DCU provides policy makers, investors, and end-users with innovative strategies for urban development. We collaborate with multilateral agencies, local authorities, community councils, academic institutions, property developers, planners and architects. These clients involve DCU at a project’s early stage, expecting outcomes such as a territorial vision, advice on programme issues, facilitation of cross-sectoral consensus and production of urban design and master plan schemes.

We provide our clients with personalised services and tailored solutions by creating project-specific teams. Each project benefits from our access to world renowned experts and knowledge networks. DCU maintains a multidisciplinary pool of experts which are leveraged as project needs dictate.

DCU Founders


Pablo Vaggione   is an urbanist with extensive experience in comprehensive urban development plans which include the valorization of historic assets. He has completed over fifty project inputs in Latin America, North America, Western Europe and East Asia. He is a registered architect with skills in strategic urban planning and management, vision formulation, historic area regeneration and territorial identity. He obtained degrees from Harvard University and United Nations University.

Zamir Islamshah   is an economist specialising in planning for socio-economic development and was a staff member of the World Bank for five years. He participated in an assessment of development strategies in 35 countries, encompassing all major sectors including urban development. He was a member of the Bank thematic groups on Urban Economics, City Development Strategies, and Municipal Finance. He obtained degrees from McGill University and George Washington University.