Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/956553
INSIGHTS | EVENT HIGHLIGHT MAR-APR 2018 47 MEETINGS & CONVENTIONS • MCMAG-ASIA.COM HOSTING AN 'OLYMPIC' TURNOUT When Seoul beat out Singapore and Mexico City in 2011 to win the bid to host the world's largest architecture event, the city certainly had large shoes to ll. The Union of International Architects (UIA) World Congress, held every three years, has a history dating back more than 60 years since its launch in Lausanne in 1948. The congress, held for the rst time in Korea, was co-hosted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and UIA, and the Federation of Institute of Korean Architects. Planning for the 26th edition began in November 2014. PROGRAMMING & PLANNING Themed 'Soul of City', the eight-day congress attracted 23,419 participants from 109 countries, making it the third largest in UIA's history. The rst part of the congress featured keynote speeches, presentations, forums and seminar programmes. Various academic programmes, exhibitions, competitions, student activities, and public outreach programmes were also taking place at the same time. The second part, held at Dongdaemun Design Plaza, hosted the UIA General Assembly. With such a large and diverse delegation, event organiser MECI International mobilised about 100 sta members across various service- management, pre-registration and on- site registration teams. A BALANCING ACT Dubbed an unprecedented celebration of the architectural world, the congress welcomed internationally renowned architects such as Kuma Kengo, who designed the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Stadium and Ito Toyo, a Nobel Prize winner for architectural design. While the congress featured serious architectural greats, it also showed o a colourful, edgy side with more than 20 performances programmed at various venues. Hologram performances, sessions on traditional tea ceremony and the Seoul K-Pop Festival were highlights. The Seoul Museum of Art also hosted delegates for a special exhibition. A PRESIDENTIAL KICKOFF On the opening day, delegates were welcomed by South Korean President Moon Jae-in in a video message. The Mayor of Seoul, Park Won-Soon was also in attendance as keynote speaker. ROUND UP Following a successful run in Korea and its third edition in Asia, the congress will shift its sights to Rio in 2020. The closing ceremony of The closing ceremony of UIA Seoul 2017 UIA Seoul 2017 UIA 2017 Seoul World Architects Congress Words Meetings & Conventions Asia Hosting the 'Olympics' of architecture, organisers delivered on both the serious and social to welcome a large and diverse delegation from 109 countries. EVENT: UIA 2017 Seoul World Architects Congress VENUE: COEX Convention Center and Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), Seoul DATE: September 3-10, 2017 EVENT SIZE: 23,419 participants ORGANISER: MECI International CONTACT: Ji Hwan Yeo, executive manager, baris.meci.co.kr