Disseny Hub Barcelona, Spain
On June 29 local time, as a key parallel event of the 29th UIA World Congress of Architects Barcelona, the ARCASIA Exhibition officially opened at Disseny Hub Barcelona. Showcasing the historical evolution, development achievements of ARCASIA, and the diverse architectural accomplishments from across Asia, the exhibition serves as a pivotal platform for in‑depth dialogue between Asian architecture and the global architectural community. Architects and leading experts from around the world gathered to witness Asian architecture stepping onto the global forefront.
Highlights of the Opening Ceremony
Under the theme ‘Becoming. Architectures for a Planet in Transition’, this year’s UIA World Congress of Architects attracted over 10,000 professionals from more than 130 countries. As the most authoritative and largest regional architectural organization and academic community in Asia, the ARCASIA Exhibition became a highlight of the Congress.
Opening Ceremony Recap
The opening ceremony was hosted by the ARCASIA Honorary Secretariat Ar. Zhou Minghao.
Ar. Zhou Minghao, ARCASIA Honorary Secretary 2026-27
Welcome Remark
Ar. Wu Jiang, ARCASIA President 2026-27, delivering the Welcome Remark
Ar. Wu Jiang, ARCASIA President 2026-27, delivered a warm welcome to distinguished guests from across the globe and reviewed ARCASIA’s long-standing contributions to global architectural development. He emphasized that despite multiple challenges, ARCASIA will continue to work hand in hand with international peers to explore the path of sustainable development for the architectural design profession.
Remarks by Distinguished Guests
Ar. Tan PeiIng, Former ARCASIA President & Former UIA Secretary General, delivering remarks
Ar. Louise Cox, Former UIA President, delivering remarks
The ceremony featured remarks by two distinguished guests: Ar. Louise Cox, former UIA President, and Ar. Tan Pei Ing, former ARCASIA President and former UIA Secretary General. Both extended their congratulations on the successful opening of the exhibition, highly commended ARCASIA’s recent achievements and growing international influence, and wished the exhibition and its accompanying events every success.
Keynote Speeches by Three Zone Vice-Presidents: A Panoramic
View of Asian Architecture
Subsequently, the three ARCASIA Zone Vice-Presidents delivered keynote speeches, presenting the rich landscape of Asian architecture from different regional perspectives:
Keynote Speech by Ar. Fawad Suhail Abbasi
Zone A: Ar. Fawad Suhail Abbasi, ARCASIA Vice-President Zone A 2026-27, spoke on the theme “One Heart Beat: South Asia, Becoming”, showcasing the vibrant architectural activities across seven South Asian nations — Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka — home to nearly 1.9 billion people. From the ancient urban grids of the Indus Valley to the fortress architecture of the Himalayas, and to contemporary low-carbon and zero-carbon practices, South Asia is demonstrating to the world through the wisdom of Barefoot Architects that the future of Asian architecture will remain deeply rooted in indigenous traditions.
Keynote Speech by Ar. Melvin Tan
Zone B: Ar. Melvin Tan, ARCASIA Vice-President Zone B, shared the unique charm of Southeast Asian architecture. As a representative of LAUD Architects Singapore, he explored how Southeast Asian architecture balances climatic adaptation, cultural integration, and sustainable development from the perspective of tropical modernism.
Keynote Speech by Ar. Gibson Rhie
Zone C : Ar. Gibson Rhie, ARCASIA Vice-President Zone C 2026-27, presented the exploration of Northeast Asian architecture in balancing technological innovation and traditional heritage, demonstrating the architectural wisdom of China, Japan, Korea and other countries in high-density urban environments.
ARCASIA Forum 23 Promotion
ARCASIA Forum 23 Promotion — Ar. Tushar Sogani，Ar. Vilas Vasant Avachat
At the opening ceremony, Ar. Tushar Sogani, Convener of ARCASIA Forum 23, and Ar. Vilas Vasant Avachat, President of the Indian Institute of Architects, extended a sincere invitation to architects worldwide. ARCASIA Forum 23 will be held in Jaipur, India in September 2026, under the theme “Bringing Back — Vernacular Wisdom”.
Bringing together over 3,000 architects from 24 Asian countries, the forum will engage in in-depth dialogue across eight key topics:
- Designing for Local Climate
- Building with Natural Materials
- Craft and Construction Techniques
- Rethinking Traditional Typologies
- Learning from Vernacular Architecture
- Culture and Space
- Identity in Urban Design
- Rethinking Design Education
The forum will feature Riken Yamamoto, 2024 Pritzker Architecture Prize laureate, and Professor Yuan Feng from Tongji University as keynote speakers.
Architecture Asia Promotion
Journal Promotion by Wang Yanze, Managing Editor
Ar. Wang Yanze, Managing Editor of Architecture Asia — the official journal of ARCASIA — reviewed the journal’s forty-year development and introduced the transformation efforts led by the Tongji University team since taking over operations, evolving from a traditional print publication into a comprehensive academic platform for the exchange of Asian architectural ideas. Today, the journal has developed into a multifaceted academic media platform integrating Asian thematic discussions, member institute special issues, architect exchange events, and ARCASIA Awards for Architecture showcases.
Exhibition Introduction and Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony
Ar. Zhou Minghao, ARCASIA Honorary Secretary, briefly introduced the curatorial concept and presentation approach of the ARCASIA Exhibition. As the grand finale of the opening ceremony, participating guests jointly cut the ribbon for the exhibition, marking the official debut of Asian architectural strength on the world stage amid thunderous applause.
Group photos with international guests at the ARCASIA booth
Epilogue
Though the exhibition only lasts five days, dialogue and interaction between Asian and global architectural communities will continue. Moving forward, ARCASIA will further collaborate with all member institutes and partners to build bridges of exchange and cooperation with architects worldwide, and consistently amplify the professional voice of Asian architecture amid the global shift toward sustainable built environments.
