KEYNOTE SPEAKERS ANNOUNCED FOR THE UPCOMING UIA WORLD CONGRESS OF ARCHITECTS IN COPENHAGEN

The 28th UIA World Congress of Architects will take place in Copenhagen, July 2-6, 2023. With the theme “Sustainable Futures – Leave No One Behind”, the congress will shed light on architecture’s potential to shape better societies and contribute to a sustainable future. The invited keynote speakers include leading global voices from the worlds of architecture, politics, science and business.

Keynote speakers
The keynote speakers for UIA World Congress of Architects 2023 are:

• Bjarke Ingels (Architect. Founder, BIG)
• Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Award-winning writer)
• Chris Downey (Founder, Architecture for the Blind)
• Christian Benimana (Architect. Co-founder, African Design Centre. Director, MASS Design Group)
• Connie Hedegaard (Chair of the EU Commission Mission Board on Adaptation to Climate Change)
• Elizabeth Timme (Architect. Co-founder, Office of Office)
• Francis Kéré (Architect. Founder, Kéré Architecture)
• Jim Hagemann Snabe (Chairman, Siemens. Board Member, World Economic Forum)
• Kunlé Adeyemi (Architect, professor, and development strategist. Founder and principal of NLÉ)
• Maria Neira (Director of the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health at WHO)
• Mette Skjold (CEO & partner, SLA)
• Partha Dasgupta (Emeritus Professor of Economics at the University of Cambridge)

Download bios and portraits of the keynote speakers in the Press Kit

 

 

The UIA World Congress of Architects 2023 will revolve around the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) and the speakers will highlight how architecture can be an essential tool to achieving these goals.

“The keynote speakers have each delivered unique contributions to architecture, science, politics and business, and we are proud that they are coming to Copenhagen. We are asking them to engage in dialogues which range across all the UN SDGs, and across cultures and climates. Together with the rest of the programme, we hope that the keynotes will help shape a vital understanding of the global challenges and inspire to sustainable action in the built environment,” says Natalie Mossin, President of Congress.

 

 

Congress programme
Alongside the keynotes, the congress programme will include a wide range of sessions which will explore how architecture and the built environment can contribute to a more sustainable future. Confirmed Session Chairs are:

Anders Lendager, Anna Heringer, Anna Rubbo, Arif Hasan, Billie Faircloth, Camilla Ryhl, Camilla van Deurs, Carlo Ratti, Carlos Moreno, Chris Precht, Cora Valloire, Dorte Mandrup, Ellen Braae, Jan Gehl, Juan Du, Julia Gamolina, Kai-Uwe Bergman, Kent Martinussen, Magda Mostafa, Maibritt Pedersen Zari, Martha Lewis, Merve Bedir, Mette Ramsgaard Thomsen, Natalie Mossin, Ofri Earon, Omar Ghandi, Rainer Mahlamäki, Ruth Baumeister, Sandi Hilal, Shelley McNamara, Tokunbo Omisore, Yvonne Farrell.

“Our congress programme presents new knowledge and inspiring practice that contribute to sustainability in the built environment, both socially and environmentally. The challenges are urgent and global, and we need to share our knowledge and best practice across borders to reach the scale of action needed. This is what we hope both speakers and delegates will be a part of, at the UIA World Congress of Architects 2023,” says Natalie Mossin.

Architect Natalie Mossin is Head of Institute at The Royal Danish Academy, and President of Congress, UIA World Congress of Architects.

A preliminary congress programme is now available here

 

 

Major architecture event in Copenhagen
The UIA World Congresses are key events for professional exchange among all the world’s architects, taking place every three years since 1948, and bringing together thousands of participants from around the globe. Each of the UIA World Congresses focus on a specific architecture-related theme, developed by notable personalities from the international architectural, planning and construction fields.

The UIA World Congress invites architects and professionals from the building and planning communities to join the congress in Copenhagen in July 2023, where more than 10.000 professionals are expected to participate.

Tickets for the UIA World Congresses are now available here

Copenhagen named UNESCO World Capital of Architecture for 2023
In parallel to the UIA World Congress, the City of Copenhagen has been officially designated as World Capital of Architecture in 2023 by UNESCO and UIA.

UNESCO and UIA launched the ‘World Capital of Architecture’ initiative to highlight the key role of architecture, city planning, and culture in shaping urban identity and sustainable urban development. Copenhagen is the second city to be named World Capital of Architecture – following Rio in 2021.