Welcome to the beginning of a new decade. It is an honor to serve as the 2020 chair of the American Institute of Architects’ Committee on Design (COD). The theme for the 2020 AIA Committee on Design is Trading Posts: The Architecture of Confluence.
For this year's two COD conferences, I have selected two cities that share a history as trading posts—Denver by land, and Singapore by sea—to tell a story of the architecture of confluence. They both have continuously reinvented themselves to adapt to the ever-changing future. Each city has experienced significant economic and population growth over the past decades and continues to thrive by taking risks and cultivating dynamic enterprises.
Denver and Singapore architectural influences come from different places and periods. They are melting pots of people, culture, dreams, and result in an architectural landscape that takes us on a journey through time. Dedication to green space in both cities allows for a softer urbanism. Through parks and trail systems, Denver, the 'Mile High City,' fosters the outdoor lifestyle even in the urban core. Singapore's 'City in a Garden' continues to cultivate integration between the built and natural environments by pioneering vertical green structures. We will explore how these trading posts continue to develop and grow as urban hubs. We will visit the dynamic neighborhoods that celebrate cultural diversity while blending traditions, architecture, cuisine, and global business to create a total convergence of cultures.
About the AIA Committee on Design
The mission of AIA COD is to promote design excellence by encouraging and fostering great design among members of the AIA, the broader design community, and the public at large, both nationally and internationally. In realizing our mission, we promote a range of activities intended to encourage a dialogue on the art and science of architecture.
Our goals are to:
• Examine and promote knowledge of contemporary design issues
• Compare current design and historic precedents
• Learn from the contrast or progression of ideas, and
• Advocate leadership roles for architects within the fields of design and planning
The Committee's work recognizes design excellence by both touring and discussing great architecture, as well as nominating candidates for the
AIA Firm Award,
Honorary Fellows, and
Gold Medal programs; and organizing design-related events at the annual
AIA Conference on Architecture.
During their term, the chair organizes two design-focused conferences—one domestic and one international. Because socio-cultural diversity is expressed through urban design, planning, and architecture, the goal of these conferences is to experience the culture of a destination while learning from city planners, architects, and scholars. We gain a better understanding of what it means to be global citizens from these visits and conversations and newfound friendships. It is our duty to design sustainable buildings for resilient cities. It is my hope that these conferences deepen our ability to grow.
This year's conferences, Trading Posts: The Architecture of Confluence in Denver + Singapore build on the recent successful conferences held in: Portland, Oregon + Havana, Cuba (2016); Austin, Texas + St. Petersburg and Moscow, Russia (2017); Vancouver, Canada + Santiago and Valparaiso, Chile (2018); San Francisco, California + Basel, Lausanne, Lucerne, Chur, Vals, Switzerland (2019).
Save the Dates
We hope you will join us! I plan to send you monthly updates on planning for this year's events, so stay tuned.