ArchiTeam PaperNews

ECOWEEK 2011: Urban Communities and Green Architecture

date added: 25.03.2011

ECOWEEK 2011: Urban Communities and Green Architecture
Thessaloniki March 28 – April 3, 2011

Contents:
- Introduction.
- Short Press Release.
- About ECOWEEK.
- ECOWEEK in the Middle East.
- ECOWEEK in Milano.
- ECOWEEK network on the internet.
- ECOWEEK 2011 in Thessaloniki.
- ECOWEEK 2011 Program in Thessaloniki.

INTRODUCTION

Non-profit non-governmental organization ECOWEEK brings together again this year young and established architects, designers and landscape architects from around the world, for the Cultural – Ecological – Architectural Happening of the year. This year in Thessaloniki!

The international conference and workshops ECOWEEK 2011: Urban Communities and ‘Green’ Architecture has the participation of more than 300 students and young professionals (architects, designers and landscape architects) from 16 countries, including England, Germany, Italy, Israel, Iran, Cyprus, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Sweden, and Turkey. Keynote speakers are award-winning architect from Germany with projects in Burkina Faso, Diebedo Francis Kere, whose work was recently exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art in New York – with the co-operation and support of Goethe Institute – and the award-winning landscape architect George Hargreaves from the UK – with the co-operation and support of the British Council. ECOWEEK 2011 will also include the exhibition “Global Award for Sustainable Architecture” from France, with the co-operation of the French Institute in Thessaloniki, which will also host the exhibition, and the Cite de l'Architecture et du Patrimoine in France.

SHORT PRESS RELEASE

ECOWEEK 2011: Ecology & the Meeting of Cultures in Thessaloniki
From March 28 to April 3 an important event will take place in Thessaloniki for the first time: the international conference and design workshops of ECOWEEK, where more than 300 young professionals (architects, designers, landscape architects) from 16 countries, will gather to design ‘green’ buildings, ‘green’ retrofits to existing buildings, ‘green’ urban interventions and landscape design projects in the city.

ECOWEEK 2011 is titled ‘Urban Communities and ‘Green’ Architecture’, and will include four main themes: the design of a passive solar house of zero emissions; the design of ‘green’ retrofit interventions in existing buildings; the ‘green’ design of urban interventions within the city fabric and landscape design proposals in the city, and the design of a ‘green’ building that will benefit a community or NGO.

“We aim to promote the principles of ‘green’ buildings and the energy upgrading of buildings, which consume more than 40% of the produced energy. With passive solar design and the choice of ecological materials, we can reduce considerably our dependence on non-renewable energy source”, comments the founder and Chairman of ECOWEEK architect Elias Messinas.

ECOWEEK 2011 is organized by Greek international NGO ECOWEEK, which was established in 2005 with the mission to raise environmental awareness. ECOWEEK 2011 takes place under the auspices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Environment of Greece, the City of Thessaloniki and the European Institute for Law, Science and Technology, and with the collaboration of Greek and foreign architectural, design and landscape design firms, institutes and experts.

ECOWEEK 2011 events will take place in different locations throughout the city of Thessaloniki: the opening will take place at ‘Olympion’ where the keynote lecture of award-winning architect from Berlin Diebedo Francis Kere will take place. The workshops proposals will be presented and discussed by experts from Greece and abroad at ‘Ioannis Vellidis’ hall with the participation of more than 300 young professionals and graduate students from 16 countries. The French Institute of Thessaloniki will host the international ‘green’ building exhibition “Global Award for Sustainable Architecture” from France, and Goethe Institute will host a panel discussion on Designing with Climate and Place. The last day of ECOWEEK 2011 is dedicated to tours in museums and landmarks of the city.

After Thessaloniki, ECOWEEK is planning international conferences and workshops in the Middle East (Israel &West Bank/Palestinian Authority), Italy (Milano) and Romania.

Complete Press Release with the Program, information on Speakers and Venues of ECOWEEK 2011 click at the link:
http://ecoweek.netfirms.com/ecoweek/files/2011/files/press/deltia_typou/18_3_11/ecoweek_2011_press_release_18-3-11_1.docx

More information on the conference, visit the ECOWEEK 2011 webpage: http://ecoweek.netfirms.com/ecoweek.gr/ecoweek2011/index.html

For more information on ECOWEEK visit www.ecoweek.gr and www.ecoweek.org

Visual materials on past ECOWEEK conferences and events: http://ecoweek.netfirms.com/ecoweek/press_room_photo_album_ecoweek_GR.htm και http://ecoweek.netfirms.com/ecoweek/press_room_photo_album_ecoweek_ENG.htm