Media Release
July 2014 SPONSORS/ UIA2014
UIA2014 DURBAN PROMISES A WORLD CONGRESS LIKE NO OTHER
With just three weeks to go before Durban welcomes ‘The World Cup of Architects’, UIA2014 Durban, to the City, arrangements are moving into top gear for the architectural event of the decade.
“Together with the support of one of South Africa’s most eminent citizens and Congress Patron, Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, we have had backing from both the private and public sectors,” says Hassan Asmal, President of the Organisation Committee for UIA2014 Durban.
“This gathering comes at a particularly poignant time in South Africa’s development. We are very conscious of the fact that the neighbourhoods in which we live, and the relative qualities of life we enjoy, remain totally skewed by our divided history.This is not solely a South African challenge; a massive gap in living standards is a global affliction. We need cities, services, housing and human settlements that are more habitable, more integrated, more functional and more beautiful.So that all God’s people – rich and poor, black, green, pink and white – feel valued and can live dignified lives,” says Archbishop Tutu.
“This is our once in a lifetime chance to show our mettle as a profession on an international stage,” adds Karen Eicker, Commissary General for the event. “Our excellent scientific programme headlined by a world-class speaker line-up, including two Pritzker Prizewinners (the equivalent of a Nobel prize in Architecture), promises delegates an event unlike any UIA World Congress ever held before. It’s a unique opportunity to showcase our country and Durban as the host city, to a global audience; and for our professionals to network with their international counterparts on South African soil.”
“We are finally about to see the fruits of the many hours of work and commitment from so many people around the country,” Asmal says. “We are grateful for the commercial sponsorship we’ve received from South African, African and global brands, including PPC Cement, Itatile, Hewlett Packard,
Intel and Barrisol and the excellent support we’ve received from the South African Council for the Architectural Profession (SACAP), eThekwini Municipality, the KZN Institute of Architects and the Department of Public Works. …/more
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In addition to the inspiring Congress programme, other aspects on offer around the Congress includea dynamic Fringe Programme of activities, exhibitions, tours and activations, taking place in and around the City; and the Student Congress will offer young professionals of the future the opportunity to meet and engage with their peers and professionals from around the world. In addition, the Trade Expo promises the latest product developments, technological innovations, and service offerings in the world of architecture and design
The Congress will bring together architects, design and built environment professionals, pioneers in urban planning and thinking, activists, city makers, academics and researchers, students, Government officials, decision makers and thought leaders, citizens and communities - to debate and discuss strategies for the design and delivery of more habitable, functional and beautiful cities.
For more information or to register for the Congress visit
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NOTE TO EDITORS:
About the Event:
The UIA2014 Durban World Congress is proudly hosted in 2014 by the South African Institute of Architects (SAIA) with the support of PPC Cement, Itatile, Hewlett Packard, Intel, Barrisol, the South African Council for the Architectural Profession (SACAP), eThekwini Municipality, the KZN Institute of Architects and the Department of Public Works.
The 25th International Union of Architects World Congress of Architects, UIA 2014 Durban, will be held at the International Convention Centre in Durban from 3-7 August 2014. This is the first time that this Congress is being held in Southern / sub-Saharan Africa.
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The International Union of Architects (UIA) organizes a World Congress every three years, and there have been 24 previous UIA Congresses.
This is the first time that this Congress is being held in Southern Africa and 4000 delegates are expected from around the world. The International Union of Architects (UIA) organizes a World Congress every three years, and there have been 24 previous UIA Congresses.
The UIA is a non-governmental organization accredited by the United Nations, and it represents professional associations of architects in over 120 countries, and approximately 1,3 million architects worldwide. The UIA secretariat, located in Paris, is responsible for the Union’s management and general administration.
The selection of the Congress host city is made six years in advance. At the UIA 2008 Torino Congress, the South African Institute of Architects (SAIA) won the bid to host this triennial World Congress with the support of the national Department of Public Works, barely nine years after SAIA’s post-Democracy readmission to the UIA.
The Congress theme, ‘architecture OTHERWHERE’, will celebrate diversity by exploring other communities, other regions, other disciplines, and other ways of thinking about, practicing and teaching architecture. The intention is to acknowledge the built environment as a major force that may be harnessed towards a better life for all – through the sub-themes RESILIENCE, ECOLOGY and VALUES.
Keynote Speakers: International keynote presenters include Susannah Drake (USA), 2013 Pritzker Architecture Prize-winner, Toyo Ito (Japan), Francis Kéré (Burkina Faso), Rahul Mehrotra (India), Joe Osae-Addo (Ghana), Gerardo Salinas (Mexico), Cameron Sinclair (USA), Kjetil Trædal Thorsen (Norway) 2012 Pritzker Architecture Prize-winner, Wang Shu (China), Sindile Ngonyama (South Africa) and Wally Serote (South Africa).