About Urban Initiatives in 4th Floor, 'SAMANVAY', Nr. Chandani Chowk, Piplod, Surat

Urban Initiatives is an organization based at Surat initiated by young & enthusiastic urban designer, urban planner & architects. Since its inception, the organization has initiated projects that focus on the quality of the built environment in different context.
The members of this organization have experiences of working with different kinds of organizations and on various kinds of urban projects in their individual capacities. The exposure of the members of this organization to multi-disciplinary sectors has been central to initiate this organization which can ‘make difference to the quality of urban environment’.
The members of the core group of the organization are also actively involved in architectural academics. Active participation in academics and exposure to the professional practice of architecture and planning is an additional strength of the group as the academic exposure creates possibilities of find innovative approaches and the professional experiences make them more pragmatic.

Mission Statement
‘Urban initiatives’ throbs to achieve the significant yet difficult – “all the Indian cities need to be organised, efficient and beautiful” - with its innovative approaches and indigenous solutions.
ORGANIZED in terms of its administrative structure, its finance sourcing, management and distribution, its housing demands and supply, management of its resources, the industrial growth, and urban sprawl.
EFFICIENT in terms of its street network, public transport system, water supply and waste disposal system, communication system and all its infrastructure.
BEAUTIFUL in terms of adequate recreational public spaces, green spaces, well planned and well regulated built environment, a ‘no-slum city’ and a city that is sensitive to its past.

Role
As a Collaborative: With the changing paradigms of development and in the context of globalization, networks and collaborative are crucial for the development of new ideas and approaches in any sector. Urban is one such sector which involves the expertise of multiple sectors and large number of actors. Urban Initiatives is intended to develop a network or a collaborative of academic institutions, consultancy firms, governmental agencies, local governments, NGOs etc which can go a long way in resolving issues related to urban development.
As Proactive Professionals: It can occupy an active role in the field of planning, design, research, documentation, and consultancy to enhance the efficient functioning of our cities.
This effort is initiated with an ambitious vision of accelerating the process of the urban development and management. Urban Initiatives can also collaborate with other agencies to carry out a joint program or can be a part of the program being funded by the other agencies.

Activities
The organization is envisioned to provide design services and planning strategies for all the levels of urban projects.
1. Design interventions in any urban area ranging from designing street furniture to the town ships.
2. Local area improvement with the help of community participation to strategizing implementation mechanisms of town planning schemes and development plans
3. Promotion of urban studies and research which can provide theoretical and academic understanding and solutions to urban problems and complexities. This may lead to generating dialogues and discussions regarding urban development in academic and professional sphere with the help of workshops, seminars and conferences.

Areas of Concern/ Interest
•Urban Design and Physical Planning
•Strategic planning and Urban Management
•Research, Documentation, Socio-Economic studies
•Urban Conversations
•Infrastructure and Transportation Planning
•Urban Poverty and Social Development
•Urban Project Management, Evaluation and Monitoring
•Disaster Mitigation in Cities
•Sustainable Development and cities