Day 1

On November 29, 2024, organized by the Chamber of Licensed Architects and Licensed Engineers, and under the motto “Boundaries of Architecture”, the first day of the Third Annual Meeting of Architects and Urban Architects was successfully held in Bitola.

The meeting began with a warm welcome from Ms. Kristinka Čulak, President of the Chamber, who emphasized that “boundaries”—whether physical, cultural, legal, or environmental—shape architecture and inspire architects to create humane and functional spaces. She highlighted that the Chamber, through open cooperation with all stakeholders, creates a platform for professional excellence. Among the key projects she presented were the introduction of a personalized digital certificate and the development of a pricing guide for valuing engineering work. She also stressed the Chamber’s potential for international institutional engagement through the new vice-presidential position in the European Council of Engineering Chambers, marking a significant step in the global positioning of the Macedonian engineering community.

The Mayor of Bitola, Dr. Toni Konjanovski, in his address, underlined the crucial role of architects in materializing political visions and called for maintaining creativity within the “boundaries of architecture.” At the end of his speech, he awarded a plaque to Ms. Čulak as a token of appreciation for her achievements and contributions.

The meeting was officially opened by the Deputy Minister of Transport, Ms. Kaltrina Zekolli Shaqiri, who stated that “boundaries” should be seen not only as challenges but also as opportunities for innovation and the creation of functional, aesthetic, and sustainable solutions.

As part of the program, a video address was delivered by the President of the Architects’ Council of Europe, Ms. Ruth Schagemann, and the honorary guest, Deputy Mayor of Paris, Mr. Christophe Najdovski, presented his vision for “greening” Paris. His presentation included concrete measures for transforming the city, focusing on creating green urban spaces, prioritizing pedestrians, and promoting the use of public transportation over private vehicles. Mr. Najdovski emphasized that these measures not only improve the quality of life but also significantly reduce pollution. Special attention was given to tackling the complex challenges of organizing the Olympic Games in Paris, where efficient urban mobility management and sustainable infrastructure played a crucial role in the successful execution of the global event.

The program also included a lecture by Prof. Dr. Ana Ivanovska Deskova on the topic “Utopia Beyond Borders: The Architecture of Post-Earthquake Reconstruction in Skopje”, followed by the opening of the exhibition “Atlas of Macedonian Modern Architecture.”

After a thematic commercial presentation by gold sponsor Knauf, the audience had the opportunity to attend expert presentations by Gazim Paçarizi from Switzerland and Ognen Arsov and Ana Kosi from Slovenia.

The afternoon was dedicated to the panel discussion “Boundaries of Architecture”, moderated by Marta Ilievska, with participation from the previously mentioned speakers: Ana Ivanovska Deskova, Gazim Paçarizi, Ognen Arsov, and Ana Kosi, joined by architect Martin Panovski.

The day concluded with a visit to the Museum of Christian and Islamic Heritage.