Piran Days of Architecture 2026 |
43rd International Architectural Conference, Piranesi 2026 Award and Exhibition |
PIDA Conference: Avditorij Portorož, 21.11.2026 |
Piranesi 2026 Exhibition: Monfort Portorož, 21.11.2026–30.12.2026.
One of the world’s longest-running international architectural conferences is organised by DESSA Architecture Centre Ljubljana in cooperation with the Piran Coastal Galleries, Avditorij Portorož and the Municipality of Piran. The conference aims to assess current architectural trends and present the most innovative architectural ideas developed in Central Europe over the past two years. This year’s invited speakers, Patrick Richard (United Kingdom), Kerstin Thompson (Australia), Francisco Cifuentes (Spain), Dinko Peračić & Miranda Veljačić (Croatia), Nguyễn Hà (Vietnam), Mojca Gregorski and Andraž Keršič (Slovenia), will present their projects, perspectives and visions on the theme How Many Dimensions Are There to Architecture? at Avditorij Portorož on Saturday, 21 November 2026. The conference at Avditorij will be followed by the award and honourable mentions ceremony and the opening of the Piranesi 2026 exhibition at Monfort in Portorož.
More information at the link …
HOW MANY DIMENSIONS ARE THERE TO ARCHITECTURE?
Ever since the Renaissance, architecture has been defined through the Euclidean understanding of space. The contemporary designing infrastructure may also be seen as the newest iteration of building technology in three spatial dimensions. Yet the challenges of the 21st century, such as the mounting environmental crisis, economic inequality, social upheavals, wars, and the inability of architecture to employ the foundations of solidarity in order to intervene into such a world, put forward questions which may not be resolved solely within the space. The so-called “artificial intelligence" – in earnest merely efficient management of existing databases – is making strident inroads into architecture. The analogous issue of creativity and invention in architecture of today encompasses not only the optimal spatialisation of the programme and consistent and technologically flawless execution and convincing detailing, but also decisions which carry wider consequences: to what extent do we go for new builds and when can the existent be used, the carbon footprint of the materials used, and the adaptability of the space to future uses not yet envisaged. One is therefore increasingly at a loss to comprehend the creativity and relevance of architecture without its ethical dimension, while vacuous and flawless images of individual architectural marvels are becoming ever more problematic. Why are we not evolving new technologies that would – rather than optimise the existing architectural work – enable the developmental breakthrough into new creative dimensions? To what extent do new technologies foster new creative possibilities, and when do they reduce architectural work to technocratic adherence to (often outdated) norms and technical requirements? How does technology define the dimensions of architectural thought and bring forth opportunities for inventions which would not merely reiterate old ideas in new forms? And finally, do new technologies represent a barrier or assist in evolving a new understanding of architectural creativity?
Blaž Budja, Miloš Kosec
ACCOMPANYING EVENTS:
Thursday, 19 November
- at 17.00:
LIBRARY LUCIJA: THE INVISIBLE DIMENSIONS OF ARCHITECTURE
children's workshop Playful architecture
Architecture Centre of Slovenia - at 18.30:
THE BAPTISTERY OF ST JOHN THE BAPTIST IN PIRAN: PLEČNIK’S BAPTISMAL FONT
from the Church of the Annunciation to Mary
exhibition and presentation
The Society of Friends of the Treasures of St George, Piran in cooperation with the Franciscan Monastery of Kostanjevica near Nova Gorica
Friday, 20 November
- at 15.30:
MEDIADOM PYRHANI AND THE CLOISTER OF THE MINORITE MONASTERY OF ST FRANCIS:
RETHINKING PIRAN: ARCHITECTURAL AND URBAN IDENTITY OF THE STREET
presentation of the international student workshop
UL FA, UL FS, UP FHŠ, UNIST FCEAG, La Salle URL, Erasmus+ BIP 2025/2026 - at 17.00:
CITY LIBRARY PIRAN: THE PIRAN DIALOGUES
lecture by Blaž Budja - at 18.30:
GALLERY HERMAN PEČARIČ: VENUSTAS – THE POETICS OF ARCHITECTS
exhibition
concept and design: Uroš Lobnik, Robert Potokar - at 19.30:
ST DONAT: CONCEPT STORE & GALLERY
IN LIMBO. ARCHITECTURE IN SUSPENSION, TRANSITION, PARADOX
Roberto Conte
photo exhibition
