Since its first version in 2011, the Moscow Urban Forum has become an important international platform devoted to the development of megacities, and improvement of the quality of life of urban residents in the world, Moscow and Russia. Over the years, it has developed into a major international project that brings together the people who come up with ideas to improve the quality of urban space, and the people who implement these ideas: mayors, politicians, urbanists, and architects from all over the world.
The topic of the 2016 Forum is "Fast-Growing Megacities: Technologies for Dynamic Development." Why is it so important to discuss growth and development of megacities at this time? What are the rules that determine their existence?
Not every large city can become a megacity. A city may absorb its surrounding areas, but these areas may continue to exist in accordance with their own rules, never merging into a single system with the city. Megacities of the 21st century do not just offer more space in which to work and live. They determine the mindset of the people who live there, expand the boundaries of what's possible, and offer a variety of options for personal fulfillment. They dictate the rules of the game for all other urban settlements and set the trends in the development of modern urbanism.
