The American Institute of Architects Committee on Design is holding its first South American conference this week in Santiago and Valparaíso, Chile. Starting on October 20 and running through the 27th, the conference is organized by the Copperbridge Foundation in collaboration with Chilean Constructo and Massantiago. The CoD conference will include a focus on each city's contemporary architecture and urban fabric, as well as tours, presentations and exhibitions with Chilean institutions.
As an introduction to Santiago, conference attendees will be able to explore architecture that was inherited from the colonial period and contemporary designs. President Carl Elefante named the theme for the AIA this year as "Blueprint for Better Cities", which will be the core focus of the conference.
The Chilean Museum of Pre-Columbian Art, the Benedictine Monastery, the School of Architecture at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, CEPAL, the GAM and Torre de Costanera Center will be some of the spaces where architects and designers at the conference will be able to exchange with Chilean architects and planners. The tours will also include projects presentations, conferences and exhibitions designed to create open dialogue between participants and hosts.
Architects will have the chance to arrive at the Hotel VIK and winery, passing by Valparaíso on the west coast, where they can delve into the architectural secrets of the port city, named a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Conference is an opportunity to strengthen professional ties and ground new understandings of design. The conference aspires to create connections in South America and introduce professionals to Chilean history and design.
