Urban Morphology in South-Eastern Mediterranean Cities: challenges and opportunities
======================================================================================
Theme. Over the past few decades, South-Eastern Mediterranean cities have become radically altered in the sense of scale, scope and complexity as a result of globalization, increased mobility at all levels, massive internal movements of labour, climate change, technological developments, economic fluctuations, unemployment and urban conflicts. Migration flows as well as internal displacements and the movement of refugees, demographic, spatial and socio-cultural changes have had profound consequences on city life and have created an increasingly diverse and continuously transformed urban population. Contemporary everyday life is, in these parts of the world, characterized by diverse manifestations of instability which continuously challenge and redefine everyday patterns of living and cities' infrastructures and urban form.

Nicosia, the last divided capital of Europe, with a prolonged history of conflict, internal refugees' displacements, migration and tourists' flows, economic fluctuations and rapid, often abrupt urban transformations serves as an ideal laboratory to explore, unravel, and question urban form development in contexts of uncertainty and contestation. It is a city of contrasts in terms of its spatial, social, cultural and economic composition. The location of Cyprus in the Eastern Mediterranean offers a unique venue at the confluence of three continents and a multitude of cultures that face unique urban challenges. In a region of intense conflict, Cyprus offers a common ground for bringing people together in a neutral venue and it has acted thus numerous times in its past. The island is currently dealing with urban issues related to the movement of refugees and other transient populations in the region and to the influx of foreign investors, seeking luxury housing in its coastal cities. While increasing populations from Europe and beyond continue to settle in the island, Cyprus is also now facing a renewed need to provide housing for local people facing challenges due to the recent economic crisis. Cities' urban development and sustainability have thus been central in the local and national agendas, providing a unique opportunity for urban morphology research and scientific knowledge to contribute towards this end.

CyNUM's 1st regional conference aims at establishing a common platform to promote and develop the subject of urban form in Cyprus and within the Mediterranean region. Through different perspectives, the CyNUM conference aims to address the role of urban form in relation to the sudden and sometimes recurring dynamics that affect everyday urban life. Learning from cities in the South-Eastern Mediterranean region can provide a significant input to the fields of urban planning, architecture and design. To this end, the conference will develop links with other organizations (universities, NGOs, research centres and planning authorities) concerned with the built environment and with other regional ISUF networks and the central body of ISUF.

We invite submissions from academics, researchers and practicing professionals. The organizing committee encourages the submission of articles that address the general theme of the conference "Urban Morphology in South-Eastern Mediterranean Cities: challenges and opportunities" as well as relevant topics of interest such as:

Urban Form and Social Uses of Space
Urban Conflicts
Historical Development Process
Methodologies and Tools for Analysis in Urban Morphology
Urban Morphology, Planning and Urban Design
Cultural Morphology
Urban Fringe Belts
Urban Morphology and Townscape Conservation
-----------
Submission:
-----------
Abstracts of paper proposals (300 words) should address at least one of the topics outlined in the call for papers. Speakers should also submit a short biography (100 words). Submissions will be accepted online through www.easyacademia.org, where participants may register and instantly submit their abstracts in a few minutes. Easy Academia provides a dynamic submission process, where more options become available according to your selections. Please submit your abstracts proposals here .
Authors will be notified of acceptance by the Conference Committees. Final acceptance will be based upon review of the full-length paper which must be received before the corresponding deadline.
-------
Format:
-------
The CyNUM conference will take place at Ledra Palace and the Chateau which are located in the buffer zone, in the northwest part of Nicosia. The venue at Ledra Palace offers space for approx. 100 people. Additional space is provided at the Chateau which is located opposite the Ledra Palace. The conference will combine the keynote speeches of both CyNUM and AESOP Public Spaces and Urban Cultures meetings, the contributions to the call for papers in parallel sessions, field visits and a workshop. The workshop will provide the opportunity for participants to discuss, exchange views, and propose ideas in relation to contemporary urban form and public space concerns. A concluding roundtable discussion will consolidate the ideas, concerns and recommendations presented during the meeting, and set the basis for further practical and theoretical explorations.
---------------------
Organising Committee
--------------------
•Nadia Charalambous, Ass. Professor, Department of Architecture, University of Cyprus
•Nevter Zafer Cömert, Ass. Professor, Department of Architecture, Eastern Mediterranean University
•Alessandro Camiz, Ass, Professor, Department of Architecture, Girne American University
•Ilaria Geddes, Researcher, Department of Architecture, University of Cyprus
•Şebnem Önal Hoşkara, Professor, Department of Architecture, Eastern Mediterranean University
•Marko Kiessel, Department of Architecture, Faculty of Fine Arts, Design and Architecture, Cyprus International University
•Constantinos Kypris, Architect/PhD Student, Department of Architecture, University of Cyprus
•Elena Konstantinidou, Ass. Professor, National Technical University of Athens
---------------------
Scientific Committee
---------------------
•Michael Barke, Northumbria University, UK
•Kai Gu, University of Auckland, New Zealand
•Nilly Harag, Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design, Israel
•Aykut Karaman, Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, Turkey
•Ayşe Sema Kubat, Istanbul Technical University, Turkey
•Peter Larkham, Birmingham City University, UK
•Teresa Marat-Mendes, Technical University of Lisbon, Portugal
•Nicola Marzot, TU Delft, Netherlands
•Kostas Moraitis, National Technical University of Athens, Greece
•Vítor Oliveira, University of Porto, Portugal
•Giuseppe Strappa, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
•Tolga Ünlü, University of Mersin, Turkey