“Are We Building Cities for Cars or Communities?” Riccardo Marini Questions Uzbekistan’s Urban Planning Approach

Emphasising people-oriented planning

The key point of the discussion panel was the vehicle-oriented nature of Tashkent’s urban landscape. Riccardo Marini, founder and partner at Urban Living and RIBA member, emphasised the necessity of moving to people-oriented planning. Marini’s ideas highlighted the consequences of prioritising vehicles over pedestrians in urban environments, which, as he sees it, is one of Central Asia’s fundamental urban planning problems.

He pointed out that cities like Tashkent and Almaty have planned their infrastructure to prioritise cars over people, with underground pedestrian crossings as a clear example of this approach. “Why should people go underground while vehicles stay on the surface? This idea indicates that the city was created not for us but for cars,” Marini said. His remarks reflected broader concerns about how to make urban areas more accessible and people-oriented.

Promoting sustainable urban mobility

Marini emphasised the importance of prioritising pedestrian comfort and environmental considerations in urban planning rather than solely focusing on facilitating vehicle movement. “When we design cities for pedestrians, it encourages people to switch from the car to the bike or just walk. As a result, we reduce the environmental burden,” he explained.

This shift in urban development philosophy could solve some of Tashkent’s most important problems, such as pollution and traffic congestion. The city is often one of the most disadvantaged in air quality, with alarming levels of particulate matter (PM2.5) that significantly exceed the standards of the World Health Organization.

Addressing air quality and traffic congestion

The rapid urbanisation of Tashkent and the increasing number of car owners (as of January 2022, 4.14 million vehicles were registered in the country) have worsened the urban planning problems. From 2001 to 2021, the number of vehicles increased by 250%, leading to cars predominance in the urban landscape. Despite the ongoing infrastructure projects, more pedestrian-friendly places still need to be created in many urban areas of Tashkent and other cities, such as Samarkand and Bukhara.

“Pedestrian crossings designed to make our lives easier actually show how much vehicles deprive us of amenities,” Marini noted, stressing the need for urban design that facilitates walking and cycling.

Rethinking urban design for health and sustainability

In his speech, Marini called for a rethinking of urban design principles to prioritise non-motorised modes of transport. He cited research that linked time spent in traffic jams to an increased risk of health problems such as obesity, heart disease and stress and pointed to evidence that cycling and walking positively affect public well-being. His remarks related to holding a “car-free day” in Tashkent, an initiative to reduce the environmental impact of vehicles by promoting cycling and public transport. The monthly car-free days, which do not apply to public transport and emergency vehicles, are part of a broader effort to change the population’s habits in favour of more environmentally friendly transport options.

The discussions at ARCHICA 2024 went beyond car-free days and focused on the causes of Tashkent’s urban and environmental problems. According to Marini, the solutions lie in integrated urban planning strategies rather than individual measures. “Algorithms cannot replace the human approach – everything must be thought out taking into account people’s convenience and concern for the environment,” he stressed. His call for a more holistic approach to urban design underlined the importance of integrating green spaces, improving public transport and creating safe pedestrian networks.

The critical air pollution in the capital underlines the importance of sustainable development in Tashkent. On September 24, the city recorded a PM2.5 value of 79 micrograms / m3, which is 15 times higher than the WHO recommendation. Such conditions have prompted Uzbekistan to take measures within the framework of the strategic roadmap “Uzbekistan-2030”, which includes plans to phase out vehicles that do not comply with Euro-5 standards and restrict the entry of heavy trucks into the city.

Addressing people-oriented development

This year, ARCHICA adopted an expanded format, which began on October 10 in Kazakhstan’s Almaty, where discussions covered a wide range of topics, including urban development standards, the impact of educational architecture on human capital and new technologies in building design. On October 14, the congress in Tashkent played a pivotal role in advancing professional and business relations between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.

The event’s main line highlights the urgent need for Central Asian cities to adapt their urban planning methods. Marini noted, “Many people believe that cities are created only for the sake of money and the economy. However, with this approach, we are faced with a shortage of jobs and serious environmental problems.” His words emphasised the need for people-oriented development to ensure economic growth, environmental sustainability, and quality of life.