From 29 June to 3 July 2008, the city of Turin, Italy, will host the 23rd congress of the International Union of Architects.

Focused on the theme: Transmitting Architecture, the congress will analyse all aspects of a profession that must, on a daily basis, concern itself with the quality of living conditions, the city, landscape, and environment through a dialogue with all stakeholders.

• For more information on the congress theme:
http://www.uia2008torino.org/U8T/Engine/RAServePG.php/P/25181U8T0404

The programme offers a large range of conferences animated by architects and international experts who will engage a multidisciplinary debate. Speakers will include: Mario Bellini, Gary Chang, Odile Decq, Peter Eisenman, Massimiliano Fuksas, Thomas Herzog, Tagit Klimor, David Knafo, Kengo Kuma, Michele de Lucchi, Dominique Perrault, Renzo Piano, Hani Rashid, Joseph Rykwert, Alvaro Siza, Paolo Soleri, Muhammad Yunus. The UIA Member Sections and working bodies will also organise debates and exhibitions.

• For more information on the conferences:
http://www.uia2008torino.org/U8T/Engine/RAServePG.php/P/27681U8T0404

Registration fees are set at 100 Euro for participants, and 50 Euro for students and accompanying persons.

• Register:
http://www.uia2008torino.org/U8T/Engine/RAServePG.php/P/26761U8T1009

URBAN PLANS FOR THE YUJIAPU DISTRICT IN THE NEW CHINESE CITY OF TIANJIN BINHAI

Eight architectural teams were selected, as the result of an international call for candidatures, to participate in an international ideas competition to create the plans for the Yujiapu district of Tianjin. The brief includes the masterplan of an area covering 3.44 km2 and the urban plans for a 500 000m2 financial and commercial centre. The international jury met on 25 March 2008, It was composed of: Simon Allford,
architect, United Kingdom, representing the UIA; Stig L. Andersson, architect, Denmark; Bruno Fortier, architect, urban planner, France; Michael Sorkin, architect, USA; Deci Zou, urban planner, PR of China; Kai Cui, architect, PR of China; Zhengshan Wang, representing the local authorities of Tanggu, PR of China.

Three teams were chosen for prizes by the jury:
1. HHDesign: Huang Vanliang, Zhou Kai (PR of China)
2. i3 Consultores S.A.: Eduardo Leira, Raimundo Argüeso, Susana Jelen (Spain)
3. Henning Larsen Architects (Denmark)

http://www.uia-architectes.org/texte/france/Tianjin/1-resultats.htm

AIA CONVENTION, WE THE PEOPLE …

On 15 to 17 May 2008, Boston will host the American Institute of Architects’ annual convention. The theme We the People was chosen to insist on the architect’s role in society and his/her vital contribution to the health, security, and well-being of citizens. The convention also hopes to show how the architect’s positions on these issues are inseparable from the urgent questions facing our era. Socially-committed speakers will share their views and experiences: S. E. Andrew Young, US Ambassador to the United Nations, Millard Fuller, founder of Habitat for Humanity International, Thomas Vonier, founding member of the International Centre for Urban Security in Barcelona.

http://www.aiaconvention.com/

9TH ARCHITECTURE BIENNIAL: CHALLENGES AND CONFRONTATIONS

On 21 to 24 May 2008 in San José, the Association of Architects of Costa Rica is organising its architecture biennial on the theme: Architecture of the 21st Century: challenges and confrontations. Participation in the biennial is open to all nationalities, and architects as well as students from around the world are invited to submit their work.

http://www.coarqcr.com/

NZIA CONFERENCE: STAND AND DELIVER, CONCEPT AND DETAIL

On 22 and 23 May 2008, the New Zealand Institute of Architects will organise its annual conference in Auckland. The conference will explore current and future directions in architecture, encompassing both new technologies and traditional techniques for design and delivery of projects. Speakers include Gregg Pasquarelli, Brett Steel, Chris Bosse, and Peggy Deamer.

conference@fmp.co.nz

CAIRO: RENDEZ-VOUS OF AFRICAN ARCHITECTS

On 23 May 2008, the Society of Egyptian Architects - SEA, will celebrate the 90th anniversary of its creation in Cairo. On this occasion, the African Union of Architects will hold its annual convention on the theme: Architecture and African Roots, along with its general assembly on 23 to 27 May 2008.

Contact : uiaegypt@mail.com

IN FREDERICTON, ANTICIPATE, ACT

From 25 to 28 June 2008, the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada and the Association of Architects of New-Brunswick will organise the annual RAIC conference and festival of architecture in Fredericton on the theme: Architectes, steering the current. Dan S. Hangranu will be presented with the RAIC Gold Medal on this occasion.

http://www.raic.org/

SHENZHEN CONFERENCE

On 15 to 16 May 2008, Shenzhen, PR of China, will host an international conference on renewable sources of energy in urban architecture. Four sub-themes will be studied: renewable energy use in the Beijing 2008 Olympic stadium; renewable energy use in urban business centres; energy efficient technology for green building; engineering practices for the integration of renewable energy in architecture. Nikos Fintikakis, director of the UIA ARES work programme, and Ye Qing, programme member, are the keynote speakers for this event.

http://www.uia-ares.tee.gr/

Contact : cirec2008@163.com

INTERMEDIATE CITIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING

From 29 to 31 May 2008, the Hellenic Section of the UIA will organise an international symposium in the city of Volos, Greece, on the theme Intermediate Cities and environmental planning. This event is a collaborative effort between two UIA work programmes: ARES (Architecture and Renewable Energy Sources) and CIMES (Intermediate Cities and World Urbanisation) with support from the Technical Chamber of
Greece and the Volos and Larissa chapters, the Technical University of Athens, and the municipality of Volos.

Contact : Lisa Siola, President, UIA Hellenic Section
esiol@tee.gr
intrel@central.tee.gr

28TH SEMINAR IN FLORENCE: CULTURE FOR HEALTHCARE ARCHITECTURE

On 22 to 26 June 2008, this programme will organise its annual, international seminar in Florence around the theme Culture for the future of healthcare architecture. The idea of culture will be associated with innovation, humanisation, and sustainability. A session for children dedicated to the design of healthcare structures will be set up in collaboration with the Fondazione Meyer.

http://www.uia-public-health-group.org/
http://web.taed.unifi.it/tesis/28phw/index.html

BIODIVERSITY AND DESIGN

From 21 to 24 May 2008, Germany will host an international conference on urban biodiversity and design to address: From Rio to Erfurt via Curitiba - facing this century’s main challenges for life on earth. The programme will examine biodiversity, urbanindustrial areas and their evaluation, the cultural and social aspects of urban biodiversity, biodiversity and climate change, design and the future of biodiversity.

http://www.urbio2008.com/

EUROPEAN FORUM FOR ARCHITECTURAL POLICIES

On 15 to 17 June 2008, the Slovenian capital will host the European Forum for Architectural Policies around the theme Urban Regeneration, adapting to climate changes. A series of exhibitions around the city are included in the programme: Art Nouveau in Slovenia, a Joze Plecnik retrospective, contemporary architecture in Slovenia, works by students of architecture and drawing by school children on “the most beautiful
houses in my home town”.

FEPA
http://www.efap-fepa.eu/

WORLD HABITAT AWARDS: CALL FOR CANDIDATURES

Until 1st June 2008, the architects of the world are invited to submit an application to participate in the 23rd edition of the World Habitat Awards. Organised by the Building and Social Housing Foundation - (BSHF) these two annual awards of 10 000 £ each, one for the southern and one for the northern hemisphere, recognise realisations that provide practical, innovative, and sustainable solutions to current needs and problems in the realm of social housing. The awards are announced in conjunction with the celebration of World Habitat Day.

http://www.worldhabitatawards.org/