The Australian Institute of Architects (AIA) has made a bid to host the 2020 International Union of Architects (UIA) Congress in Melbourne.

One of the largest international events of its type, the congress attracts approximately 6,000 attendees from around the globe and is held triennially.

If successful, UIA Melbourne 2020 will provide architects with an opportunity to participate in a series of events and seminars which will focus on celebrating and reinforcing the role of design in meeting universal challenges of settlement.

The theme for the UIA Melbourne 2020 bid is ‘Dialects of Place’ and will address the design of equitable, engaging, diverse, creative and humane cities as the responsibility of many parties and a unique challenge for architects and urbanists.

“Making, enriching and sustaining places that respond to the needs and stimulate the imaginations of our citizens, from all aspects of our multicultural and multi-dimensional communities is the real challenge of our era,” reads the UIA Melbourne 2020 microsite.

This year’s congress is themed architectureOTHERWHERE and will take place at Durban’s International Convention Centre (ICC) from 3-7 August 2014. The role of architects in addressing social inequalities will be the key focus of the congress and the event endeavours to link prominent thinkers from around globe to discuss the issue.

The 2014 event will highlight the link between urgent human need for housing, infrastructure, basic services, employment and social development and acknowledge them as strongly linked to political decisions and economies.

An international student competition, which asked for a variety of design solutions for the dynamic and complex Warwick Junction site in Durban, South Africa, is also a feature of this year’s event.

UIA Melbourne 2020 has been scheduled to begin early July and the formal bid will be presented at UIA Durban 2014. The host city will be decided as congress draws to a close at the UIA General Assembly.

Nathan Johnson

Australia-bids-for-2020-International-Union-of-1-1732031524.png

Let’s connect!