{"id":4251,"date":"2026-11-02T10:17:48","date_gmt":"2026-11-02T09:17:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ace-cae.eu\/?post_type=ace-news&p=4251"},"modified":"2026-11-02T11:59:36","modified_gmt":"2026-11-02T10:59:36","slug":"interarch-2026-closes-with-the-adoption-of-the-sofia-declaration","status":"publish","type":"ace-news","link":"https:\/\/ace-cae.eu\/nn\/news\/interarch-2026-closes-with-the-adoption-of-the-sofia-declaration\/","title":{"rendered":"INTERARCH 2026 closes with the adoption of the Sofia Declaration- Interview with Istelianna Atanassova"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

From 15 to 17 October 2026, architects, urban planners, educators, students and cultural institutions from around the world gathered in Sofia for the 16th edition of INTERARCH, held under the patronage of the Architects\u2019 Council of Europe and the Mayor of Sofia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Founded in 1981 as the World Architecture Biennale, INTERARCH is one of Europe\u2019s longest-standing international architecture forums and a major event for the profession in Southeastern Europe. This year\u2019s edition explored European architectural policies and the holistic approaches needed to respond to a world in transition. It concluded with the adoption of the Sofia Declaration, which calls for architectural quality to be embedded in legislation, public policies and funding programmes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The forum opened on 15 October with several exhibitions: the ACE exhibition Form Follows Transformation<\/em>, showcasing good practices in the regeneration of Europe\u2019s built environment; the INTERARCH international exhibition competition, featuring projects that show how European policies are being put into practice; a retrospective tracing the history of INTERARCH; and a presentation of diploma projects by Bulgarian architecture students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ACE was represented by President Daniel F\u00fcgenschuh <\/strong>and Executive Board members Eugen P\u0103nescu <\/strong>and Istelianna Atanassova<\/strong>. Istelianna, who also serves on the Council of the Union of Architects in Bulgaria (UAB), chaired the Organising Committee and sat on the competition jury. We asked her to look back on the event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Istelianna Atanassova and Architect Jean-Philippe Vassal.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

ACE: After several years away, INTERARCH is back. What made this the right moment to bring it back?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Istelianna Atanassova<\/strong>: INTERARCH was founded 45 years ago, in 1981. It started as a biennial and later became a triennial. The last edition took place in 2018; preparations for INTERARCH 2020 were then cancelled because of COVID-19. Now the Union of Architects in Bulgaria has relaunched this important forum. INTERARCH 2026 was free for all Bulgarian and foreign architects, including every activity and social event, and it welcomed delegations from the national architectural organisations of Georgia, Armenia, Serbia and North Macedonia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

INTERARCH is needed today not only to continue a tradition, but because it is the largest professional forum in Southeast Europe and a real opportunity for professional exchange and cooperation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ACE:<\/strong> What did INTERARCH 2026 achieve?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Istelianna Atanassova<\/strong>: Our main achievements were:<\/p>\n\n\n\n