SHARE Architects Journey (3): Mediterranean Countries

SHARE Architects has played a pivotal role in fostering connections between local and international architectural communities in the Mediterranean, with its 12 events in Italy, Greece, and Cyprus serving as platforms for dialogue, innovation, and collaboration.

Nearly 3,000 participants have engaged with cutting-edge architectural discourse, facilitated by SHARE’s strong emphasis on the region’s rich architectural history and traditions. 88 prominent architects from these countries are members of the SHARE Architects Society, and three received SHARE OPERA OMNIA Awards celebrating their lifetime achievements: Nicos Valsamakis (Greece), Dimitris Antonakakis (Greece), Theoharis David (Cyprus)

ITALY – Venice

In Italy, SHARE Architects hosted three editions in Venice, including SHARE TALKS Venice 2019 and two SHARE X Conferences for Advanced Architecture in 2023 and 2024. These events, organized in collaboration with the Università Iuav di Venezia and Ordine degli Architetti Pianificatori Paesaggisti e Conservatori Venezia, under the patronage of the Federazione Regionale Ordini Architetti PPC Veneto and the Fondazione Degli Architetti, Pianificatori, Paesaggisti e Conservatori della Provincia Di Venezia, brought together international leaders in architecture to explore groundbreaking research and its practical applications, and NEW into OLD in Architecture.

The 2019 SHARE TALKS event launched the book “Designing the Profile of the Future Architect” and featured global thought leaders like Ian Ritchie (UK), Emre Arolat (Turkey), and Paolo Brescia (Italy), Alberto Torselo (Italy), Habibeh Madjadbi (Iran), and Fokke Moerel (The Nederlands).

Key highlights of SHARE X Venice forums in 2023 and 2024 included over 500 attendees and tens of remarkable speakers from all over the world, including Pritzker Prize laureate Wang Shu, and Aga Khan laureate Emre Arolat, Alasdair Graham, Partner David Chipperfield (UK), Sebastien Ricard, Board Director at WilkinsonEyre (UK), and Ana Flor, Design Principal at Studio Gang (USA), Martha Tsigkari, Senior Partner Foster + Partners,(UK), Paolo Matteuzzi, Director ZAHA HADID Architects (UK), Francesca Cesa Bianchi, Partner Stefano Boeri Architetti,(Italy).

The board of SHARE X Conference reunites Luca Molinari, architect, critic, curator, full professor of Theory and Architectural Design at the University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli” and scientific director of M9 Museum, Roberto Beraldo, President of Ordine degli Architetti Pianificatori Paesaggisti e Conservatori Venezia, and Florin Mindirigiu, Founder and President of SHARE Architects.

GREECE – Athens

Since 2018, SHARE Architects has been instrumental in connecting the Greek architectural community with international peers through five editions of the SHARE Athens Forum, attended by nearly 1,400 participants and featuring over 120 speakers.

Key milestones include:

– 2018: A critical examination of contemporary Greek architecture.

– 2019: The SHARE Opera Omnia Award was presented to Nicos Valsamakis for his architectural contributions.

– 2020: The 3rd edition of SHARE Athens 2020 Forum was organized in partnership with the Hellenic Institute of Architecture in an online format, and reunited over 200 attendees. Speakers from the Netherlands, France, Slovenia, Iran, Romania, and Greece presented international and renowned projects.

– 2024: The SHARE Athens Forum ran alongside the SHARE Architecture Awards, the unique Gala of Central & South-Eastern Europe celebrating outstanding architecture projects. The annual SHARE Architecture Awards stand out as the first of its kind in the region. With the commitment to promote sustainability and community development, entries to the SHARE Architecture Awards were judged by a panel of esteemed industry experts, who evaluated submissions based on design excellence, sustainability, functionality, and innovation criteria.

CYPRUS – Nicosia

In Cyprus, SHARE Architects has organized four editions of the SHARE Nicosia Forum, connecting over 1000 participants with international architectural leaders. In partnership with the Cyprus Architects Association and the Cyprus Scientific and Technical Chamber (ETEK), these events have addressed themes like sustainable facades, urban living, and large-scale developments.

Distinguished international guests took the stage at the forum: Jan Gehl, Founder Gehl architects, Denmark/ Jan Knikker, Partner MVRDV, The Netherlands/ Roman Delugan, Founder Delugan Meissl Associated Architects, Austria / John McElgunn, Partner Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partner, UK / Peter Murray, Chairman London Festival of Architecture, UK / Frederique Monjanel, CEO Jean Nouvel, France/ Sanjay Puri , Founder Sanjay Puri Architects, India/Maximiliano Arrocet, Director AL_A, UK/ Bernard Khoury, Founder DW5 – Lebanon, Martin GRAN, Partner Snøhetta, Norway/ Peter MURRAY, Co-founder New London Architecture, UK/ Armand PAARDEKOOPER OVERMAN, Associate Partner MECANOO, The Netherlands/ Sherif TARABISHY, Associate Partner Foster+Partners, UK/ Isabel VAN HAUTE, Partner Coldefy Architects, France.

Through its events in Italy, Greece, and Cyprus, SHARE Architects has celebrated the region’s architectural heritage while championing innovation and sustainability. Its initiatives continue to inspire dialogue, collaboration, and knowledge sharing, shaping the future of architecture in the Mediterranean and beyond.

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