Every first Monday in October marks World Architecture Day, an initiative promoted by the International Union of Architects (UIA) to highlight architecture’s contribution to improving quality of life and developing more sustainable, inclusive and resilient cities.

Under the slogan “Housing is a Human Right. Build It.”, this year’s event focuses on one of the great global challenges of our time: ensuring access to decent, safe and affordable housing for everyone.

The UIA maintains that housing should not be seen as a privilege, but as a fundamental right. Against a backdrop of a growing housing crisis affecting millions of people worldwide, architecture plays a key role in driving innovative, sustainable and socially inclusive solutions, contributing to the development of more equitable, accessible and liveable cities.

This edition takes on special significance in our region, as it coincides with the year in which Barcelona is UNESCO-UIA World Capital of Architecture. This recognition is linked to the UIA World Congress of Architects, an event that brings together professionals and experts from around the world every three years to discuss the future of cities and the built environment. Barcelona thus becomes the first city to host this congress twice, following the edition held in 1996, and is organising an extensive programme of cultural, professional and educational activities throughout the year relating to architecture and urban planning.

At the IDP Group – A Bureau Veritas Company, we join in this commemoration by reaffirming our commitment to architecture and engineering centred on people and sustainable development. Designing and building spaces that promote well-being, foster inclusion and contribute to a more resilient future is part of our understanding of engineering and architecture.