International Furniture and Design Exhibition in Singapore

The Baltic Architecture Center (Latvia) together with the Architect Information Agency (Russia) take part in the International Furniture and Design Exhibition IFFS 2019 in Singapore. Traditionally held in conjunction with the ASEAN Furniture Show and NOOK Asia this year IFFS is held from March 9 to 12. It presents creative solutions in the field of design and lifestyle, as well as a wide range of furniture, decorative accessories, interiors and accessories from leading manufacturers of ASEAN countries. With almost four decades of experience since its inaugural event in 1981, IFFS remains the most distinctive channel for regional and international companies to penetrate the global market.

According to Ernie Koh, Chairman of IFFS Pte Ltd, the choice of a cosmopolitan cityscape of Singapore, which has the status of a UNESCO Creative Design City and a reputation as a trendsetter for urban lifestyles, is far from coincidental. “It is here, at the crossroads of world trade between China and North America, that producers and other professionals have the opportunity to look back at traditions and look into the future in a wide range from visionary scenarios to concrete solutions.”

In turn, the head of the Baltic Architecture Center Aivija Barda considers participation in a global exhibition of design ideas with an Asian accent is an excellent opportunity to understand the trends of tomorrow, as well as to present the achievements of masters from the Baltic countries in this region not well known to them. “Our participation in the IFFS has been made possible through cooperation with the Executive Director of the OGS Agency for Communication and Exhibition Design Marilena Puppi. Having visited Latvia and got acquainted with our proposals she highly appreciated their level and expressed interest in cooperation both in our country and abroad. The current priorities for the Baltic Architecture Center are the development of environmental and social projects in Riga, Jurmala and Amatciems, we are preparing several serious international events in Riga and Moscow, and are preparing for a visit to the People's Republic of China. The global design show in Singapore continues and expands our capabilities and also contributes to the recognition of Latvia far beyond its borders,”said Aivija Barda.

On March 14-15, 2019 the International Conference Architecture for Longevity will take place in Riga and Amatciems. It is organized by the Baltic Architecture Center together with the German branch of the International Academy of Architecture (IAA), in cooperation with the Perspektiva Regional Public Organization of Persons with Disabilities (Russia), with the support of the Riga City Council,The Ecological Territory Amatciems and the LNK Group holding. Architects, investors and experts from Latvia, Denmark, Great Britain and Germany, as well as Kazakhstan, Russia and Ukraine will take part in the events. The conference will include a professional conversation on principal challenges in the field of social architecture, presentations of specific projects (ecological territory Amatciems, a pilot architectural project Stirnurags in Jurmala and other proposals for the Great Riga region), and opportunities for implementing similar projects outside Latvia, and also the role of Latvia in the transfer of EU experience to colleagues in Kazakhstan, Russia and Ukraine.

The discussion on social and inclusive architecture and other relevant topics will continue in Moscow and Xi'an, the capital of the Chinese province of Shaanxi. In Moscow, on April 23-24, the International Congress Architecture 2019 will be held at the International Trade Center (Hammer Center), in the organization of which the Baltic Architecture Center participates. Within the session New way of life on the example of the ecological territory of Amatciems (Latvia) investment programs in the field of territory development will be presented, for example, private ecological territories in Russia and Kazakhstan, as well as in Latvia and other EU countries. Discussions and business negotiations will continue within the framework of Architecture for Longevity and Modul for All programs, in the presentation of which representatives of Aga Khan Award in Architecture will be personally involved. In the middle of May, within the framework of the BAC program Creative Women on the Silk Road: Riga-Moscow-X’ian-Orleans 2019, the BAC representatives will visit the People’s Republic of China. The program of the visit includes meetings with women's organizations, representatives of the Shaanxi Provincial Administration, acquaintance with the latest trends in Chinese architecture and design, in particular in the field of inclusive and social architecture, as well as business negotiations on opportunities for Baltic architects and designers in the Chinese market, especially inclusive modular homes on land and on water.