What
42nd international conference Piran Days of Architecture and 36th Piranesi Award
Theme
Is Architecture Neutral?
Where and when
Avditorij Portorož, 21.–22. 11. 2025
Honorary patron
Anna Ramos, director of Fundació Mies van der Rohe
Organiser
DESSA Architectural Center, DESSA gallery
Co-organiser
Obalne galerije Piran
President of the PIDA organising committee
Maja Ivanič
On Saturday, 22 November, the 42nd international conference Piran Days of Architecture will take place in the Portorož Auditorium in Slovenia, under the honorary patronage of Anna Ramos, Director of the Mies van der Rohe Foundation. This architectural event with one of the longest traditions in the world has been held since 1983 on the initiative and in the organisation of Slovenian architects. More information about the PIDA conference and the Piranesi Award is available at www.pida.si/about-pida-and-piranesi-award.
The theme of the 42nd PIDA conference assumes the title of IS ARCHITECTURE NEUTRAL?. This year's PIDA speaker, architect Prof. Miha Dešman, wrote: »As architects, we regard our field of expertise to be an autonomous discipline which is bound by its internal rules. To an extent, this is true as we are talking about a specific discipline boasting its own history as well as methods and operational techniques. But on the other hand, architecture affects everything, and everything affects architecture. As a result, it is in no way neutral but rather always situated in one place or another - physically, socially, and historically. If architecture were neutral, it wouldn't bear social, environmental, and political responsibility. It would be apolitical, confined to the ivory tower of its autonomy. Being, as it is, situated in the world and in time, however, it is beholden to acting responsibly right here and right now. Architecture is about research which leads to the uncovering and modification of the designated function of the existing, rather than to the mere creation of new forms. This prompts the necessity of consideration, which accounts for the bigger picture and acts accordingly, too. As architects, we must be active, develop concepts, and take decisions even on levels which lie outside the autonomy of the architectural profession. Nowadays, this has chiefly to do the with the consideration on social injustice and the environmental crisis. Late capitalism is edging architecture's artistic and social, but also technical and scientific relevancy ever closer towards a state of crisis. Architecture is increasingly becoming a market commodity, be it either a luxury product or cultural heritage frozen in time, or a merciless tool employed by the capital to serve the purpose of profit-making. What is needed is a critical reflection on what architecture is, and what are the causes and manner of its operation, as well as its effects.«
PIDA 2025 will feature lectures by architects from different continents and by students:
Pau Bajet, Maria Giramé • Bajet Giramé • Spain
Miha Dešman • Dans architects • Slovenia
Palinda Kannangara • Palinda Kannangara Architects • Sri Lanka
Petr Pelčák • Pelčák a partner architetki • Czech
Nemanja Zimonjić, Ognjen Krašna • TEN • Serbia, Switzerland
Matjaž Bolčina, Ernest Milčinović • ARP • Slovenia
Students • Faculty of Architecture of the University of Ljubljana and Faculty of Architecture of the University of Maribor • Slovenia
The PIDA conference will conclude with the 36th ceremony of the international PIRANESI AWARD. The projects were nominated by national and student Piranesi selectors and selected by an international jury, composed of PIDA lecturers.
In Auditorium Portorož the exhibition of 2025 PIDA student workshop BEYOND AUDITORIUM will be on display, prepared by students of the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Ljubljana and the Faculty of Civil Engineering, Transportation Engineering and Architecture of the University of Maribor, and mentors Žiga Kreševič, assistant professor, Uroš Lobnik, associate professor, Tadej Urh, assistant professor, Mitja Zorc, docent.
initiators, organisers, and external critics Anže Koren, Borut Bažec
produced by DESSA gallery, Auditorij Portorož – Portorose
After the Piranesi award ceremony, the 2025 PIRANESI AWARD exhibition will traditionaly open at the Monfort Exhibition Hall at 8 pm, and will be on display from 22 November to 30 December 2025.
PIDA program starts two days before the conference with events PIRANAS DAYS TO PIRAN:
. On Thursday, 20 November 2025:
_ at 5 pm in Piran City Library: children's workshop TRACES OF SPACES - BETWEEN READING AND REJUDGING, organised by the Centre for Architecture Slovenia, programme Playful Architecture.
. On Friday, 21 November 2025:
_ at 6 pm in Piran City Library: lecture by Andrej Hrausky: FORMA PERENNIS: JOŽE PLEČNIK AS A GRAPHIC DESIGNER
_ at 7:30 pm in St. Donat Concept Shop and Gallery: photographic exhibition wienerberger LIGHT AND SHADOW OF BRICK STRUCTURE: Brick Award
We kindly invite you to join us at Piran Days of Architecture.
More information, program, tickets and photos are at www.pida.si.
PIDA organising committee
