Today is World Architecture Day! This initiative was created by the International Union of Architects (UIA) in 1985, World Architecture Day is celebrated on the first Monday of October in parallel with UN World Habitat Day. 

The idea was simple to celebrate World Architecture Day: "to reflect on the state of our towns and cities and the basic right of all to adequate shelter. It is also intended to remind the world of its collective responsibility for the future of the human habitat."

Therefore, World Architecture Day is celebrated on the first Monday of October with a different theme, this year's theme is "Toward a better urban future." 

As the UIA highlights, this year's theme "seeks to draw the attention of professionals as well as the public to problems concerning cities and habitat." 

To celebrate the theme and World Architecture Day, the UIA will be holding a webinar today which will be live streaming at 12h00 – 14h30 GMT in Zoom and UIA's Facebook page. 

Image courtesy of UIA

Moderated by UIA President Thomas Vonier and UIA Secretary General Serban Tiganas, the webinar will begin with a virtual roundtable which will include the UN Habitat Assistant Secretary General and Executive Director Victor Kisob, Assistant Director-General for Culture of UNESCO Ernesto Ottone Ramirez and Kai-Uwe Bergmann, Architect, Partner, Business Development of BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group.

View the programme of the webinar on this page. You can view the speakers’ biographies on this page. You can register to the webinar on this page. 

"The International Union of Architects (UIA), representing the world’s 3.2 million architects, announces the theme of World Architecture Day 2020 (Monday, 5 October 2020): “Toward a better urban future", said Thomas Vonier, President, UIA. 

"Just as it is reshaping social customs and spaces all across the world, the global pandemic is revealing once again how crises affect the poorest and most vulnerable populations disproportionately."  

"In far too many of the world’s cities, people cannot follow safe practices, simply because they lack clean water and air, and even space itself. Urban policies must ensure adequate services, shelter, and recreational space for all citizens.  Urban planning, design, and architecture are critical to a better urban future for all."

"Urban design and architecture are keys to a better quality of life for everyone," Vonier added.

"The UIA and its member countries will mobilize on 5 October 2020 to show how urban design and architecture can make our communities strong, safe, equitable, and affordable — how they can move us toward a better urban future," Vonier continued.

Top image (from left to right - from top to bottom): Inca Hernandez's Mar Mediterraneo 34 (image © João Morgado), Zaha Hadid Architects' Changsha Meixihu International Culture & Arts Centre (image © Virgile Simon Bertrand), MIA Design Studio's Sky House (image © Trieu Chien), Gad· Lineplus Studio's The Secret Of Jiangnan: Yu-Shiang Tea House (image © gad·line+ studio), Gad· Lineplus Studio's Riverside "Mountain House" Zhejiang Perfect Production Factory (Phase1) (image © Arch-Exist Photography, wen studio, Jianzhi-Arch Photography) and Maziar Dolatabadi's 13 Chenar Residential (image courtesy of Maziar Dolatabadi).