Durban to host world architectural congress

The congress, UIA2014 Durban, 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 alternative strategies for the design and delivery of more habitable, functional and beautiful cities.

The programme has been devised to explore the overarching congress theme of 'architecture OTHERWHERE', as well as the themes of resilience, economy and values, and to further conversations around critical built environment issues in South Africa, Africa and the world.

The speakers, all leaders in their respective fields, will lead a series of keynote panel debates and academic discussions, as well as present keynote addresses.

International keynote presenters include Susannah Drake (USA), Toyo Ito (Japan), Francis Kere (Burkina Faso), Rahul Mehrotra (India), Joe Osae-Addo (Ghana), Gerardo Salinas (Mexico), Cameron Sinclair (USA) and Wang Shu (China). Sindile Ngonyama and Wally Serote will fly the flag for South Africa.

Parallel sessions

A number of parallel sessions will cover specific areas of focus that relate to the congress theme and intentions. These include the role of Built Environment Professionals in Spatial Transformation; Sustainable Human(e) Settlements; Housing and Healthcare; Open Building; and Addressing Informality through Design Education and Practice.

An extensive student programme, convened with the assistance of local architectural students, forms an integral part of the main event, offering young professionals of the future the opportunity to meet and engage with students and professionals from around the world.

Running alongside the congress, delegates will be able to explore Durban in new and unexpected ways, through a broad range of fringe events, UIA2014 parallel projects, exhibitions, film screenings, tours and walkabouts, cultural events, social and networking activities. These events will be open to the people of Durban to share in and experience.

Open to the public, a trade expo in the Durban Exhibition Centre promises to offer the latest product developments, technological innovations, and service offerings in the world of architecture and design.

UIA 2014 will be used as a launch pad for a three urban regeneration projects, which are starting to gain traction in the lead-up to the event. Each one focuses on stimulating interest in the built environment sector and focus on Durban's inner city.