Three-Day Event co-organized by TEE/TKM, SADAS-PEA and UIA/Hellenic Section, May 28-30, 2025, Thessaloniki, Greece – Summary Press Release
Summary Press Release
The Technical Chamber of Greece/Central Macedonia Section (TCG/CMS – TEE/TKM), in collaboration with the Association of Architects with Diplomas from Tertiary Education Institutions – Panhellenic Architects’ Association (AADTE/PAA – SADAS/PEA) and the UIA Hellenic Section, co-organized a three-day event in Thessaloniki-Greece on May 28-30, 2025, under the theme “Friendly & Inclusive Spaces” and “UIA/Region II Presidents’ Meeting”.
- On May 28, a thematic evening conference was held at the TEE/TKM amphitheater featuring distinguished speakers who explored the concept of inclusion as a source of new architectural ideas, the notion of “ableism” in architecture, sustainable urban mobility for all, barrier-free movement and accessibility as fundamental factors of quality of life.
The event is available online at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NK3cIQupaeY&t=7680s&ab_channel=TEETKM (Parts in English: Jerzy Grochulski from 14:42 to 23:05, Mantha Zarmakoupi from 52:22 to 1:06:16)
- The same day, the traveling Awards Exhibition of the UIA Work Programme “Architecture for All (AfA)” was inaugurated in the foyer of the TEE/TKM amphitheater. The AfA program aims to raise awareness among architects regarding accessibility and inclusive design as essential aspects of architectural education, design and construction, while showcasing best practices in accessible and inclusive urban and architectural design.
Later that evening, the President of TEE/TKM offered a reception to the attendees.
- On May 29, following an invitation by Fani Vavili-Tsinika, President of the UIA Hellenic Section & UIA Council Member, chaired by UIA vice president Region II Jerzy Grochulski, the UIA/Region II Presidents’ Meeting took place at the TEE/TKM’s “Engine-Habs Room.” Greece, a member of UIA/Region II, hosted delegations and Presidents attending in person from Armenia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Georgia, Greece, Israel, Lebanon, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Turkey, and Ukraine. Online participation was also available for remaining member countries of UIA/Region II.
Rui LEÃO (Macau), UIA General Secretary, presented the UIA’s recent activities and future plans.
That evening, the President of TEE/TKM, Ilias Pertsinidis, hosted an official dinner in honor of the attendees.
- On May 30, the UIA/Region II Presidents and delegates visited the archaeological site of Vergina, including the Palace of Aigai, the Royal Tombs and the Polycentric Museum, accompanied by an archaeologist from the Ministry of Culture.
Later that day, a farewell lunch was offered to the delegates by the president of TEE/TKM
- We extend our sincere thanks to Ilias Pertzinidis, President of TEE/TKM, and his team for their generous hospitality and excellent organization, as well as to architects Olga Pappa, Kyriaki Petridou and Dimitris Amponis for their pivotal contribution to the coordination of the events. Special thanks to Sotiris Papadopoulos, Deputy Director of the UIA program ‘AfA’, Nikolas Patsavos, Director of the CRISIS Research Laboratory and his students Vaggelis Bekiadoudis and Despoina Marmagka for their valuable support with the exhibition.
- The complete daily press releases by SADAS-PEA on the events – one for each day – each accompanied by a photo gallery, are available at the following links:
- The press release of TEE/TKM (in Greek) for the three-day events can be found at the following link:
