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Rio de Janeiro: World Capital of Architecture 2020

UNESCO has announced the city of Rio de Janeiro, in Brazil, as the World Capital of Architecture for 2020. This initiative, the first ever of the kind, results from the recent partnership between UNESCO and the International Union of Architects (IUA).

Rio de Janeiro will be the host of UIA 2020´s World Congress of Architects from 19th to 26th July 2020. The Congress will focus on the theme “All the worlds. Just one world.”

UNESCO´s assistant director-general for Culture Ernesto Ottone R. said, “The World Capital of Architecture initiative underscores the common commitment of UNESCO and the UIA to preserve architectural heritage in the urban context. Through the range and quality of its activities, the World Capital of Architecture in Rio de Janeiro will demonstrate the crucial role of architecture and culture in sustainable urban development.”

Cities designated as world capitals of architecture will, according to a statement from the UIA, “become a global forum for discussion on the pressing challenges of our world, through the prisms of culture, heritage, urban planning and architecture. UNESCO, UIA and local institutions will organize activities and events to promote projects that will involve not only architects and urban planners, but professionals from related sectors as well.”