Unmissable architecture events in 2019

What’s on the agenda in 2019 for the architecture and construction sector? Below we list just a few of the upcoming events not to be missed.

The annual architecture and construction events calendar already has the week of 4^th-8^th November pencilled in red for the biennial Batimat Paris. This event is considered to be the most important fair in the world for the construction sector. The fair is split into seven sectors, including those dedicated to structures, finishes and decoration.

In May, Barcelona will be hosting Construmat, which itself has become a must-do international benchmark. Thanks to its broad scope, the Construmat Fair will run from 14^th to 17^th at the Montjuïc and Gran Via exhibition centres.  The latest trends and ideas in the sector will be presented in parallel sessions.

Also in May, the KBC Kitchen and Bath China forum will be held in Shanghai, showcasing the latest innovations in kitchens and bathrooms. Running between 27^th and 30^th May, businesses, architects, designers, engineers and consumers from both the strong Asian market and around the world will be heading to this event to show and see everything there is to see in the world of kitchens and bathrooms.

A perennial classic, the Coverings fair in Orlando is one of the most important ceramics, tiling and new technologies fairs in America for construction materials and finishes. It will be taking place this year from 9^th to 12^th April at the Georgia World Congress Centre in the Floridian city.

There’s no need to wait, however, to discover the latest trends in architecture and materials for the construction sector. This coming Monday 14^th January sees the opening of BAU Munich, an architecture and construction materials fair for the home and interiors. It is one of the most important events in the European construction industry with all the top companies and people in attendance. The fair runs over six days. After this, the Spanish Cevisama fair will be running from 27^th January to 1^st February. Materials and textures companies from around the globe will be coming together in Valencia to present their latest wares for bathrooms, kitchens and building construction to the market. Alongside Cevisama, Feria Valencia will be hosting Espacio Cocina-Cisi, a specialised forum for kitchen furniture, accessories and equipment.

In the time between BAU Munich and Cevisama, the Olympia Exhibition Centre in the British capital will welcome Architect@Work London over 23^rd and 24^th January.

February heralds the New England Home Show in Boston. This fair is aimed at builders, architects and interior designers, and offers new technical innovations and ideas for transforming spaces in the home and mixed-use buildings.  February will also see Amsterdam host the Internationale Bouw Beurs fair for architects, developers, contractors and construction industry suppliers from the 4^th to the 8^th of the month. In addition, Las Vegas will be hosting KBIS over February 19^th-21^st—a benchmark event in the bathroom and kitchens sector.

Turning to March, Sao Paulo will welcome ExpoRevestir to town from the 12^th-15^th. This is one of the most important events for architects and professionals who work with innovative coating materials: granite, marble, quartz, laminates… Over 6^th-9^th of the same month, Design Shangai—one of the most prestigious international gatherings in the world and the most important in Asia—will be opening its doors. This sixth edition will be hosted at the Shanghai Exhibition Centre.

Different discussion and debate fora will be held throughout the year looking at the social role of architecture and organised by DPA magazine (Documentos de Proyectos Arquitectónicos). This benchmark professional and academic publication for architects is edited by the Barcelona School of Architecture ETSAB. Innovation in Architecture, Construction and Renovation will be the central theme this year. The forum will be held in several cities throughout the year: Madrid on 13^th March; Malaga in June; Barcelona on 7^th November, and Bilbao on 28^th November. Lisbon will be hosting professional conferences on architecture on 19^th November.

As a creative and artistic discipline, architecture is delving into its social uses and impact. Under the slogan ‘Necessary Architecture’, the Arquitectura y Sociedad Foundation will be organising the third edition of its congress in Pamplona over 11^th, 12^th and 13^th June. The event will bring together renowned international architects (Christian Kerez, Álvaro Siza, Dominique Perrault, Bjarke Ingels and Juhani Pallasmaa), as well as emerging professionals, to debate sustainability and social responsibility in architecture.