Concept and Objectives
The conference served as a high-level forum dedicated to stimulating performance in research, development, and innovation. The primary goal was to enhance the research skills of academic staff, PhD candidates, and students, while facilitating partnerships between the academic environment and public or private institutions. The event placed a major emphasis on increasing the international visibility of Romanian research in architecture and urban planning.
Period: October 4–8, 2021 | Format: Online (Zoom)
Funding: Project CNFIS-FDI-2021-0508
Thematic Program Structure
The event was organized as a 5-day \”marathon,\” with each day dedicated to a strategic direction of sustainability:
- Day 1: Green Transition. Official opening and presentation of international partnerships (e.g., the Dutch-Romanian partnership for greener cities).
- Day 2: Climate Change and Urbanism. Debates on Smart Cities, eco-development, and nature-based solutions.
- Day 3: Sustainable Architecture. Focus on integrated design, disaster risk reduction for buildings, and sustainable habitat technology.
- Day 4: Innovative Materials. Exploration of technical textiles, biophilic, and bionic design in interior architecture.
- Day 5: Energy Efficiency. Analysis of the nZEB (nearly Zero-Energy Buildings) concept, sustainable research networks, and energy efficiency software tools.
Expertise and Partnerships
The event featured prestigious speakers from the UAUIM academic community and international guests from top universities in the Netherlands (Van Hall Larenstein), Portugal (University of Algarve), Spain (University of Alcalá), and Austria (TU Wien). Strategic partners included the Order of Architects of Romania (OAR), the Romanian Union of Architects (UAR), and the pROnZEB Cluster.
Participant Testimonials and Feedback
Key Strengths Noted:
- Quality and Diversity: Participants praised the \”complexity of approaches\” and the \”relevance of concepts,\” specifically highlighting the value of international speakers.
- Immersive Format: The event was described as \”captivating,\” offering practical solutions for current challenges such as nZEB and sustainable urban planning.
- Organization: Users noted the logical structure of thematic days and the helpfulness of daily communication (reminders).
Suggestions for the Future:
- Interactivity: Suggestions included creating roundtables, debate sessions, or \”working groups\” to maintain professional connections after the event.
- Time Management: While the content was rich, some participants suggested adding short breaks (5–10 minutes) to maintain focus during the 4-hour online sessions.
- Specific Content: Proposals were made to address Romanian traditional materials in more detail, including testing and certification.