World Habitat Day 2026 at the Faculty of Design:
A Day Full of Ideas, Conversations and Creativity
Monday, 5 October, was one of those days at the Faculty of Design when something was happening from morning until evening. As part of Urban October 2026, we celebrated World Habitat Day, this year dedicated to the theme Adequate Housing for All – exploring how we can create accessible, inclusive, sustainable and people-centred living environments.
And although we were accompanied throughout the day by beautiful October sunshine – and the slightly less romantic sound of roadworks in front of the Faculty – we could still hear each other perfectly well, thanks in part to our new sound system. 🙂
From OFFICE3000 to the Opening of World Habitat Day
The day began with the continuation of the OFFICE3000 – Research and Concepts workshop, where students continued developing their concepts and working in interdisciplinary groups under the mentorship of Sr. Lect. Petra Kocjančič and Prof. Nada Matičič. Throughout the week, the project explores contemporary working environments, local materials – with a particular emphasis on wood – and new possibilities for designing the spaces of the future.
At 1 p.m., we moved to the Design Thinking Lab for the central part of the day – the Opening Ceremony of World Habitat Day: Adequate Housing for All. The programme was hosted throughout by our wonderful Asst. Prof. Dr. Blažka Müller, while Prof. Nada Matičič welcomed the participants with an opening address.
The opening programme also brought together MSc Karin Žvokelj, Director of the Slovenian Intellectual Property Office, Jan Krmelj, Vice Dean for International Cooperation at the Faculty of Design, Jan Jagodič, President of the Designers Society of Slovenia, MSc Liljana Vogrinec from SLOWOODLIFE, and Prof. Severin Filek from Austria.
The opening also featured two exhibitions: Conceptual Design of Sustainable Corporate and Personal Gifts from Wood Remnants, presented by Asst. Prof. Mojca Perše, and Cooperative Housing for Youth: Minimalism with Added Value and “Tiny Houses”, led by Sr. Lect. Petra Kocjančič.
On Wood, Housing, Community and the Cities of the Future
The programme continued with the World Habitat Day conference, bringing together Slovenian and international experts and a range of perspectives on housing and the culture of living.
Prof. Dr. Jasna Hrovatin spoke about the culture of living with wood, Asst. Prof. Mojca Perše presented sustainable corporate and personal gifts created from wood remnants, while Sr. Lect. Petra Kocjančič addressed cooperative housing for young people, minimalism with added value and the concept of “Tiny Houses”.
International perspectives were contributed by Miguel Martínez Perallón from Spain with an introduction to the Roots project, Prof. Dr. Dragan Ćalović, Dean of the Faculty of Contemporary Arts in Belgrade, with Design and Community, and Marta Pastor Estébanez from Escuela Superior de Diseño de Madrid with Materials with Memory, Cities with Future: Earth, Timber and Upcycled Waste for Equitable Housing.
After the conference, it was time for a much-needed break – something good to eat, a cup of coffee, conversations and a little time to catch up with one another. After all, Urban October is not only about listening and working, but also about meeting people, exchanging ideas and having conversations that often continue long after the official programme has ended.
The Afternoon? We Were Far From Finished.
After a short break, the programme continued with the Design Talk: The Role of Wood in Resolving the Housing Crisis and Ensuring a Sustainable Living Culture, moderated by Asst. Prof. Dr. Arbresha Ibrahimi from the International Balkan University in North Macedonia.
The discussion brought together Sr. Lect. Petra Kocjančič, Asst. Prof. Mojca Perše, Belen Huertas Alos from Escuela de Arte y Superior de Diseño de Alicante, Marta Pastor Estébanez from Madrid, and Prof. Severin Filek from Austria.
And even then, the day was not over. 🙂
In the Lab for Creative Industries, Marta Pastor Estébanez, Fátima Ferreiro Galguera and Guadalupe Martín Hernández continued with the workshop Materials with Memory, Cities with Future: Earth, Timber and Upcycled Waste for Equitable Housing, focusing on materials, reuse and more equitable living environments.
At the same time, in the Design Thinking Lab, Lynne Elvins from Design Rally, UK, led Connecting Design and Business, bringing design thinking into dialogue with the business environment.
One Very Full World Habitat Day
From the students’ morning work to the opening ceremony, exhibitions, conference, international guests, Design Talk, workshops, coffee and conversations – and yes, even the roadworks – the day went by incredibly quickly.
At the Faculty of Design, we celebrated World Habitat Day in a way that reflects the very essence of Urban October: by bringing together people, disciplines, experiences and different perspectives on how design can contribute to better, more sustainable and more inclusive living environments.
And one small detail to finish the day: the highlights from this very busy World Habitat Day also became our 1,000th Instagram post. A lovely day for a lovely round number. 🙂
Now we take a little breather – and then we continue. Urban October has only just begun.
Thank you to all our participants, guests, students, lecturers and visitors who were part of World Habitat Day 2026.
Part of the Urban October 2026 programme is supported by SPIRIT Slovenia within the promotion of wood.
