The International Union of Architects (UIA) will hold their triennial World Congress of Architects in Copenhagen, Denmark in 2023. Copenhagen has been chosen in partnership by the UIA and UNESCO as the second World Capital of Architecture designee. This designation is part of an agreement between UNESCO and the UIA that was signed in 2018 to foster cooperation between the two organizations. The agreement “aims to extend the response to [the challenges facing urban development] by developing opportunities through the mobilization of local and national governments, the media and communities” (UNESCO).
An outcome of the agreement is that the jointly named World Capital of Architecture will now play host to the World Congress of Architects. The UIA World Congress has been in existence since 1948, however this is the first time the Congress will be held in a Nordic country. The theme for the 2023 Congress will be “Sustainable Futures – Leave No One Behind.” The UIA strives to make architecture a force for realizing the United Nation’s 17 sustainability goals meant to help guide developmental thinking on a global scale.
“Copenhagen ranks as one of the most livable and loveable cities in the world and is aiming to keep this title. As host for the UIA World Congress, Copenhagen provides a unique combination of culture, tolerance, global connectivity, well-functioning public transport, green spaces and high-quality architecture” (UIA).
The year long designation as World Capital of Architecture will allow Copenhagen to showcase the great strides they have already made in sustainable urban development and serve as a global forum for the sustainability discussion.