History

1. Better Living… Adding Life to Years

In September 1995, ICCC held an international preparatory conference: “Better Living…Adding Life to Years” TransAmericas Conference in Santiago, Chile, to highlight the “Cities Summit” Habitat II, the 1996 conference of the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements. It took place September 1995 at EDIFICA (International Construction Exhibition for Latin America). This site was selected because it offered immediate awareness to over 21,000 attendees in related industries to the activities of the United Nations Center for Human Settlements (UNCHS). Speakers represented 10 countries, from Canada to Chile and Japan, and highlighted winning student design projects.

2. Caring Communities for the 21st Century: A Cross-sectoral Dialogue

In September 1999, to foster a holistic approach to urban planning, with funding by the Open Society Institute/Soros Foundations, ICCC developed a unique conference: “Caring Communities for the 21st Century: A Cross-sectoral Dialogue” in Budapest, Hungary.

Municipalities were selected and their department directors of housing, health, urban planning and social welfare were invited to develop new prototypes using the architectural charrette method. This process fosters interaction and new solutions to challenging issues. The program also included an international exhibition, featuring the winning national projects from 12 Central and Eastern European countries. The International Winners were exhibited at the United Nations February 7–18, 2000.

ICCC has participated in International Programs in Finland, United Kingdom and USA. Also, ICCC presented at the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) Conference on Aging, Housing and Urban Design, on May 23, 2000 in Oslo and NeoCon International Senior Housing Conference, on June 11, 2000 in Chicago.

*All events have been organized by ICCC in cooperation with the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements, the Programme on Ageing and the Department of Public Information.

3. Preparatory Meetings for UN Conference for Human Settlements (UNCHS) – Habitat II

• February 2000: Conference “Caring Communities for the 21st Century: Imagining the Possible,” and Exhibition of 7 Winning Projects from Central and Eastern European Competition and six American Schools of Interior Design projects during the Commission for Social Development, UN Headquarters. In addition to the above UN agencies: World Bank, World Tourism Organization; affiliated NGOs, governments and private sector included the Municipality of Budapest (Hungary), Association of International Management Services, Agency for Environment & Energy Management (France), IMSERCO (Spain), Hungarian Jewish Social Support Foundation (Hungary), First Capital Corporation, Haworth Corporation, Lynford, Ltd, and Xybernaut Corporation.
• September 1999: Conference “Caring Communities for the 21st Century: Cross-Sectoral Dialogue,” and the “Integrated Communities: A Society for All” Central and Eastern European Architectural Competition & Exhibition featured two winning projects from 12 countries, Budapest, Hungary (open to the public for two days and viewed by over 1,000). National Competitions were held during July and August. Affiliated partners: Open Society Institute/Soros Foundations, Social Innovation Foundation, JDC Hungarian Office, Hungarian Jewish Social Support Foundation.
• February 1999: Conference “Caring Communities for the 21st Century: Villages and Cities for All Generations” and International Student Design Exhibition “Integrated Communities: A Society for All” (including both Architectural and Interior Design Projects) for the International Year of Older Persons, UN Headquarters. In addition to the above UN agencies: UNDP. Affiliated NGOs, governments and private sector partners included the Municipality of Dubai, OEK – Workers’ Housing Authorities (Greece), Regional Planning Authority (Hungary); AARP, International Union of Architects, International Council on Social Welfare, Help Age International (UK), Cruizada Do Menor (Brazil); Rotary International; New Jersey Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, Lynford, Ltd; RGA Architects and Planners, The Sutton Companies, Environments for Living; European Commission, Haworth Corporation, Sekisui House (Japan), and 6 Schools of Interior Design and 10 Schools of Architecture.
• April 1998: Conference “Aging and Urbanization: Challenges and Opportunities.” Affiliated NGOs and private sector partners included the NGO Committee on Aging; NGO Committee on Human Settlements; AARP, American Planning Association, International Executive Service Corps, International Real Estate Federation (FIABCI), International Union of Local Authorities, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), New York Business Group on Health, Open Society Institute/Soros Foundations, People for Places and Spaces (Australia); Rotary International, Tulane University Payson Center for International Development and Technology, YWCA, We Stay/Nos Quedamos, Inc.; Epstein, Becher & Green; Launder Associates, Microsoft; Montgomery Network & Exhibition Consultants (UK), International Council of Shopping Centers, Partners & Shevack, Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association, and Sung/Am Communications (Korea).
• January 1996: Student Design Exhibition “Integrated Communities” at UN Headquarters. The exhibition was opened by Dr. Wally N’Dow, Secretary General, HABITAT II.
• September 1995: Conference “Trans-Americas Congress: Better Living…Adding Life to Years” and Student Design Exhibition for Habitat II, EDIFICA (International Construction Exhibition for Latin America), Santiago, Chile – a preparatory meeting for Habitat II. In addition to the above UN agencies, UNDP and the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) participated. The program keynote speaker was Mrs. Marta Larraechea de Frei, First Lady of Chile and Chair of the President’s Aging Commission; UNCHS was represented by Professor Talat Halam, Chairman of UNESCO’s Committee for Programme and External Relations. Projects from 7 Schools of Architecture from the region were presented and exhibited. Affiliated NGOs, governments and private sector partners included the Ambassadors of the United States to Chile, Canadian Embassy representatives, Minister of Japan to Chile, Mayor of Santiago; Chilean NGOs CARITAS, Pan-American Federation of Architect Associations, Hogar de Cristo; Bond Associates and The Sutton Companies (USA); Plunkett Associates (Brazil & Ireland).
• January 1995: Conference “Better Living…Adding Life to Years” and first presentation of Student Design Projects (21) at the United Nations Headquarters. In addition to the above UN agencies, the United Nations Development Programme participated. Affiliated NGOs and private sector partners included AARP, International Association of Gerontology, Institute of Public Administration, Trickle Up Program; World Federation of Mental Health, YWCA; NGO Committee on Aging, NGO Committee on Shelter and Communities; Oakland Communities, Primary Seating, Wellife, Inc., and 7 American Schools of Architecture.

4. Conferences organized by ICCC in cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO), Pan American Health Organization, Programme on Ageing, UNCHS and the Department of Public Information (DPI)

• April 5, 1998: Conference “Rehabilitation in the 21st Century” designed in celebration of WHO and the Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine 50th Anniversary.
• November 1999: International Year of Older Persons (IYOP) Conference “Active Aging: Promoting Prevention and Rehabilitation,” Kiev Institute of Gerontology (Ukraine) and the Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine (USA).

5. ICCC’s other activities

• UN Television Production: World Chronicle #710, May 1998, “World’s Graying Population.” Programme guests: Ambassador Alvarez (Dominican Republic); Ms. Celik, UNCHS/NY office; and the International Council for Caring Communities.
• Evaluating Partner: Dubai Municipality Best Practices Living Environment Awards.
• Publications – ICCC has contributed to: UNCHS publication Habitat Debate; Urban Age Magazine of the World Bank; New York State Journal of Science; Interior and Sources Magazine.
• Presentations: “Old Age in a New Age: New Mindsets for Governance” paper at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD); “Aging, Housing and Urban Development” International Conference, Oslo, Norway, May 2000; International Senior Housing Conference at NeoCon 2000 World’s Trade Fair, Chicago, June 2000 (ICCC organized and moderated the session “Design Solutions For a Society of All Ages”); “A Global Sleeping Giant: The Agequake” for the State of the World Forum, “Shaping Globalization: Convening the Community of Stakeholders,” September 4–10, 2000, NYC (ICCC organized and moderated the event).
• ICCC endeavours have been cited in: The International Year of Older Persons, 1999: Activities and Legacies – Report of the Secretary General, United Nations (A/54/268), II Activities of 1999: selected worldwide examples, C. Multi-generational relationships, item #33, p.6; The International Year of Older Persons, 1998: Preparations for the International Year of Older Persons – Report of the Secretary General, United Nations (A/53/294), III Steps towards a society for all ages, A. Investing in the phases of life, item #79, p.9; Interior Sources Magazine, March 1999, “Towards a Society for All,” pp. 44–59, and the January–February 2000 issue; Channel One, New York City TV Station, “Senior Design Exhibition,” February 12, 1999.