UIA 2026 Barcelona: Architecture as Collective Inquiry, Not Certainty

The 2026 UIA World Congress of Architects in Barcelona underscored the necessity of adapting to change and fostering collective inquiry in the field of architecture. The event, themed 'Becoming. Architectures for a Planet in Transition,' brought attention to interconnected issues such as housing and climate resilience. Curators Mariona Benedito and Carmen Torres highlighted the significance of discussion. The VELUX Group introduced Re:Living, a renovation initiative inspired by the Green Paper 'The Housing We Need for the Future We Want,' which proposes that upgrading existing structures could yield 50–107 million homes across Europe. Additionally, the 'Sun the Quilt' project by students from Xi'an University won the Light of Tomorrow competition, illustrating that architecture evolves through collaborative exploration, with Barcelona serving as a transformative backdrop.