Our holistic take on cities supports SDGs throught three approaches

Biodiversity

The lack of knowledge over biodiversity in cities contributes to the collapse of Life of Earth. Although urban environments are often seen as a threat to nature, they should also help save it. We believe compact cities reduce the need to suburbanize land, while smart design can generate rich ecosystems for flora and fauna.

Social Inclusion

Despite their great social diversity, cities still struggle to answer citizens' aspirations equally. Injustice remains embedded in public spaces and services, to the disadvantage of marginalised and dominated groups. Our work challenges the status quo by analysing the factors of exclusion and designing sustainable solutions.

Digitization

Cities play a central role in the creation of disruptive digital technologies such as artifical intelligence. As main financial and knowledge hubs, urban environments provide means and resources for their development and deployment. We look at how urban governance can create a better and safer technology for all.

Overview

Years
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UNESCO
Studios

Research
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900

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How can we help you?

We are always open for exciting collaborations and partnerships that align with our mission.

We strongly believe that urban landscapes are better made together, and that interdisciplinary and intersectoral collaboration leads to innovative solutions for cities’ most pressing challenges.

As per our mission, we develop, transmit and valorize knowledge to the benefit of humanity and the natural environment. We are bound to do so by collaborating with researchers, practitioners, policy-makers and citizens across forms of knowledge.

We address both local and global issues, and wish to do so in many ways:

1. Research

We develop fundamental and applied research in the fields of architecture, urban planning, landscape architecture, design, geography, political science and computer science.

To collaborate over research projects, big or small, don’t hesitate to reach out and tell us about your work.

2. Teaching

We teach courses in architecture, landscape architecture, urban planning, and urban design & theory. This includes seminars, studios and workshops at the undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate levels.

Get in touch with our team to launch collaborative courses, joint programs or exchange agreements.

3. Valorization

We advocate for greater sustainability and social inclusion in cities. To do so, we rely on various scientific, institutional and professional networks and organizations.

Let’s join forces and help out the world become a better place.

We are happy to provide science-led responses and solutions that meet your urban aspirations.

We live in troublesome times, and many organisations, big and small, face challenges like never before. Climate change, ecosystemic collapse, political feud, social inequalities and disruptive technologies require innovative solutions.

We provide assistance in various formats in accordance with the service and contract policies of the University of Montréal.

Research contracts

We carry out research projects in collaboration with public institutions, municipalities, NGOs, and private companies. These contracts allow partners to access our scientific expertise, cutting-edge methodologies, and international networks to address complex urban challenges.

A research contract is an agreement between partners in which one or more parties provide financial support to researchers of the UNESCO Chair in Urban Landscape (from one or several institutions) to conduct research in a specific field under defined conditions. The outcomes of the project cannot be predicted with certainty, as there is a level of scientific uncertainty and significant scope for original scientific or technical contribution.

Research services

We offer access to specialized data analysis, urban simulations, participatory design tools, and evaluation frameworks. Our team can support you in producing evidence-based insights that strengthen decision-making and long-term planning.

A service contract is an agreement for the provision of specific deliverables—such as analysis results, tests, or measurements—based on existing expertise. The contract must clearly define the nature of the services and set out the terms and conditions governing the relationship between the parties.

Consulting

We provide tailored strategic advice and expert guidance on urban design, landscape planning, artificial intelligence, and inclusive governance. Our consulting services bridge academic knowledge with practical applications, helping organizations navigate change and innovation responsibly.

Communication

We help disseminate knowledge and results to diverse audiences through publications, exhibitions, workshops, training, and public events. By combining academic rigor with accessible formats, we ensure that research outcomes reach communities, policymakers, and professionals alike.

We welcome graduate, doctoral and postdoctoral researchers who are looking for supervision in a global and dynamic context

We offer supervision across various research-oriented programs at the University of Montréal Faculty of Environmental Design and its three constituting departments: the School of Architecture, the School of Design and the School of Urban Planning and Landscape Architecture.

We provide various courses in urban design and theory open to local and international students

Since 2003, the mission of the UNESCO Chair has been to build bridges between the University of Montréal, UNESCO, their partner organizations, and international stakeholders.

By providing training in a global context, the UNESCO Chair fosters new forms of exchange and collaboration through education and capacity-building.

1. MSc in Urban Design

The Master of Science in Urban Design offers advanced training in the theory and practice of urban design. It emphasizes sustainable, inclusive, and climate-resilient approaches to transforming cities and regions. Students engage in design studios, seminars, and fieldwork, often linked to the Chair’s international research and partnerships.

2. Graduate course Datathink

Datathink is a graduate-level seminar that critically examines the role of data and artificial intelligence in shaping cities. Students learn to analyze digital technologies from a social, political, and ethical perspective while experimenting with data-driven methods for urban design and governance. The course combines lectures, discussions, and applied exercises.

3. UNESCO Studio

The UNESCO Studio is an intensive international workshop where students collaborate with peers, local communities, and partner institutions to address real-world urban challenges. Past studios have taken place in cities such as Phnom Penh, Hanoi, New Orleans, and Montreal. Each edition blends research, design, and community engagement, culminating in public exhibitions or publications that showcase the outcomes.

We welcome research and design interns

As part of our mission, we have been hosting international and local research and design interns across all fields of planning, design, social science and engineering. Here, you find some information about why do an internship at the UNESCO Chair in Urban Landscape, how to become an intern and what your internship will be like.

Why choose the UNESCO Chair for your research or design internship

Interns at the Chair join an internationally recognized research environment that bridges academia, practice, and policy. You will work alongside experts on pressing issues such as sustainable urbanism, biodiversity, social inclusion, and artificial intelligence for cities. Our projects are multidisciplinary and often involve collaborations with municipalities, NGOs, design firms, and international organizations, offering a unique opportunity to contribute to real-world impact.

How to become an intern

Prospective interns should contact the Chairholder with a CV, a short statement of interest, and, if relevant, a portfolio of work. Candidates may also apply through their university’s internship program or via agreements established with our international partners. All internships must comply with the University of Montréal’s policies and require formal approval. Positions are limited and competitive, and applicants are encouraged to apply well in advance.

What will the internship be like

Internships typically range from 8 to 16 weeks, depending on academic requirements and project needs. Interns are integrated into ongoing research and design projects, where they may contribute to data collection and analysis, design development, fieldwork, public engagement activities, and knowledge dissemination. Supervision is provided by faculty and researchers of the Chair, ensuring a balance of guidance and autonomy. Interns are encouraged to develop their own initiative within the scope of the project, gain exposure to interdisciplinary teamwork, and present their contributions at internal seminars or public events.

Support our team by supporting its mission

By providing support to our research and teaching, you help creating better urban environments around the world.

We propose four types of funds you can support: Endowment, Thematic, Project and Nominal.

Our funds are administered according to the policies and regulations of the University of Montréal, and abide by the Laws of Québec and Canada.

To discuss your support, please contact the Chairholder directly.

UNESCO Chair in Urban Landscape Endowment Fund

You want to make a historical contribution to research? Support our Endowment Fund to help our mission in perpertuity.

Thematic Funds

You want to provide significant support to one of our research axes? Contribute to one of our Thematic Funds to help tackle a contemporary challenge that is important to you.

UNESCO Chair’s Biodiverse & Resilient Cities Thematic Fund

Earth is facing a major collapse in biodiversity. To this end, planners and designers need to rethink how they plan and develop cities around ecological imperatives. By supporting our Biodiverse & Resilient Cities Thematic Fund, you encourage the development and the transmission of scientific and technical knowledge to sageguard biodiversity across cities around the world.

UNESCO Chair’s Socially Inclusive Cities Thematic Fund

UNESCO and the University of Montreal have both made social inclusion one of their main goals for the next decade. Safeguarding and promoting social inclusion in cities protects those most vulnerables, minority groups and culturally dominated and socially marginalized individuals. By supporting our Socially Inclusive Cities Thematic Funds, you help promote this core human right value across cities of the world.

UNESCO Chair Digitally Responsibile Cities Thematic Fund

Digital technology have become a disruptive reality in cities, both in the Global North and the Global South.

Project Funds

By contributing to our project funds, you support specific projects of the UNESCO Chair. You can choose to contribute to exising funds, or create a new one closer to your aspirations.

UNESCO Chair’s Fluvialities Project Fund

Fluvialities aims at cultural and natural landscapes of continental rivers. To do so, the UNESCO Chair in Urban Landscape has put together an ambitous scientific, cultural and pedagogical project international and local stakeholders. Fluvialities provides a research-action and creation research solutions for continental rivers such as the Saint-Lawrence River, the Red River, the Mekong River, the Mississippi River and the Nile River.

UNESCO Chair’s AI & Cities Project Fund

Artificial intelligence poses many risks for urban populations and environments. We address those risks with research-based governance strategies and and the development of inclusive and local AI solutions. Our AI & Cities Project Fund helps cities adopt safe and responsible AI technology for the benefice of the population.

Nominal Funds

A nominal fund shows your commitment to support impactful research and teaching. By creating a fund to your name, or the name of your organization, you can enlarge or specify ourm mission to help us address urban challenges you care about the most.

Sid Lee Architecture Fund to the UNESCO Chair in Urban Landscsape

The Sid Lee Architecture Fund was created in 2018 to increase the activities of the UNESCO Chair in Urban Landscape in urban design, creation research and cutting edge topics such as digitization. Thanks to the Sid Lee Architecture Fund, the UNESCO Chair was able to extend some of its core projects such as the UNESCO Studio, and to undertake several new research ventures in the fields of urban AI and digitization.

UNESCO Chair collaborators

We believe urban landscapes are best made together.