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’.

DAY 1 – ‘Friendly and Inclusive Spaces’ Conference & ‘AfA’ UIA traveling Awards Exhibition Opening

• On Wednesday, May 28, 2025, an evening conference was held at the auditorium of TEE/TKM, featuring distinguished speakers.

The conference was opened by the President of the Technical Chamber of Greece/Central Macedonia Section (TCG/CMS – TEE/TKM), Ilias Pertzinidis, who emphasized that accessibility and inclusion are not just two words, ‘…but actions and projects that we are all obligated to implement. They are a responsibility, a duty, but above all, an expression of respect and a declaration of equality.’ Mr. Pertzinidis also described as unfortunate the fact that the concept of sustainable accessibility has only in recent years concerned the Greek state.

The President of the Association of Greek Architects – Panhellenic Union of Architects (SADAS–PEA), Dimitris Xynomilakis, focused on the condition of sidewalks in Greece, describing it as a ‘a deep wound’, stressing the need to organize functional and safe networks for everyone. ‘There cannot be a beautiful pedestrian street in a city while the rest of the city remains inaccessible. All of these elements must work in an organized manner, not sporadically or in isolated areas’ he stated.

The Vice President of UIA/Region II, Jerzy Grochulski, noted that ‘architecture should become synonymous with social trust’, highlighting that the mission of architects is to serve people and society.

The President of the UIA Hellenic Section, Fani Vavili-Tsinika, spoke about the need to integrate the principles of sustainability, inclusion and accessibility into architectural practice. ‘From the scale of the city to that of the individual building, architects are responsible for seeking out and implementing innovative solutions that are suitable for all citizens, with the ultimate goal of enhancing people’s well-being’, she stated.

Τhe concept of inclusion as a source of new architectural ideas was explored in the speech of Nikolas Patsavos, President of the Department of Architecture at the University of Ioannina and Director of the CRISIS Research Laboratory. He also noted that the concept of inclusion has now significantly expanded far beyond issues of accessibility, encompassing concepts such as inclusive-integrative design, human-centered design, and ‘design justice’. He concluded by saying that ‘accessibility gets you to the door, but inclusion makes you feel like you truly belong’.

‘Ableism and Architecture’ was the topic developed by Mantha Zarmakoupi, Associate Professor of Roman Architecture and holder of the Morris Russell and Josephine Chidsey Williams Chair in the Department of the History of Art at the University of Pennsylvania. She illustrated, through examples, the elitism and the quest for perfection, grounded in the notion of the ‘ideal human’ (an idealized body that is, in fact, unreal), that defined the monuments and art of antiquity. She also made special reference to the example of access to the Sacred Rock of the Acropolis.

Maria Morfoulaki, Transportation Engineer at the National Center for Research and Technological Development / Institute of Sustainable Mobility and Transport Networks, spoke about the ‘City for All’ and barrier-free mobility as a fundamental pillar of sustainable transportation. She emphasized, among other points, that the Thessaloniki Metro serves as a good example of accessible and inclusive urban design.

Stelios Kympouropoulos, Psychiatrist, referred in his speech to accessibility as a factor of quality of life. He notably emphasized that ‘Universal design is not a technical choice. It is the point where aesthetics meet respect, and functionality serves human dignity. When a building is accessible, it is more beautiful because it unites’. Among other points, he stressed that ‘Architecture is not decoration. It is a political act. And every ramp placed at the back of a building is a symbolic exclusion. It’s like saying, ‘We will accept you, but through the back door’’.

The objectives of the UIA program ‘Architecture for All’ were presented by Sotiris Papadopoulos, Deputy Director of the program. ‘We raise awareness among designers regarding accessibility and inclusive design, promote the integration of inclusive design in construction and education, and support best practices in inclusive urban design and architecture’, the speaker emphasized. Two emblematic figures in the field of accessibility were acknowledged: Krzysztof Chwalibóg, founder of the ‘Friendly and Inclusive Spaces Awards’ and Argyro Leventi, a visionary and pioneer of accessibility in Greece. He also made special reference to the four Greek projects that have previously received awards within the framework of the program: the Athens Metro (Turin 2008), the Thessaloniki City Hall (Tokyo 2011), the Redevelopment of Thessaloniki’s New Waterfront (Durban, Africa 2014), and the Redevelopment of the center of Karpenisi (Seoul 2017).

He concluded his presentation by elaborating on the main theme, ‘Friendly and Inclusive Spaces’ Awards – Memory, Forgetting and Public Space: Towards a Design for All – A critical inquiry into how public interest projects address and (fail to) reflect universal design’.

• 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 (May 28) the traveling Awards Exhibition of the UIA Work Programme ‘Architecture for All (AfA)’ was inaugurated in the foyer of the TEE/TKM amphitheater.

The UIA Inclusive and Friendly Awards were established to promote architectural projects that have created socially sustainable environments through high-quality architectural design.

The exhibition relates to the latest competition and was first presented at the World Congress in Copenhagen in 2023, marking the beginning of its international tour.

The awards cover four categories within the program:

• New buildings
• Renovated existing buildings (including historic buildings)
• Public and open spaces
• Architectural research

A total of 116 entries were submitted from 37 countries. Four projects (one in each category) were awarded prizes, and an additional 11 entries received honorable mentions.

• Later that evening, the President of TEE/TKM offered a reception to the attendees.