On 7 and 8 May 2025, the UIA hosted a landmark series of events at the UNESCO Office in Venice (Palazzo Zorzi) on the theme “Architecture in Transition: From Heritage to Urban Futures”.
The initiative announced the winning projects from the young architects competition where emerging talent explored critical challenges in heritage architecture, and officially launched the UIA World Barcelona Congress of Architecture 2026 and the World Capital of Architecture.
Celebrating Young Talent: Awards and Exhibition
The evening of 7 May saw the UIA host the awards ceremony for the young architect competition, open to architects born in or after 1989. The competition sought bold, innovative proposals for visitor centres at World Heritage Sites that integrate sustainability, local culture, and social impact.
Institutional remarks were delivered by:
Magdalena Landry, Director of the UNESCO Office in Venice
Regina Gonthier, President of the UIA
Alessandra Ferrari, Vice-President of CNAPPC
Roberto Beraldo, President of OAPPC Venice
Lilia Cannarella, UIA and CNAPPC member
Out of 139 submissions from around the globe, five winning projects were announced:
1st Prize – “Wandering Medina” (Italy) by Radical-J: Amath Luca Diatta, Greta Allegretti, Letizia Allegretti, Pietro Brunazzi, Elena Paccagnella and Stefano Tremolada
A proposal for Marrakesh
2nd Prize – “Under the Winding Hill” (Vietnam) by CDH Team: Bui Minh Chau, Nguyen Thi My Duyen and Pham Nguyen Gia Huy
A proposal for the Complex of Hué Monuments
3rd Prize – “Tulou Consolidation” (Italy) by Distortion Studio: Davide Contran
A proposal for Fujian Tulou
4th Prize – “Golden Gates” (Italy) by DENARA: Francesco Rambelli, Nicolò Calandrini and Mirko Tavaniello Boresi
A proposal for the Early Christian Monuments of Ravenna
5th Prize – “Quebrada de Humahuaca Visitor Center” (Argentina) by AAtlas: Mateo Boasso
and Laura Paz
A proposal for the Quebrada de Humahuaca
The winning entries were praised for their place-based approach, integration of vernacular knowledge, and meaningful community engagement. Following the ceremony, an exhibition of the awarded projects was officially opened and will remain on display at Palazzo Zorzi throughout the Venice Architecture Biennale.
Dialogue Across Generations and a Vision for UIA2026BCN
The morning of 8 May featured a roundtable with the competition winners and members of the international jury:
Magdalena Landry, Director of the UNESCO Office in Venice
Cristóbal Tirado, Jury President
Giacomo Ardesio, Jury Member
Discussions centred on the future of the architectural profession and the critical pressures facing heritage sites today—from tourism and climate change to conflict and urban alienation. The panel emphasised inclusive, context-aware strategies and new narratives for heritage. It concluded with reflections on how young architects are proposing new ways of practising architecture rooted in ethics, sensitivity, and collaboration.
This was followed by the official presentation of the UIA World Congress of Architects 2026, to be held in Barcelona under the theme “Becoming. Architectures for a Planet in Transition”.
This presentation, a significant step towards #UIA2026BCN, brought together representatives from all organising institutions, further consolidating Barcelona’s role as a global reference in architecture. Participants included:
Víctor Puga, Secretary for Territory, Urban Planning, and the Urban Agenda, Generalitat de Catalunya
Maria Buhigas, Chief Architect of Barcelona
Regina Gonthier, President of the UIA and of the Congress
Marta Vall-llossera Ferran, President of the Higher Council of Professional Associations of Architects of Spain and of the Congress
Fuensanta Nieto, President of the Scientific Committee
Members of the Congress curatorial team: Pau Bajet, Maria Giramé, Tomeu Ramis Frontera, Pau Sarquella Fabregas, Mariona Benedito and Carmen Torres
Together, they outlined the thematic framework and structure of the Congress — an initiative that will transform Barcelona into an international laboratory for contemporary architecture, sustainability, and urban innovation from 28 June to 2 July 2026. The Congress will be organised around six thematic axes: more-than-human, attuned, embodied, interdependent, hyper-conscious, and circular.
The event also served to officially present Barcelona as the UNESCO-UIA World Capital of Architecture 2026, with additional remarks by:
Magdalena Landry, Director of the UNESCO Office in Venice
Regina Gonthier, UIA President
Maria Buhigas, City Architect of Barcelona
This designation celebrates Barcelona’s ongoing commitment to architecture that fosters well-being, sustainability, and inclusion, setting the stage for a dynamic programme of events that will engage professionals, students, and institutions worldwide.
The UIA World Congress of Architects 2026 in Barcelona is organised by the UIA – International Union of Architects, through the Higher Council of Professional Associations of Architects of Spain (Consejo Superior de Colegios de Arquitectos de España – CSCAE) and the Architects’ Association of Catalonia (Col·legi d’Arquitectes de Catalunya – COAC), with institutional support and funding from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Agenda of Spain, the Generalitat de Catalunya, and the Barcelona City Council.
Although not part of the official Venice Architecture Biennale programme, the UIA exhibition and events at Palazzo Zorzi offer a meaningful and timely contribution to the global conversation on architecture, heritage, and future urbanism. Through “Architecture in Transition,” the UIA continues to provide a platform for bold ideas and intergenerational dialogue — reaffirming its commitment to architecture as a discipline that serves both society and the planet.
The exhibition of winning competition projects will remain open to the public from 11am to 7pm at Palazzo Zorzi’s courtyard for the duration of the Biennale, until 23 November 2025.
