The COVID-19 crisis has had an unprecedented impact on socialization dynamics and quality of life in cities all around the world. In Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), weak social protection structures, fragmented health systems, and deep inequalities have exacerbated the crisis, leading to the worst recession the region has experienced in the last hundred years. The … [Read more...] about Mayors Forum 2021: 4 Key Takeaways on Managing Cities in Times of Crisis
Andreina Seijas
Andreina Seijas is a Venezuelan consultant who joined the IDB in November 2013 to work with the Emerging and Sustainable Cities Initiative (ESCI). Since then, she has collaborated with the Housing and Urban Development Division in different capacities such as supporting the Bank's operations in Chile, building partnerships with local governments and universities, and developing the knowledge strategy for the IDB's Cities Network. She recently completed her doctoral studies at the Harvard Graduate School of Design, where she specialized in night-time governance and planning. Before joining the IDB, Andreina worked as Policy Associate at the Council of the Americas in New York City and as Information Manager for the municipality of Chacao in Caracas, Venezuela. Andreina has a Communications degree from Universidad Católica Andres Bello, an MSc in Social Policy and Development from the London School of Economics, a Master in Public Administration and Non-Profit management from New York University, and a Doctor of Design (DDes) degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Design. Follow her un Twitter @AndreinaSeijas
Designing for darkness: three challenges to designing nocturnal landscapes
Español | English Last weekend I attended a fascinating conference organized by the Graduate School of Design and the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Harvard University, titled “After Dark: Nocturnal Landscapes and Public Spaces in the Arabian Peninsula.” This was a unique opportunity to meet architects, designers, artists, and academics who share my passion for the night … [Read more...] about Designing for darkness: three challenges to designing nocturnal landscapes
Can we manage the urban night? A conversation with Amsterdam’s Night Mayor
English | Español As mentioned in previous posts in this blog, for several years I have been doing research on the relevance of the night from a policy perspective for Latin America and the Caribbean. I recently traveled to Amsterdam, the capital of The Netherlands and a world reference when it comes to night-time policies and innovation. One of such innovations is … [Read more...] about Can we manage the urban night? A conversation with Amsterdam’s Night Mayor
Nassau: A brand with tons of potential
Many cities across Latin America and the Caribbean share a common issue: the existence of central areas or downtowns that are run down or underutilized. In most cases city centers are bustling with activity during the day, but become ghost towns during the night. This is the case of Nassau, a city where its downtown area—rich with historic landmarks and local treasures—becomes … [Read more...] about Nassau: A brand with tons of potential
Skytran: The Next Big Thing in Automated Transportation
Most of the world now lives in mega-cities, where commuters typically spend two to three (and sometimes four) nerve racking, stress inducing, and non-productive hours each day traveling back and forth to work. Meet SkyTran, an elevated, high-speed, low-cost, silent and “green”, personal rapid transportation system that can help solve this issue: Elevated: SkyTran flies … [Read more...] about Skytran: The Next Big Thing in Automated Transportation