International Union of Architects facts for kids
The International Union of Architects (UIA) is a special group that brings together architects from all over the world. It's the only international organization that represents architects, and there are about 3.2 million of them globally!
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What is the UIA?
The UIA was started on June 28, 1948, in Lausanne, Switzerland. It was formed when two older architect groups joined together. Its main office is in Paris, France. Many important groups like UNESCO and the World Health Organization (WHO) recognize the UIA as the main global organization for architecture.
The UIA has members in more than 100 countries. These countries are grouped into five main regions:
- Region I: Western Europe
- Region II: Eastern Europe
- Region III: The Americas (North and South America)
- Region IV: Asia and Oceania (like Australia and islands)
- Region V: Africa
The president of the UIA from 2023 to 2026 is Regina Gonthier from Switzerland.
How the UIA is Run
The UIA has different groups that help run it:
- The Assembly: This is the highest group. It's made up of people from all the UIA member countries and other leaders.
- The Council: This group manages the UIA's work between the big Assembly meetings. It has 4 members from each of the five regions, plus other leaders.
- The Bureau: This is a smaller group that includes the President, the past President, the Secretary General, the Treasurer, and a Vice-President from each region.
Past Presidents
Many architects have led the UIA over the years. Here are some of them:
- Sir Patrick Abercrombie, United Kingdom (1948–1953)
- Jean Tschumi, Switzerland (1953–1957)
- Hector Mardones Restat, Chile (1957–1961)
- Sir Robert Matthews, United Kingdom (1961–1965)
- Eugene Beaudouin, France (1965–1969)
- Ramon Corona Martin, Mexico (1969–1972)
- Georgui Orlov, USSR (1972–1975)
- Jai Rattan Bhalla, India (1975–1978)
- Louis de Moll, USA (1978–1981)
- Rafael De La Hoz, Spain (1981–1985)
- Georgi Stoilov, Bulgaria (1985–1987)
- Rod Hackney, United Kingdom (1987–1990)
- Olufemi Majekodunmi, Nigeria (1990–1993)
- Jaime Duro, Spain (1993–1996)
- Sara Topelson, Mexico (1996–1999)
- Vassilis Sgoutas, Greece (1999–2002)
- Jaime Lerner, Brazil (2002–2005)
- Gaetan Siew, Mauritius (2005–2008)
- Louise Cox, Australia (2008–2011)
- Albert Dubler, France (2011–2014)
- Esa Mohamed, Malaysia (2014–2017)
- Thomas Vonier, USA (2017–2021)
- José Luis Cortés, Mexico (2021–2023)
UIA World Congresses
The UIA World Congresses are big events where architects from all over the world meet. Thousands of people come together to share ideas and learn. Each Congress focuses on a different topic about architecture. Experts in building and design lead discussions, and there are exhibitions and tours. It's a great place for architects, students, and friends to connect.
A UIA member country hosts each Congress. Countries offer to host, and the UIA General Assembly votes to choose the host city six years before the event.
Here is a list of the UIA Congresses:
Nr. | Year | Location | Theme |
---|---|---|---|
1st | 1948 | ![]() |
Architecture Faced with its New Tasks |
2nd | 1951 | ![]() |
How Architecture is Dealing with its New Tasks |
3rd | 1953 | ![]() |
Architecture at the Crossroads |
4th | 1955 | ![]() |
Architecture and the Evolutions of Building |
5th | 1958 | ![]() |
Construction and Reconstruction |
6th | 1961 | ![]() |
New Techniques and New Materials |
7th | 1963 | ![]() |
Architecture in Underdeveloped Countries |
8th | 1965 | ![]() |
The Training of Architects |
9th | 1967 | ![]() |
Architecture and the Human Milieu |
10th | 1969 | ![]() |
Architecture as a Social Factor |
11th | 1972 | ![]() |
Architecture and Leisure |
12th | 1975 | ![]() |
Creativity and Technology |
13th | 1978 | ![]() |
Architecture and National Development |
14th | 1981 | ![]() |
Architecture, Man, Environment |
15th | 1985 | ![]() |
Present and Future Missions of the Architect |
16th | 1987 | ![]() |
Shelter and Cities - Building Tomorrow's World |
17th | 1990 | ![]() |
Cultures and Technologies |
18th | 1993 | ![]() |
Architecture at the Crossroads - Designing for a Sustainable Future |
19th | 1996 | ![]() |
Present and Futures. Architecture in Cities |
20th | 1999 | ![]() |
Architecture of the 21st Century |
21st | 2002 | ![]() |
Resource Architecture |
22nd | 2005 | ![]() |
Grand Bazaar of Architectures |
23rd | 2008 | ![]() |
Transmitting Architecture |
24th | 2011 | ![]() |
DESIGN 2050 Beyond disasters, through Solidarity, towards Sustainability |
25th | 2014 | ![]() |
Architecture otherwhere |
26th | 2017 | ![]() |
Soul of City |
27th | 2020 | ![]() |
All Worlds. One World. Architecture in the 21st Century. |
28th | 2023 | ![]() |
Design for a Sustainable Future |
29th | 2026 | ![]() |
One day, One tomorrow |
World Capital of Architecture
The UIA and UNESCO work together to name a "World Capital of Architecture." This special title is given every three years, at the same time as the UIA World Congress. The city chosen hosts the World Congress and has many events about architecture throughout that year.
Cities apply for this title. The UIA World Congress then picks the next World Capital from a list of applicants. The Secretary General of UNESCO makes the official announcement. Rio de Janeiro was the World Capital of Architecture in 2020, Copenhagen in 2023, and Barcelona will be in 2026.
UIA Gold Medal
Since 1984, the UIA has given out the UIA Gold Medal. This award honors an architect (or a group of architects) who has done amazing work and helped people and society through their designs.
Here are some of the architects who have received this award:
Year | Architect | Country |
---|---|---|
1984 | Hassan Fathy | Egypt |
1987 | Reima Pietilä | Finland |
1990 | Charles Correa | India |
1993 | Fumihiko Maki | Japan |
1996 | Rafael Moneo | Spain |
1999 | Ricardo Legorreta Vilchis | Mexico |
2002 | Renzo Piano | Italy |
2005 | Tadao Ando | Japan |
2008 | Teodoro Gonzalez de Leon | Mexico |
2011 | Álvaro Siza Vieira | Portugal |
2014 | Ieoh Ming Pei | USA |
2017 | Toyo Ito | Japan |
2021 | Paulo Mendes da Rocha | Brazil |
UIA Triennial Prizes
The UIA also gives out five other important prizes every three years:
- The Patrick Abercrombie Prize: This is for great work in city planning and design.
- The Auguste Perret Prize: This award is for using new technology in architecture.
- The Jean Tschumi Prize: This prize is for excellent writing and reviews about architecture.
- The Robert Matthew Prize: This is for creating places that are good for people and the environment.
- The Vassilis Sgoutas Prize: This award is for architecture that helps people who are poor.
International Design Competitions
The UIA helps organize big international competitions for architects to design important buildings. Some famous projects that came from these competitions include:
- The Centre Pompidou in Paris
- The Indira Gandhi Centre in New Delhi
- The Bibliothèque Nationale de France (National Library of France) in Paris
- The National Museum of Seoul
- The Prado National Museum in Madrid (for its renovation and expansion)
- The Sydney Opera House in Sydney
See also
In Spanish: Unión Internacional de Arquitectos para niños