UNESCO Chair in Urban Landscape

What UNESCO Chair in Urban Landscape does

The UNESCO Chair in Urban Landscape is an academic research entity established in 2003 and hosted by Université de Montréal's Faculty of Environmental Design under Prof. Shin Koseki. It operates under a formal UNESCO Chairs Programme mandate to develop, transmit, and valorize knowledge on urban landscapes globally. Its mission is organized around three interconnected research pillars: biodiversity, social inclusion, and digitization in cities. The organization does not generate commercial revenue; instead, it is funded through government research grants (FRQ, SSHRC, Mitacs), foundational support from UNESCO and Université de Montréal, and private donations (e.g., the Sid Lee Architecture Fund).

Its portfolio combines research projects, digital tools, and an international studio program. Core technology offerings include AI DEI Public Space — a co-developed tool with Mila using machine learning algorithms to evaluate equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in public spaces and Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) to generate images of welcoming public spaces; WeDesign+, an AI-powered citizen participation platform for visualizing community planning options; Street Review, a participatory measurement infrastructure that produces citywide heatmaps from approximately 45,000 street-view images; and the LIVS (Local Intersectional Visual Spaces) dataset containing 37,710 pairwise comparisons used to fine-tune a Stable Diffusion XL model via Direct Preference Optimization. The UNESCO Studio international program delivers intensive design studios in global cities, including Hanoi (2023, Red River), Phnom Penh (2024, Mekong River), New Orleans (2025, Mississippi River), and Cairo (upcoming 2027, Nile River), training graduate students alongside local stakeholders. Supporting projects address river governance (Rivers in Commons / Fluvialités), 5G antenna visual impact (Urban 5G), and modest design excellence (Nplex web application).

The organization's go-to-market is academic and event-driven: it disseminates outputs through international design studios, workshops, public exhibitions, peer-reviewed publications, podcasts, and social media. Revenue mechanics are project-based (research contracts, consulting) supplemented by recurring institutional and foundational grants. It serves a multi-stakeholder constituency including municipal governments (e.g., Ville de Montréal, City of New Orleans, City of Phnom Penh), academic institutions, NGOs and community organizations (e.g., Oxfam Cambodia, Coalition of Inclusive Municipalities of Canada), and international bodies (UNESCO, UN-Habitat, UNICEF), operating across Canada, Vietnam, Cambodia, the United States, Egypt, Belgium, and Switzerland.

Name

UNESCO Chair in Urban Landscape

Legal name

UNESCO Chair in Urban Landscape

Website

https://unesco-paysage.umontreal.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The UNESCO Chair in Urban Landscape is an academic research entity at Université de Montréal that conducts interdisciplinary research on biodiversity, social inclusion, and digitization in cities, serving municipalities, NGOs, and international organizations through global UNESCO Studios and AI-driven public space tools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Academic Research Services

NAICS

Landscape Architectural Services (54132), Landscape Architectural Services (541320)

akta.pro primary industry

Urban Planning & Master Planning (BPAHAKAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Landscape Architecture & Site Design (BPAHAKAC), Urban & Regional Planning (Land Use, Zoning, Master Planning) (BPAIANAD)

Keywords

• Urban landscape research
• AI inclusive cities
• Urban design studios
• Academic research chair
• Biodiversity urban planning

Headquarters

HQ city

Montréal

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Research Contracts: Research contracts with public institutions, municipalities, NGOs, and private companies where partners provide financial support to conduct research in specific fields under defined conditions with scientific uncertainty and original contribution
2. Research Services: Access to specialized data analysis, urban simulations, participatory design tools, and evaluation frameworks delivered as defined services with clear deliverables
3. Consulting: Tailored strategic advice and expert guidance on urban design, landscape planning, artificial intelligence, and inclusive governance, bridging academic knowledge with practical applications
4. Government and Foundation Funding: Core funding from foundational partners including UNESCO, Université de Montréal, and supporting organizations such as FRQ, SSHRC, Mitacs, and various government ministries

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The UNESCO Chair in Urban Landscape is an academic research entity hosted at Université de Montréal that conducts interdisciplinary research on urban environments and operates international design studios focused on inclusive, biodiverse, and digitally enhanced cities.

Product overview

The UNESCO Chair in Urban Landscape operates as a research and education initiative rather than a commercial product company. Its portfolio consists of research projects, digital tools, and international studio programs focused on biodiversity, social inclusion, and digitization in cities. Core AI products include AI DEI Public Space (machine learning tool evaluating EDI in public spaces with GAN-based image generation) and WeDesign+ (AI-powered citizen participation platform). Supporting offerings include Nplex (web application for modest design projects) and Urban 5G (5G antenna visual impact research). The international studio program encompasses UNESCO Studios in Hanoi, Phnom Penh, New Orleans, and Cairo, while the Rivers in Commons initiative addresses continental river governance globally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability10 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

30 partnerships are on record, tiered foundational, core and minor.

• UNESCOfoundationalStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundational partner providing the international framework and mandate for the UNESCO Chair. The organization operates under UNESCO's auspices to develop research, teaching, and valorization of knowledge on urban landscapes globally.
• Université de MontréalfoundationalStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost institution providing academic framework, infrastructure, and administrative support for the Chair. The Chair is embedded within the Faculty of Environmental Design and School of Urban Planning and Landscape Architecture.
• Mila (Quebec Institute of Artificial Intelligence)coreTechnology or IntegrationKey AI research partner collaborating on developing algorithms for measuring EDI in public spaces and generative AI models for inclusive urban design. Provides access to cutting-edge AI expertise and infrastructure.
• IVADO (Institute for Data Valorization)coreTechnology or IntegrationResearch partner strengthening the ethical dimension of AI tools by considering EDI valorization tools at each phase of projects.
• Coalition of Inclusive Municipalities of CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey partner in AI DEI Public Space project, providing participatory methodology co-development and municipal engagement network.
• Dark Matter LabscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture firm specialized in urban projects serving as economic and societal levers, contributing to co-creation processes and associate researcher Emile Forest.
• EnclumecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTerritorial development workspace contributing to urban planning projects and hosting interns from the Chair.
• Ville de MontréalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal partner collaborating on urban 5G mitigation, river governance, and inclusive public space projects.
• National University of SingaporecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational academic partner in UNESCO Studios (Hanoi, Phnom Penh) contributing faculty Dorothy Tang and Victoria Jane Marshall for landscape infrastructure and urban design teaching.
• Royal University of Fine Arts of CambodiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost university for UNESCO Studio Phnom Penh, providing local expertise, student participants, and exhibition venue for the Mekong River neighborhood design projects.
• Tulane UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerU.S. academic partner in UNESCO Studio New Orleans, contributing students and faculty to Mississippi River design interventions.
• Louisiana State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner university contributing students and expertise to New Orleans studio on Mississippi River quality of life and climate resilience.
• Small Center for Collaborative DesigncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal design center hosting the New Orleans Beyond exhibition showcasing design interventions along the Mississippi River.
• Oxfam CambodiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment organization providing expertise on water governance and community empowerment in the Mekong region for Phnom Penh studio.
• Hanoi University of Civil EngineeringcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVietnamese academic host for UNESCO Studio Hanoi, providing faculty leadership and student participants for Red River research-creation workshop.
• Hanoi Architecture UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner institution coordinating Vietnamese architecture students and faculty for the Phúc Tân neighborhood design research along the Red River.
• UNESCO HanoicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNESCO field office providing institutional support and alignment with Hanoi Creative City planning initiatives.
• UN-HabitatcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUN program contributing to international urban development frameworks and partner in multiple studio locations.
• UNICEFcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUN agency supporting urban projects and recognized as affiliate partner in the Chair's network.
• Université libre de BruxellescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBelgian university partner in G3 international partnership and Twin Transition research project on ecological and digital transformations.
• Université de GenèvecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss university partner in G3 international partnership contributing to global research on urban landscapes.
• EPFL (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss technical university where chairholder conducted research and maintains ongoing academic connections.
• ETH ZürichcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss technical university with research affiliations including associate researcher Bonnie-Kate Walker from landscape architecture.
• McGill UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMontreal university partner contributing students and faculty to UNESCO Studios and Fluvialities research.
• Université LavalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerQuebec university partner contributing students to UNESCO Studio New Orleans.
• Bibliotheca Hertziana – Max Planck InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch institute where chairholder conducted studies on art and architectural history.
• Canadian Commission for UNESCOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational UNESCO commission supporting Canadian involvement and providing funding for international missions.
• Vivre en villeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerQuebec organization focused on sustainable urban development, listed as core partner in the network.
• Centre d'écologie urbaineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMontreal urban ecology center contributing to sustainable city initiatives.
• Agence universitaire de la FrancophoniecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational Francophone university network supporting the Chair's activities across French-speaking institutions worldwide.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Regional players

• Vivre en ville: Québec-based non-profit advancing sustainable urban development. Already a core partner of the Chair; comparable as a regional peer working on biodiversity, urban form, and inclusive public-space policy in the same Quebec/Montreal ecosystem.
• Centre d'écologie urbaine de Montréal: Montreal-based urban ecology center focused on sustainable city initiatives. Already a core partner of the Chair; comparable as a regional peer operating in Montreal on biodiversity, sustainable development, and participatory urban practice.

Broad incumbents

• Arup: Global engineering, design, and urban consulting firm. Comparable as a broad incumbent combining urban planning, climate resilience, and digital tools for cities — overlapping with the Chair's work on river urbanization, public space, and AI-enabled design.
• UN-Habitat: United Nations program for sustainable urbanization. Comparable as a broad incumbent setting global urban-development frameworks, partnering with the Chair on multiple studios and projects, and operating at the same intersection of urban policy, inclusion, and city-level implementation.

Direct peers

• ETH Zurich D-ARCH: Swiss Federal Institute of Technology's architecture and urban design faculty. Comparable as a leading academic institution conducting studio-based urban research with global partners — overlapping in network (the Chairholder has ETH research ties) and in design-research methodology.
• Stockholm Resilience Centre: International research center on sustainability and resilience, with strong work on urban social-ecological systems and planetary boundaries. Comparable as a research entity producing studio- and observatory-style outputs that bridge science, cities, and policy.
• Dark Matter Labs: Architecture and systems-design firm working on urban projects as economic and societal levers. Already a core strategic partner of the Chair; comparable in its mission-driven, transdisciplinary approach to urban transformation and inclusive governance.
• MIT Senseable City Lab: MIT research lab applying data, AI, and sensing to urban design and city operations. Comparable as an academic research entity producing urban-AI tools and visualizations that inform policy and design — closely aligned with the Chair's AI DEI Public Space and digital twin work.
• UCL Bartlett Development Planning Unit: UCL research and teaching unit focused on urban planning, development, and inclusion in the Global South. Comparable as an academic center producing studio-style projects, participatory methodologies, and policy outputs in cities across multiple continents.
• Urban AI: French organization focused on the responsible use of AI in urban planning and city governance. Directly comparable as an emerging player explicitly bridging AI ethics, citizen participation, and urban design — overlapping with the Chair's AI & Cities, WeDesign+, and AI DEI Public Space work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/unesco.studio
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/unesco.studio
• Instagraminstagram.com/unesco.studio
• TikToktiktok.com/@unesco.studio

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about UNESCO Chair in Urban Landscape