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Opening of the BAUA pavilion at the UIA World Congress of Architects

22.06.2023

The opening reception of the BAUA pavilion at the UIA World Congress of Architects CPH 2023 takes place on Tuesday, July 4th at 14.45 at Bella Center (E-085).

About the background of the pavilion

The topic of the UIA congress Sustainable Futures – Leave No One Behind is the central, transformative promise of the 2030 UN Sustainable Development Goals. This promise – and premise – represents the commitment of all UN member states to reduce the inequalities and vulnerabilities that leave people behind and undermine the potential of individuals, and humanity. The congress will address how architects, urban planners and the building and construction industry are already contributing to the necessary transformation towards more just, resilient and including societies – and how it can be further improved.

Below this theme, the Baltic countries together have decided to investigate further the recently initiated topic of Holistic Renovation of Modernism Housing. The initiative aims to promote quality holistic modernism housing renovation in European and non-European countries as well, discussing the most relevant topics, highlighting the challenges, sharing the experience and presenting the best practices of holistic renovation of modernist housing.

By the author Karl Pops

We are at a crossroads. In the Baltic states, like anywhere with a large stock of deteriorating housing from the modernist period, we have to choose how to address it going forward. The bones are good, the rest are not. There is a world in which the status quo continues, where piecemeal renovation of Soviet-era apartment buildings falls largely on individual owner cooperatives while the neighbourhoods stay isolated. But there can also be a world in which housing is recognised as critical infrastructure that needs a holistic vision and investment to ensure its sustainability. Which world do we want to live in? 

The proposed pavilion illustrates this choice with the juxtaposition of two rooms of equal dimensions — one that represents a typical panel block apartment in its original state, and another that has been renovated to contemporary living standards and ambitions. It is not just a matter of aesthetics, but also of natural light, thermal comfort, indoor air quality, acoustics, and ultimately, human dignity. The well-being of residents, communities, communities, cities and societies on the whole is at stake. 

Author of the pavilion: Karl Pops
Graphic design: Tuumik
Technical implementation of the pavilion: Ardo Hiiuväin, Eeros Lees, Päär-Joonap Keedus