The World Architecture Festival has announced its 2020 conference theme as "Greening the City", which will take place between 2-4 December, in Lisbon, with its sister event the World Festival of Interiors (INSIDE). 

WAF and INSIDE are organized annually and WAF hosts a number of distinguished architects discussing a specific theme each year over the three-day festival, as well as its global awards program. Architects and designers present their projects live to a panel of expert judges. 

This year, WAF and INSIDE, which are still planned in typical way despite of the pandemic, will take place between 2-4 December, in Lisbon. But entry deadline for WAF and INSIDE have been extended to 14 August, 2020. Start your entry from here.

Lisbon is the EU's 2020 European Green Capital is setting the scene for this year's conference theme 'Greening the City', said WAF. 

WAC publishes exclusive lectures and keynotes from WAF 2019 each week as part of WAC's official media partnership. Elizabeth Diller, Massimiliano Fuksas, Eva Franch, Ben van Berkel and Peter Cook are among the guests WAC has released so far. 

Watch exclusive keynotes & lectures from WAF 2019 on WAC's Videos page.

Landscape of the Year 2019: Demonstration Section of Yangpu Riverside Public Space by Original Design Studio. Image © Su Shengliang, Zhan Changheng, Zhang Yong

"At one level, the idea of greening concerns landscape design, biodiversity and ecological concerns. However, the idea of the green city in the context of Covid-19 has taken on new dimensions," read a statement of WAF.

Subjects for discussion will include strategies for clean air, greater use of public transport, water quality and supply, and the generation of ‘clean’ energy as part of urban planning strategies across the globe.

The idea of the green city is related to the concept of sustainability, which now includes ideas about the control of pandemics, and the extent to which health concerns can feed into planning and urban design, at both a small and large scale.

This year’s Isolation Transformed competition, a new initiative for 2020, will generate presentations around the subject of Isolation, including ideas about the future adaptation of existing city fabric to take account of potential future health hazards.

MAAT Museum in Lisbon designed by AL_A. Image © Francisco Nogueira

The INSIDE has also released its 2020 conference theme as "Art In Space". In recent years, Lisbon has established a growing reputation as a hub for artistic and curatorial discussion. 

The world-famous Gulbenkian Foundation complex, an exemplary blend of architectural and landscape design hosting a magnificent collection, has been supplemented by the MAAT contemporary art centre, and the increasingly significant Lisbon Triennale which attracts huge international interest.

The INSIDE conference theme, compered by creative director Nigel Coates, will examine the relationship between art and sculpture and the built contexts in which it is displayed, whether the small-scale private gallery or large public institutions.

World Architecture Community is official Media Partner for this year's festival and offers to its Professional Members 10% discounted tickets over regular festival prices during WAF registration and their entries per project submission! All you have to do is to upgrade your World Architecture Community membership to Professional here or visit your WAC Settings page and send us ([email protected]) an email to get your promo code for your WAF registration!

Top image: WAFX Winner As X-Space | Urban Fabric Regeneration, Verform, Dubai, UAE, courtesy of WAF.

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