BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 21. For several days,
Baku has become not only a global platform for discussing the
future of cities – the World Urban Forum (WUF13) – but also a vast
space for family recreation, children’s discoveries, and
interactive education. Across the venue, children can be seen
enthusiastically exploring models of “smart cities,” trying out VR
technologies, drawing eco-friendly projects, and playing in
specially designed urban spaces, Trendhttp://trend.az reports.
At the venue in Baku, special attention is given to children and
families—the forum aims to demonstrate what a comfortable and
inclusive city should look like for all ages.
For children and teenagers, WUF13 has created the following:
interactive zones and an Urban Playground with play and educational
activities; VR spaces and multimedia installations in the
pavilions; workshops and cultural programs; movie zones and short
films at the Urban Cinema; open public spaces for relaxation and
walks on WUF13 Boulevard. The organizers have also paid attention
to issues of inclusivity: the forum grounds feature ramps,
elevators, tactile guides, and special quiet rooms.
"We thought the kids would get bored quickly, since the forum
is, after all, about urban planning and architecture. But it turned
out to be the opposite – there’s an interesting program here, and a
children’s playground is open. For them, it’s like a city from a
sci-fi movie. And most importantly, everything here is organized in
a way that’s safe and convenient for families,” Sevinj Zeynalova, a
forum visitor said.
Many parents note that WUF13 has become a rare example of an
international forum where children truly feel like full-fledged
participants in the events, rather than simply accompanying
adults.
“I liked that there’s a balance here between entertainment and
learning. Children play, but at the same time they learn something
new about cities, the environment, and technology. There are
comfortable rest areas, clear signage, and volunteers are always
there to help. This is very important for families,” Leyla
Ismayilova noted.
Today, WUF13 showcases not only what the cities of the future
will look like, but also what modern public spaces should be, open,
safe, and family-friendly. That is precisely why many forum guests
describe Baku’s Urban Expo not simply as an exhibition, but as a
true miniature city of the future.
WUF13 is taking place in Baku from May 17 through 22 as part of
a collaboration between the United Nations Human Settlements
Program (UN-Habitat) and the Azerbaijan government. WUF13 features
121 pavilions, including 41 national pavilions, with over 40,000
participants registered from 182 countries. The forum is dedicated
to the theme “Housing the world: Safe and resilient cities and
communities,” and addresses such important issues as the global
housing crisis, sustainable urbanization, urban resilience, the
impact of climate change on cities, and modern urban
governance.
