I participated in a workshop at the Kuwait Municipality regarding the relationship between architects and urban planners as well as their roles in the urban planning process. The subject matter is interesting and displays a variety of dimensions. Healthy relationships between architects and planners can enhance urban planning in general and more efficiently achieve development goals and visions.

Urban Planning plays a crucial role in the success of cities, as it:

– Helps cities to grow

– Improves quality of life

– Predicts disasters

– Positively impacts the economy

– Provides a safe and healthy lifestyle for everyone

– Develops nations

Both architects and urban planners aim to control master plans. However, these governing plans are also influenced by many other actors, and their powers and influences vary according to changing circumstances. Politicians, and most importantly, market forces strongly influence the creation and implementation of plans. Each party attempts to guide the plans to serve their goals and achieve their immediate interests.

Official Urban Planners work to:

– Manage the built environment to avert crisis in the development process

– Ensure social cohesion by creating land-use patterns and an urban form that promotes legitimate current social and property relations

– Protect the value of investment and properties and ensure a balanced market

On the other hand, Architects act on behalf of their clients to:

– Define needs

– Present options

– Solve problems creatively

– Manage and control construction cos

– Manage construction projects

It is crucial to manage the relationship between architects and planners wisely, as both are very influential in the making of the urban built environment. To do so, we must enhance the quality of communication between the two through the following:

– Employ high-quality communication tools, that are reliable, modern, clear, and organized

– Exchanged messages must be credible, accurate, and highly ethical

– The relationship must be built upon mutual respect, trust, and a sincere effort to reach a mutual understanding.

Once these are achieved, the entire community can reap the benefits. Plans will be implemented positively, and that will be reflected in the overall quality of urban planning and achievement of the comprehensive objectives and visions.