by superb bridges and embellished by terraced gardens, palaces, pavilions, (caravansias and bazaars) sprang into existence.” (1) Craftsmen and artists were brought from throughout the realm to construct what rightfully came to be known as “Isfahan Nisf in Jehan’, i.e. ‘Isfahan is half the World’. Throughout the 17th century, this great monarch – the contemporary of Elizabeth of England, Henri IV of France and Akbar of India – and his successors created a paradisial city life of great prosperity, gorgeous ceremonials, mingled with holiday festivities that rendered Isfahan the most famous and romantic of the cities of the East.

Today, the testimony of this great city building history is there to observe and to gleam lessons from its abundant resource of urban design, architectural forms and material craftsmanship. With regard to urban planning and environmental design, the availability of water has greatly affected cities located in the hot, arid, alluvial fan of the Iranian plateau. Isfahan’s first lesson is related to correct settlement placement within the vast, fertile region bounded by the Zagoros Mountain range and in proximity to the Zayandah river. Subterranean man-made water channels (qanats) from these mountains supplement the river, bringing water to the key urban places of the city and then flow out to irrigate farm lands.

The water system generated paradise gardens, either in great open gardens, such as the garden of the Chehel Sotoon or in enclosed courtyards that characterize the normative house form of the city.

Spatially, the city evolved from concepts that maintained the city walls that protected and defined the city’s positive shape in space, but a dynamic planning order of positive space making was invented in the linear concept of the bazaar. This urban design paradigm linked the 10th century Masjid-I-Jami the 16th c. creations of the great Maidan-I-Shah complex and the Chahar Bagh that ultimately culminated in the beautiful bridges that still cross the Zayandah River. This harmonious multiplicity within unity of urban forms was achieved over hundred years of city growth and change.

Finally, Isfahan is a treasury of craftsmanship, color and technology manifested through brick, stone, glazed faience, cut plaster, wood, metal and mirrors.

Isfahan is one of the unique cities which has been designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage City. It’s protection, while accommodating the demands and opportunities of contemporary life and population growth are other lessons of great successes and some shortcomings to be observed.

For these highlighted reasons, Isfahan was selected as the quintessential place of gathering for the UDIC conference and exhibition. 

Congress Pivotal Themes
Relevant to the general theme of the congress (Urban Design from Theory to Implementation) there are four pivotal themes including: 
- "Historic Urban Fabrics" 
- "City Center" 
- "Leisure and Open Spaces" 
- "Informal Settlements"
These four themes provide the major fields of the congress discussions and proceedings. A thematic breakdown of each pivotal theme is presented under the relevant main topic as follows:

Historic Urban Fabrics
- "Renovation and rehabilitation of historic urban fabrics"
- "Sustainability and historic urban areas"
- "Design and construction issues in historic urban fabrics"
- "City management relevant to historic fabrics"
- "Social and infrastructural issues"
- "Projects and case studies"

City Center
- "People and behavior in city center"
- "Multi use/function buildings and complexes"
- "Diversity and synergy in city centers"
- "Environmental issues of city centers"
- "Traffic, circulation and transportation issues"
- "Projects and case studies"

Leisure and Open Spaces
- "Parks and gardens"
- "Natural environment and the cities"
- "Artificial nature"
- "New concepts of leisure and open areas and spaces"
- "Projects and case studies" 

Informal Settlements
- "Different types of informal settlements"
- "Causes and consequences of informal settlements"
- "Poverty, security and health in informal settlements"
- "Management and life quality promotion programs"
- "Strategies to avoid informal settlements"
- "Projects and case studies"

Modes and Requirements of Participation
There are three modes for participation in the congress including:

Paper presentation
Paper proposals for oral presentation require submission of abstracts. The length of abstracts should be 250 to 350 words. Full length papers should be 2500 to 3500 words. Abstracts, full length papers and oral presentations can be in Persian, English or French.

Poster presentation
Proposals for poster presentation require submission of outlines. The length of outlines should be 200 to 300 words. Up to 3 images may be included in the proposal. Outlines and final presentation should be in English. The standard requirements of final documents will be communicated afterwards.

Attendance
To participate in the congress as attendee the Registration Form should be completed and sent/faxed to the congress
secretariat.

Congress Publications
All accepted abstracts and outlines will be published in pre-congress proceedings.

All keynote speaker papers, as well as all accepted full papers and congress discussions will be published in congress proceedings.

Congress Awards
A 1500 USD cash prize will be awarded to the best paper selected in each pivotal theme of the congress (4 prizes in total).
The prizes will be provided by IAARA through the sponsorship of UDIC1. The winners will be selected and introduced by UDIC1 steering committee.

The travel and accommodation expenses* for those participants whose papers are accepted for oral presentation will be paid by IAARA through the sponsorship system of the congress. 

- Based on economy class fees of Iran Air and 5 star hotels of Isfahan Side EventsThere will be a number of side events including: 
- Exhibitions 
- Round table Discussions 
- Awards ceremony 
- Visits and tours
More details will be announced later.

Congress Calendar (New/ Final)
- 30 October 2005: Call for Papers and Invitation to the Congress
- 20 May 2006: Deadline for receipt of abstracts and outlines
- 31 May 2006: Announcement of acceptance for abstracts & Deadline for registration
- 25 July 2006: Deadline for receipt of full length papers and posters
- 3 August 2006: Announcement of acceptance for full length papers
- 04 - 07 September 2006: Congress