UIA Professional Practice Commission (PPC) Co-Directors Weimin Zhuang (China) and James Wright (USA) hosted a called meeting of the PPC Steering Committee and other interested participants in late March 2021. There were over 20 attendees at this two-hour meeting. All three of the PPC’s “sister” Commissions (Education, Competitions, Sustainable Development Goals) presented brief updates on current initiatives along with their thoughts on potential ways the PPC could better coordinate its activities with the other Commissions. This was a very successful meeting, with the suggestion that we attempt a similar meeting with representatives of UIA Work Groups.
Working with Patricia Ramallo of the U.S. National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (and coordinated by the American Institute of Architects), Tan Pei Ing (Malaysia) drafted a brief declaration on diversity, equity and inclusion that is currently under review by the PPC Steering Committee and PPC contributors. Once the proposed declaration has been reviewed and finalized, it will be submitted to Council for its consideration.
Occasionally, the PPC provides direct support to UIA Member Sections. A recent example of this involved a request from the Mauritius Association of Architects for a written statement in response to draft legislation proposed by the Mauritius Construction Industry Development Board that would impinge upon the role of the Architect. The PPC responded with current UIA-endorsed policies and practices, along with excerpts from the nearly completed Model Practice Act.
Several other ongoing PPC initiatives are moving towards conclusion, with the goal of presenting them to the upcoming 28th UIA General Assembly in July. The 11-person U.S. delegation to the General Assembly will be led by AIA President Peter Exley. This triennial’s General Assembly will be conducted virtually in four segments spread over in as many days. The provisional agenda calls for reposts from the UIA President, UIA Past President, UIA Secretary General, UIA Region Vice Presidents, Treasurer, UIA Commissions, UIA Work Programs, and the UIA International Women in Architecture Committee. It is at this Assembly that candidates for UIA office will be voted on, updates on planning for the 28th World congress in Copenhagen in 2023 will be presented, and either Barcelona or Beijing will be selected for the 29th World congress.
The 27th UIA World Congress of Architects — UIA2021RIO — will be entirely digital. Pandemic conditions and ongoing bans on large public gatherings have required the UIA2021RIO Organizing Committee to transition to an online format — the program has innovated to combine pre-recorded videocasts and live transmissions.
The first UIA World Congress held entirely online, UIA2021RIO promises to attract the largest public in UIA history, drawing over 35,600 participants from 159 countries during its first online week (22-25 March) on the theme of Weaknesses & Inequalities.
Brazilian architect Paulo Mendes Da Rocha has won the 2021 UIA Gold Medal for lifetime achievement. The jury, which met virtually on 21 April 2021, also awarded the Robert Matthew Prize for Sustainable and Humane Environments to Francis Kéré (Burkina Faso); the Jean Tschumi Prize for Architectural Writing to Doğan Kuban (Turkey); the Auguste Perret Prize for Technology in Architecture to Anupama Kundoo (India) and to Rudy Ricciotti (France); the Patrick Abercrombie Prize for Urban Planning and Design to Joan Busquets i Grau (Spain); and the Vassilis Sgoutas Prize for Implemented Architecture Serving the Impoverished to Nadia Tromp (South Africa), David Kaunitz and Ka Wai Yeung (Australia), and Jiansong Lu (China). The jury also awarded Biuro Projektów Lewicki Łatak (Poland) and Brinda Somaya (India) Honorable Mentions for the Vassilis Sgoutas Prize.
James M. Wright, FAIA, NCARB
Past President, AIA International Region
Co-Director, UIA Professional Practice Commission
