The year 2025 marked the successful achievement of several key milestones for the UIA. Numerous important projects are currently under development and are expected to be finalised in time for the 2026 UIA World Congress and General Assembly in Barcelona.
UIA COUNCIL
TERM PRIORITIES
Transparent and collegial governance, professionalisation of the Secretariat, and increased UIA relevance through the work of Working Bodies on priority topics and targeted collaboration with international organisations on concrete projects.
Organisational focus: Revision of Articles and Bylaws, reinforcement and professionalisation of the Secretariat.
Thematic focus: Role of the Architect and the Future of the Profession, Artificial Intelligence in Architecture, Sustainable Urbanisation, Sustainable Tourism, Natural and Human Disasters
Relevance increase: Intensification of targeted collaboration with international organisations on concrete projects, and alignment of Working Bodies’ work with term priorities. All UIA Working Bodies are linked to international organisations working in the same thematic areas in order to enrich exchanges, share experiences, and increase the relevance and the impact of the outcomes. The UIA must ensure and further develop its expertise.
COUNCIL MEETINGS
The Implementation of Collegial Governance requires frequent Council meetings and active participation
In 2025, the UIA Council convened six times online twice in person:
170th Council Meeting (Online – 04.02.25): Focus on Internal Affairs and Membership Fees
171st Council Meeting (Online – 04.03.25): Focus on Events, Prizes and Awards
172nd Council Meeting (Online –01.04.25): Focus on Finances, Webinars, UIA Competitions
173rd Council Meeting (In person – Barcelona, 04-05.05.25)
174th Council Meeting (Online – 01.07.25): Focus on Events and Projects (EDUCOM, SDGC)
175th Council Meeting (Online – 02.09.25): International Relations, UIA Events, Arch-E
176th Council Meeting (In person – Seoul, 20-23.10.25)
177th Council Meeting (Online – 09.12.25): Focus on PPC work (AI, IP)
Five additional Council Meetings are scheduled in 2026 for the remainder of the mandate.
At the invitation of the respective Member Sections, in-person Council meetings will take place in Mérida, Mexico in March 2026, and in Barcelona in June 2026.
COUNCIL COMMITTEES
Code of Conduct and Financial Regulations Finalised, Revision Ongoing
The Council Committees continue to play a strategic role in supporting UIA governance, ensuring focused work across core thematic and operational areas. Each committee is tasked with contributing proposals, refining internal processes, and preparing recommendations for the current and future mandates.
Finance
Council Member and Co-Chair of the Finance Committee, Paula Huotelin (Finland), was appointed as Acting Treasurer during the absence of Treasurer Seif Alnaga due to health reasons. Council Member László Mikó (Hungary) was named Co-Chair of the Finance Committee.
Vision and Strategy
Chair: Li Zhang, Vice-President Region IV
Evaluates international relations, develops financial strategy, and prepares recommendations for the next term
Events
Chair: Nivaldo Andrade Vice-President Region III
Analyses the future of UIA events, supports promotional efforts, and reviews calls for proposals and contractual documentation.
Joint initiative: The Vision & Strategy and Events Committees jointly proposed the organisation. of two UIA International Forums per term, a principle adopted by Council at its 175th meeting. They also proposed the development of a World Capital of Sustainable Tourism programme to be developed in collaboration UN Tourism.
Finance
Co-Chairs: Paula Huotelin (Acting Treasurer), Council Member Region I and László Mikó (Hungary) Council Member Region II
Oversees the budget and financial regulations, reviews the membership fee structure, and contributes to the development of sponsorship guidelines.
The principles of the financial regulations were adopted by Council at various meetings and will be part of the Handover Manual.
Ethics
Chair: Jerzy Groschulski, Vice-President Region II
The Committee finalised the UIA Code of Conduct for UIA Member Sections and UIA’s elected and appointed representatives, that was adopted at the 176th Council meeting in Seoul and is now working on procedures for disciplinary action.
Revision
Chair: Vity Nsalambi, Vice-President Region V
Discusses further revision items to bring to vote at the 2026 General Assembly and elaborates recommendations for next term.
Communication
Chair: Teresa Taboas Veleiro, Vice-President Region I
Develops a standardised programme and annual calendar of communiqués, and completes instructional materials and a graphic toolkit to support consistent UIA branding and outreach.
HANDOVER MANUAL
Ongoing Progress in the Elaboration of the Handover Manual
The aim of the Handover Manual is to provide an easy and clear overview of the UIA organisation, activities and contractual obligations and facilitate the transmission of affairs to the next mandate. The Manual is structured in following chapters: Immediate take over, UIA Structure, Headquarters and Secretariat, UIA Financial Regulations, UIA Activities (Congresses, Forums, World Capital Programmes), UIA Relations, UIA Vision & Strategy, Communication, UIA Policies, UIA Competitions-Awards – Prizes, UIA Commissions and Work Programmes, UIA Reference Documents, Articles and Bylaws in force.
Depending on the nature of the documents, the Manual is organised with two levels of access to ensure confidentiality, where required. The Executive Director is entrusted with the continuous updating of the Handover Manual.
YOUNG ARCHITECTS
Three young architects competitions, one student competition and a new Young Architects Triennial Prize
New Triennial prize Promoting Young Architectural Talent
In line with the amendments to Article 1 of the UIA Statutes (Mission and Aims of the Union) and in response to proposals presented at the 2024 Extraordinary General Assembly by the Young Architects Think Tank Coordinator, the UIA Council unanimously approved the establishment of a new Triennial Prize at its 171st meeting in March 2025: the UIA Young Architects Prize for architectural excellence and innovation in design process. The inaugural edition of the prize will be awarded at the 2026 UIA Congress in Barcelona at the Gold Medal and Triennial Prizes Award Ceremony.
Successful UIA-Endorsed Young Architects Competition in Barcelona: “10 Blind Walls”
Initiated by the UIA, the international single stage open project competition was successfully organised by the Municipality of Barcelona as part of the World Capital of Architecture programme. With 343 entries from 52 countries across all five UIA Regions, the young generation of architects showed strong interest in a UIA competition that not only promotes innovative ideas but leads to a realisation.
The jury awarded prices to each of the 10 Blind Wall sites, located in different neighbourhoods of Barcelona. All 10 winning projects will be realised, with several expected to be completed or under construction by July, when the Congress takes place. A commemorative plaque will indicate that the designs resulted from a UIA competition. Barcelona Municipality will also organise an exhibition during the Congress to showcase the competition projects and their realisation phase. This marks the first implementation of the UIA’s new policy that UIA Congresses should leave a tangible and lasting legacy, in addition to a theoretical one by creating realised projects of public interest in the World Capital of Architecture city.
Successful UIA Young Architects Competition: “The Future of the Profession: Empowering the Next Generation in Participatory Urban Design”
Launched on 7 January 2025, this international single-stage open ideas competition for young architects focused on critical challenges facing UNESCO World Heritage Sites in urban contexts. With 139 proposals from 45 countries across all five UIA Regions, this competition was a great success. Participants selected 101 different sites for their submission. This posed a real challenge for the jury but also sparked a high level of discussion on the topic. The award ceremony was held on 7 May 2025 at UNESCO’s Palazzo Zorzi in Venice. The exhibition of the winning projects was part of the official UNESCO programme for the Biennale and remained open until its closing.
Ongoing UIA Young Architects Competition “Architecture in the Aftermath of Disasters”
This international single-stage open ideas competition addresses the rebuilding of an urban area destroyed by disaster. It is organised by the UIA Human and Natural Disasters Work Programme, with expert support from the Order of Architects of Morocco. Participants are asked to propose solutions for a specific area in Morocco affected by earthquakes. The competition aims to raise awareness about the complex interplay of natural and human-made crises and to solicit visionary proposals that heal, protect and regenerate. It was launched on 13 November 2025, with a submission deadline of 11 March 2026. The exhibition and the award ceremony will take place during the Barcelona Congress.
Ongoing UIA Congress Ideas Student Competition “Catalyst of Resilience”
Organised by the curatorial team of the 2026 UIA Barcelona Congress, this international single-stage open ideas competition invites students to engage with the theme “Catalysts of Resilience”. Participants are encouraged to address vulnerable places at risk of future habitational discomfort, inequality, or collapse. The competition calls for spatial interventions that support resistance and adaptation to foreseeable threats resulting from political shifts, social transformations, and climate change. Proposals should explore how resilience can be fostered by using time as a design tool. The competition was launched on 15 July 2025, with a submission deadline of 7 November 2025 The exhibition and the award ceremony will be held during the 2026 Congress in Barcelona.
IMPORTANT COUNCIL DECISIONS
At its 175th meeting, held online, the UIA Council considered a motion submitted by Region V Council Member, Mohamed Sahby Gorgi (Tunisia), concerning the situation in Palestine. The Council resolved to adopt the following measures:
- Condemn the genocide committed by Israel in Gaza.
- Request an end to starvation by allowing the entry of food and medicine and ensuring the fair and safe distribution to citizens.
- Call for an immediate ceasefire and cessation of hostilities.
- Condemn the destruction of Palestine’s built heritage.
- Appeal to architects worldwide to refrain from any participation in the illegal colonisation of Palestine.
- Request an international assessment of the destruction.
- Offer the UIA‘s moral and expert support, through its Working Bodies, at every stage: damage assessment, technical expertise and reconstruction.
- Contribute to improving living conditions in Gaza and restoring dignity to the Palestinian people.
At its 176th meeting in Seoul, the UIA Council unanimously adopted the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). The Council mandated the Secretary General, in collaboration with the UIA Indigenous Peoples Work Programme, to further develop the concept of a dedicated task force. This task force will be responsible for preparing guidelines and best practices for implementing UNDRIP principles within the architectural profession.