Japan Symposium 2023 PART III
A momentous event formalizing and underscoring a spirit of collaboration between two professional architecture associations was a highlight of AIA International’s seven-day event in Japan and ended the evening of Friday, July 21, on a spectacular note. The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between AIA International and the ASSC, the Architectural Society of Shanghai China, was held in one of the main event halls at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Roppongi Hills, Tokyo. Despite the formal backdrop of the signing, it was a fairly intimate affair; a long table up front hosted the MOU document and signatories and four round tables seated twenty-two invited guests from AIA Japan, Mori Building, and ASSC.
Representing AIA International was Scott Gold, AIA President, as signatory, and Segene Park, AIA Secretary, as witness. Representing ASSC was Jiaming Cao, ASSC Chairman, as signatory and Rong Wujie, ASSC Executive Director, as witness. Mr. Park opened the proceedings with an introductory speech, recognizing the participants of the event, the parties behind the scenes that made the agreement possible, as well as the sponsor for the evening, SHBO Group. With that, the document was opened for review and signing.
The Memorandum has been an agreement long in the making. The seven-page bilingual English and Chinese document a product of dedicated negotiations and talks and summarizing long-term goals shared between the two associations. Besides the introductory and background texts, it started off (in Article III) listing the objectives shared by both associations of: Organizing professionals in their respective geographical regions; advancing educational and practice standards; ensuring the advancement of societal living standards; and keeping the profession in service to society at large.
Next, Article IV (Principles of Professionalism) eschewed a preference towards either organization’s stated principles, instead adopting those introduced originally by the International Union of Architects (UIA). Mutually affirmed were the principles of Expertise (advancing knowledge of architecture in service of the public), Autonomy (practicing without compromise or ulterior motives), Commitment (selfless service to clients and society), and Accountability (responsibility for provided advice to clients, and the effects of one’s work on society and the environment).
Article VII (Agenda) looked toward the future with a communal road map - a mutually agreed agenda outlining the opportunities for collaboration and exchange in multiple areas of education, research and outreach going forward. For example, the mutual exchange of architectural education, training and professional development was stressed, as was that of students, teachers and professionals in the interest of professional and cultural exchange. Both associations also agreed to promote training courses, seminars and published materials by the other, as well as provide speakers for each other’s conferences. Perhaps one might expect to find ASSC-developed continuing education courses on AIAU in the future.
With that, the Memorandum was signed and witnessed by the organizations’ respective delegates, marking a new chapter of long-term strategic partnership based on equality and mutual benefit and formalizing the deep relationships between two international partners that have been active for some time already.
The occasion was recorded for posterity with a group photo. With the formalities now completed, both sides settled into and celebrated the new relationship with a round of toasts and dinner. A multiple-course menu featuring house smoked salmon, sea urchin flan, buckwheat sprout, sautéed sea bream, beef tenderloin, and blanc mousse, culinarily French but showcasing the best of Japanese ingredients, reflected the event’s own intercultural achievement.
The end of the evening marked a solidly successful conclusion to the major events planned by AIA - but for the attendees the Japan experience was not quite yet concluded, as a plethora of walking tours in Tokyo and Osaka in the following days awaited, to be covered in the last article in this series.
Written by Marco Lau, M.Sc. Architektur, AIA
Contributor to AIA International Communication & PR Committee
