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INTERARCH – MORE THAN FOUR DECADES OF INTERNATIONAL ARCHITECTURAL DIALOGUE

From 1981 to 2026, within sixteen editions, INTERARCH turned Sofia into a meeting place for architectural ideas from all over the world.

Established in 1981 in Sofia, Bulgaria as the World Architecture Biennale, 

INTERARCH is among Europe’s longest-running international architectural forums and the most recognizable architectural event of an international nature in Southeastern Europe. Held successively as the World Biennale and subsequently as the Architecture Triennale, the forum has for more than four decades brought together architects, urban planners, educators, students and cultural institutions from different countries for professional exchange, creative ideas and international dialogue.

The founder of INTERARCH is the Union of Architects in Bulgaria (UAB) and its long-time Chairman arch. Georgi Stoilov – architect, visionary and public figure with international recognition. With the strong support of the Bulgarian state and all Bulgarian architects, it turned Bulgaria into the host of a world architectural forum, the likes of which had not been held in Southeast Europe before. In the difficult times of the „cold war“ and political restrictions it managed to create a place for free professional exchange between architects from different countries, schools and cultures – a space free from political bias, where architecture and professionalism create bridges and friendship with a single goal – a better living environment and harmony for all people of the world, a strong and authoritative architectural profession.

In 1987, arch Georgi Stoilov, supported by the Bulgarian state and UAB, initiated the creation of the International Academy of Architecture (IAA) in Sofia, which unites leading architects from around the world in a voluntary, non-partisan organization and aims to spread high-quality architecture in society. At that time arch Georgi Stoilov is the President of the International Union of Architects and Chairman of the UAB. He became the first President of the IAA – a position he held until 2018, when due to his advanced age he retired and was named Honorary President of the IAA.

The Union of Architects in Bulgaria, together with the International Academy of Architecture and its respected members, as well as with the gratuitous support of the Bulgarian state, began to organize INTERARCH together and turned it into one of the most prestigious architectural events not only in Europe, but also in the world. Soon they were joined by the State University of Architecture, Construction and Geodesy (UASG), and so architecture students from Bulgaria and the world joined the event in Sofia. INTERARCH grows into an unforgettable professional experience for all ages. That is until 2020. when the Covid 19 pandemic started, it led to one of the worst isolations between people in the world.

Now the UAB is again organizing INTERARCH and again, in partnership with UASG, will gather in Sofia important architects and professionals from different countries to share their experience and discuss the leading architectural policies in Europe and the world. In the time of climate changes, wars and division, huge migration flows and close coexistence of different cultures and customs, the role of architecture and the architects is becoming more and more important for the sustainable development of cities, for the protection of the natural environment and cultural heritage, for the achievement of harmony and a better way of life for all people.

In the new conditions in the world, the role of INTERARCH as a space for professional debate, cultural exchange and presentation of significant architectural achievements from different parts of the world is becoming more and more significant.

Today, INTERARCH remains a symbol of international cooperation and open professional dialogue. Its history is one of encounters between people, ideas and cultures, united by the belief that architecture has the power to change the world around us.

The sixteenth edition of INTERARCH 2026 continues this tradition and once again gathers in Sofia representatives of the international architectural community in search of solutions for the challenges and opportunities of the future.

● INTERARCH publications over the years: 1981, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1994, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2012, 2015, 2018, 2020.